Assessing Climate Change Impacts on Outdoor Recreation: Insights from Visitor and Business Perspectives

Didem Kutlu, Murad Alpaslan Kasalak () and Mehmet Bahar
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Didem Kutlu: Program of Tourism and Travel Services, Akdeniz University, 07030 Antalya, Turkey
Murad Alpaslan Kasalak: Department of Recreation Management, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey
Mehmet Bahar: Program of Tourism Guidance, Cappadocia University, 50420 Nevşehir, Turkey

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 8, 1-26

Abstract: Tourism and recreation are critical components of global economies and are significantly impacted by climate change due to their climate-dependent nature. This study aimed to assess the effects of climate change on outdoor recreation within the tourism sector, as perceived by stakeholders and tourists, through a systematic review. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive search of the Web of Science database was conducted, resulting in a systematic review of 42 publications that met the inclusion–exclusion criteria out of a total of 226 publications published between 2007 and 2024. The comprehensive analysis identified four primary themes: vulnerability, adaptation, climate change perception, and tourist behavior. The USA emerges as the most researched country, followed by the UK, Germany, and France. The predominant research methods include regression analysis (37.2%) and thematic analysis (20.9%). Coping behaviors regarding climate change are influenced by various factors, such as geography, participant expertise, the type of activity, and the development levels of countries. Tourists adopt locational, temporal, strategic, activity substitution, and informational coping strategies in response to climate change. Conversely, businesses face challenges like reservation cancellations and mitigate global warming effects by modifying activities and adjusting routes due to rising water levels and drought. Adaptation projects are categorized into research–education, management, policy, behavior change, structural, and technical solutions. Implementing diversification strategies enables businesses to enhance their resilience and reduce environmental vulnerabilities. Additionally, raising awareness among visitors about the consequences of climate change is essential in fostering responsible behavior and promoting sustainable practices. The analysis reveals the lack of a holistic perspective in tourism studies, highlighting the need for projects that involve all stakeholders and support undeveloped and developing countries. Furthermore, it was observed that the perspectives of employees and residents were inadequately addressed in the studies examined.

Keywords: climate change; outdoor recreation; tourism; adaptation strategies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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