PhD Graduation

In the light of the changes occurring in the climate system, exploring the impacts of these changes on society and the environment has become a necessity. The tourism sector, and especially outdoor activities in coastal areas, is highly sensitive to climate and highly vulnerable to climate change. Despite this vulnerability and tourism’s economic, social and environmental relevance, the sector is lagging behind other research fields in terms of impact assessment. The main research question underlying this thesis asks in what different ways climate change will affect Europe’s tourism in coastal and marine environments and how the vulnerability of the sector can be assessed. Using a combination of methodologies, this research contributes to gain a better understanding of climate change impacts on coastal and marine tourism and to provide stakeholders with the tools to assess and reduce the vulnerability of the sector.