Climate Change and Tourism - UNEP - Division of Technology ...

94 Climate Change and Tourism – Responding to Global Challenges
Box 15 Climate change adaptation in Fiji 482, 483
UNWTO and UNEP are working with the Fiji Ministry of Tourism on a project to reduce tourism’s
vulnerability from climatic impacts by implementing adaptation initiatives. The project will
contribute to the long term viability and sustainability of tourism in Fiji. A Global Environmental
Facility (GEF) funded feasibility study was undertaken in 2006. This involved participants from key
Government agencies, industry representatives, research organisations, NGOs and aid agencies. A
full proposal for a 3-year project was submitted to GEF, which makes Fiji a key pilot destination to
produce knowledge and experience about adaptation to climate change. This project is paralleled
by a similar project in the Maldives. The aim of both projects is to further develop and demonstrate
adaptation initiatives that will reduce the vulnerability of the tourism sector, as well as its natural
and human resource base, to the impacts of climate variability and change.
The Fiji project covers the full spectrum of adaptation, from community and business level to
national policy and planning. A specific focus of the project is to build and utilize the capacity of
Fiji to integrate responses to concerns related to climate variability and change into a broader risk
management framework, strategy and plan for the tourism sector.
The following existing policies serve as a baseline to the project:
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Pacific Climate Change Framework 2006–2015 and the National Climate Change Policy;
Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Plan: Framework for Action
2006–2015 and the Fiji National Disaster Risk Management Plan;
National Building Code;
Coastal Tourism Development Guidelines;
Environmental Management Act;
Affirmative Action Program (to support ecotourism projects);
National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan.
The barriers that were identified so far in the feasibility study related to low awareness, especially
among industry stakeholders, lack of coordination between government agencies, lack of integration
of climate change aspects into existing legislation (e.g., building code), insufficient enforcement
(e.g., Environmental Impact Assessment), and poor environmental practices (and insufficient funds
to make larger investment, such as sewage systems).
Figure 9.14 Coastal erosion and sea wall protection on a beach in Fiji
UNWTO, 9 July 2008
Photo credit: Becken, S.