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Weather, Climate and Tourism: a New Zealand Perspective

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Weather, Climate and Tourism: a New Zealand Perspective , and Tourism: A New Zealand Perspective Susanne Becken Jude Wilson Andy Reisinger Report No. 20 ...--....... LE P LAND ENVIRONMENT & PEOPLE Weather, Climate and Tourism A New Zealand Perspective Susanne Becken Jude Wilson Andy Reisinger Land Environment and People Research Report No. 20 July 2010 ISSN 1172-0859 (Print) ISSN 1172-0891 (Online) ISBN 978-0-86476-240-5 (Print) ISBN 978-0-86476-243-6 (Online) Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand Weather, Climate and Tourism: A New Zealand Perspective Reviewed by: This report has been reviewed by Dr Andy Reisinger. In recognition of his significant contribution to the report, and his earlier input into questionnaire development, he has been added as a co-author. Acknowledgements We are grateful to KEA Campers for assisting in the distribution of the tourist survey in the summer 2009/10 season. We also thank the Ministry of Tourism for allowing access to relevant sections of the International Visitor Survey data. This report is part of a lager project on “Preparing the Tourism Sector for Climate Change” (LINX0903), funded by the New Zealand Foundation of Research, Science & Technology funded project. ©LEaP, Lincoln University, New Zealand 2010 This information may be copied or reproduced electronically and distributed to others without restriction, provided LEaP, Lincoln University is acknowledged as the source of information. Under no circumstances may a charge be made for this information without the express permission of LEaP, Lincoln University, New Zealand. Series URL: http:hdl.handle.net/10182/580 Weather, Climate and Tourism: A New Zealand Perspective Table of Contents Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................................... i List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................. ii List of Figures ........................................................................................................................................... iii Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................. v Chapter 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2 Overview of Climate and Weather for Tourism ................................................................ 3 2.1 Climate of New Zealand .......................................................................................... 3 2.2 Climate change projections .................................................................................... 4 2.3 International literature review ............................................................................... 8 Chapter 3 Weather Impacts on Tourists and Tourism .....................................................................11 3.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................11 3.2 Method .................................................................................................................11 3.3 Results ...................................................................................................................12 3.4 Discussion..............................................................................................................22 3.5 Conclusion .............................................................................................................23 Chapter 4 Influence of Weather on Tourists’ Satisfaction ...............................................................25 4.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................25 4.2 Method .................................................................................................................25 4.3 Results ...................................................................................................................26 4.4 Discussion..............................................................................................................31 4.5 Conclusion .............................................................................................................32 Chapter 5 International Tourists’ Expectations and Experiences of New Zealand Weather ..........33 5.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................33 5.2 Method .................................................................................................................33 5.3 Results ...................................................................................................................35 5.4 Discussion..............................................................................................................62 5.5 Conclusion .............................................................................................................65 Chapter 6 Integrative Discussion .....................................................................................................67 6.1 Tourists and the weather – key themes ...............................................................67 6.2 Implications for vulnerability and adaptation of the tourist sector .....................72 6.3 Future research .....................................................................................................73 References ..............................................................................................................................................75 Appendix 1 Survey ..............................................................................................................................79 i Weather, Climate and Tourism: A New Zealand Perspective List of Tables Table 1 Main features of New Zealand climate change projections for 2040 and 2090 .................... 4 Table 2 Facets of climate and impact on tourists ............................................................................... 8 Table 3 New Zealand climate and weather ......................................................................................13 Table 4 Variability and changeability of New Zealand weather .......................................................14 Table 5 Weather conditions and forecasting ....................................................................................14 Table 6 Visitation ..............................................................................................................................15 Table 7 Vulnerability of camp grounds .............................................................................................16 Table 8 Financial implications of the weather for tourism ...............................................................16 Table 9 Coping/resilience of tourists ................................................................................................17 Table 10 Resilience of tourism operators and regions .......................................................................17 Table 11 Impacts of adverse weather on activities ............................................................................18 Table 12 Impacts of favourable weather ............................................................................................18 Table 13 Weather extremes as an experience....................................................................................19 Table 14 Tourists’ safety and the weather .........................................................................................19 Table 15 Impacts on the tourism resource .........................................................................................21 Table 16 Weather impacts on transport and transport infrastructure ..............................................21 Table 17 Weather impacts in winter ...................................................................................................22 Table 18 Weather-related codes in the IVS for reported highlights ...................................................26 Table 19 Weather-related codes in the IVS for reported disappointments .......................................27 Table 20 Weather-related disappointments compared with other or no disappointments by quarter of interview .............................................................................................................28 Table 21 Importance of weather-related disappointments relative to no or other disappointments by purpose of visit ....................................................................................29 Table 22 Weather-related disappointments (disaggregated) by style of travel .................................30 Table 23 Response rates (in percentages) by survey period and location .........................................34 Table 24 Respondents by country of residence (N= 435) ...................................................................35 Table 25 Expectations of New Zealand weather ................................................................................39 Table 26 Weather expectations and experiences ...............................................................................40 Table 27 Main sources of weather information whilst travelling .......................................................46 Table 28 Changes to trip
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