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Sustainable Tourism: Climate Change Effect on Tourist Behaviour
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Sustainable Tourism: Climate Change Effect on Tourist Behaviour

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Tourism, Culture, and Heritage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 2421

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Ren-Fang Chao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Leisure Management, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan
Interests: tourism management; marketing management; community development; sustainable sociology; environmental education; ecological conservation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yi Fu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. School of Cultural Tourism and Geography, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, Guangzhou 510320, China
2. School of Community Resources and Development, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Interests: sustainable tourism; intelligence tourism; cross-cultural research and creativity; destination operations management; knowledge management
Prof. Dr. Shang-Pao Yeh

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Hospitality and MICE Marketing Management, National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism, Kaohsiung 81271, Taiwan
Interests: leisure and sports management; human resource and organization management;tourism management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The urgency of addressing climate change and its far-reaching impacts is more pressing than ever. Within the context of tourism, climate change is not only altering environmental conditions but also significantly influencing tourist behavior. This special issue of "Sustainability" aims to delve into the intricate relationships between climate change and tourism, exploring how shifts in climate are driving changes in tourists' choices, behaviors, and destinations.

  • Focus: This issue will concentrate on the influence of climate change on tourist behavior, encompassing both immediate and long-term effects.
  • Scope: The scope includes empirical and theoretical studies on behavioral adaptations, sustainable tourism practices, and the socio-economic impacts of climate-induced changes in tourism.
  • Purpose: The purpose is to provide a comprehensive understanding of how climate change is reshaping the tourism industry and to identify strategies for promoting sustainable tourism in the face of these changes.

This special issue will supplement existing literature by highlighting the intersection of climate change and tourism behavior, offering new insights and practical solutions for researchers, policymakers, and industry practitioners.

Prof. Dr. Ren-Fang Chao
Dr. Yi Fu
Prof. Dr. Shang-Pao Yeh
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable tourism
  • climate change
  • tourist behavior
  • environmental impact
  • behavioral adaptation
  • socio-economic impacts
  • sustainable practices
  • tourism industry
  • climate resilience
  • tourism management

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 303 KiB  
Article
Travel Choice: Is Climate Change a Barrier?
by Hale Özgit and Umar Saleem
Sustainability 2025, 17(13), 5973; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17135973 (registering DOI) - 29 Jun 2025
Abstract
Climate change poses a significant challenge to global tourism, influencing destination choices and traveller behaviour. This study examines the awareness of individuals regarding the impact of climate change on tourism destinations and their decision-making processes. Through a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews were [...] Read more.
Climate change poses a significant challenge to global tourism, influencing destination choices and traveller behaviour. This study examines the awareness of individuals regarding the impact of climate change on tourism destinations and their decision-making processes. Through a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed in NVivo 15 to explore the extreme natural events, environmental concerns, and sustainability considerations that can shape travel preferences. Findings from the literature and 20 interviews indicate that climate change is increasingly perceived as a barrier to destination selection, with tourists prioritising safety, environmental resilience, and sustainability. Additionally, transportation choices reflect a balance between efficiency and ecological impact, with a growing inclination toward sustainable travel alternatives. This research highlights the need for policy frameworks that address climate-related risks in the tourism sector, with a focus on adaptation strategies and responsible travel practices. The study contributes to the discourse on climate change and tourism by highlighting behavioural trends and proposing measures for enhanced awareness and sustainable decision-making. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Tourism: Climate Change Effect on Tourist Behaviour)
23 pages, 981 KiB  
Article
Exploring Climate Change Adaptation Perceptions and Behavioral Responses in Iranian Desert Tourism: An Empirical Investigation from Qom Province
by Zabih-Allah Torabi, Beniamino Murgante, Mehdi Pourtaheri and Fereshte Hedayati Rad
Sustainability 2025, 17(2), 771; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020771 - 20 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1376
Abstract
Adaptation to climate change in vulnerable tourism destinations, particularly desert regions, requires a systematic understanding of tourists’ psychological responses and behavioral adaptations. This study develops and empirically validates an integrated theoretical framework combining the Theory of Planned Behavior and Protection Motivation Theory to [...] Read more.
Adaptation to climate change in vulnerable tourism destinations, particularly desert regions, requires a systematic understanding of tourists’ psychological responses and behavioral adaptations. This study develops and empirically validates an integrated theoretical framework combining the Theory of Planned Behavior and Protection Motivation Theory to examine psychological determinants of tourist adaptation in Iran’s desert regions. The research systematically evaluates the relationships between risk perception, adaptation assessment, climate change beliefs, and behavioral outcomes through structural equation modeling analysis of data collected across three desert destinations in Qom Province. Results demonstrate that tourist motivation (β = 0.416, p < 0.001) and climate change beliefs (β = 0.158, p < 0.001) significantly influence adaptation intentions, while subjective norms show no significant effect despite the collectivist cultural context. The model explains 38.6% of the variance in adaptation intentions and 21.0% in maladaptive behaviors, revealing differential predictability between positive and negative responses. Analysis indicates that immediate experiential factors demonstrate a more decisive influence than abstract climate change beliefs, suggesting context-specific adaptation mechanisms in desert tourism settings. This research advances the theoretical understanding of tourist adaptation behavior while providing evidence-based recommendations for destination management in climatically vulnerable regions. The findings inform the development of targeted communication strategies and management interventions that balance environmental awareness with destination attractiveness, contributing to sustainable desert tourism development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Tourism: Climate Change Effect on Tourist Behaviour)
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