Climate change adaptation in the Pacific Island tourism sector: analysing the policy environment in Vanuatu

Abstract

Tourism is a growing economic sector in the South Pacific providing the region with
\ngreat potential for economic development. Vanuatu and its neighbouring Small Island
\nDeveloping States and Territories experience a high vulnerability to climate change
\nimpacts. The tourism sector in Vanuatu is particularly vulnerable, and it needs to
\ndevelop and implement effective adaptation strategies to reduce climate change risks.
\nPolicies play an important role by providing the platform on which adaptation can
\noccur and resilience be built. This study examines the policy environment in Vanuatu
\nfor its conduciveness to climate change adaptation. It identifies the types of
\nadaptation processes (explicit or implicit) and types of adaptation measures
\n(technical, business management, behavioural, policy, and research and education)
\nand critically analyses the current tourism-related policies for their effectiveness in
\nassisting the sector to address climate change. It is found that the majority of policies
\nidentified deal with climate change through implicit adaptation processes and mainly
\nthrough the use of policy and research and education measures. The authors argue
\nthat in order to strengthen the resilience of the tourism industry, the Government of
\nVanuatu needs to develop and implement explicit climate change adaptation policies
\nfor the tourism sector.