Climate and weather impacts on tourism in New Zealand

Abstract

Climate and its manifestation as weather are important facilitators for tourism, and changes in climatic conditions are therefore important for its ongoing viability. Projected changes of climate relevant for New Zealand tourism include a drier east and wetter west, increased westerly winds, increases in number and frequency of extreme events (especially tropical cyclones in the North), and sea level rise. This poster summarises how weather and climate have historically interacted with tourism in New Zealand, which can provide indicators for the potential vulnerability of tourism to future climate change.