Impact of Climate Change on Tourism in Coastal Udupi

Coastal tourism is the largest segment of travel and tourism industry in India. Coastal ecosystems are prone to ecological imbalances due to anthropogenic activities and environmental disasters caused by climate change. Western coastal Karnataka has undergone tremendous transformations over the past two decades. The coastline stretching 98 km along Udupi’s district, forms the eastern shore of the Arabian Sea. Here various ecosystems are ecological hotspots and popular tourist destinations, such as beaches, estuaries, backwaters and mangroves. The detrimental effects of climate change result in unpredictable weather, heavy cyclonic rains and thunderstorms. Tourism’s long-term sustainability depends on the preservation and enhancement of its environment, while climate change can affect several ecosystem services required for tourism. Both climate change and global warming alter life cycles, biorhythms and breeding patterns of aquatic flora and fauna. This lessens the appeal of coastal tourist destinations and affects households relying on primary or secondary tourism for income. Coastal experiential tourism contributes to the development of the hospitality sector and promotes fishing and several cottage industries. This paper attempts to analyse the relationship between climate change and beach tourism while exploring implications on local communities of Udupi’s coastline. Using a mixed methodology approach, research comprises a questionnaire survey, interviews and observations. The research findings indicate that climate change and tourism development are interrelated and impact the livelihoods of coastal communities. The findings also provide guidelines for planners and policy-makers to develop sustainable beach tourism strategies resilient to climate change.