![Show Menu](styles/mobile-menu.png)
![Page Background](./../common/page-substrates/page0035.jpg)
35
The lack of research and available information may
be a reflection of the current political focus. Since
the three countries gained their independence,
many issues have required the focus of politicians
such as securing a stable economy, reducing poverty
and preventing corruption. Contamination from
industrial sites and the influence of climate change
have not been a priority but attention on this issue
is increasing (UNEP/ENVSEC 2014; UNECE 2010;
USGS 2014).
Tourism
Climate change has already started to affect the
tourism sector around the world. The World Tourism
Organization recognizes mountain tourism as being
especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
Tourism is affected directly through the potential
degradation of infrastructure due to events such as
floods and erosion. In addition to these are various
indirect impacts of climate change, including the
changes to the food and water supply (UNWTO 2015).
Tourism in the South Caucasus is a growing sector
that is of increasing importance to the national
economies of the three countries. Georgia has
the most developed tourism sector, followed by
Armenia and Azerbaijan. In 2015, tourism and
travel contributed 20 per cent, 12.7 per cent and
8.4 per cent to the economies of Georgia, Armenia,
and Azerbaijan, respectively (WTTC 2015 a,b).
The mountain areas are popular destinations and
comparable to other tourism destinations such as
beaches and lakeside resorts.
At the mountain destinations, tourists are offered a
wide variety of activities includingmountain climbing,
hiking, rafting, winter sports, national parks, bird
watching, and cultural heritage sites. Eco-tourism
and agro-tourism are also becoming more popular.
Due to the vulnerability of mountain areas to climate
change, mountain tourism is likely to be affected by
the predicted increase in temperature, changes to
precipitation patterns, and natural disasters. It will
also lead to changes in ecosystems and biodiversity
(e.g. changing patterns in bird migration, changes
to the quantity and quality of snow) that can have
adverse impacts on tourism (MoENRP 2015; Green
Georgia 2015b;
Azerbaijans.com2015; Welcome
Armenia 2015). The most popular alpine ski resorts
in Bakuriani and Gudauri in Georgia are already
affected by shorter winter seasons with less snow. The
tourism industry is also affected by extreme events
appearing more frequently in the mountain regions.
In Upper Svaneti in West Georgia, for example,
95 per cent of the region is under threat of avalanches
of varying degrees (MoENRP 2015), while Adjara,
Georgia, is exposed to the risks of mudslides and
landslides (MoENRP 2015).
The vulnerability of the tourism sector in South
Caucasus was assessed in the Third National
Communication to UNFCCC from Georgia
(assessing the entire Georgian tourism sector) and
Armenia (for the tourism industry in the Vayots
district) (MoNP 2015; MoENRP 2015). Based on
these assessments, some conclusions can be drawn
from the impacts of climate change on tourism
activities in the region of South Caucasus. The
Armenian assessment of the Vayots district predicts
Shahdag Mountain Resort, Azerbaijan