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Armenia’s Tourism Development Concept Paper
(2010–2030) (USAID/CAPS n/a) recognises
tourism’s vulnerability to climate change threats,
however, this is only in the long run. The policy paper
in a general way states that climate change may affect
the ability and capacities of Armenia to promote
sustainable tourism. At the same time the country’s
mountain and high mountain regions are considered
only as potential tourist attractions to be developed.
Among the principles and values listed in the concept
paper: are sustainable development, biodiversity and
environmental protection, and rural community
involvement. On the other hand, Armenia’s INDC
(MoNP 2015) highlights the vulnerability of tourist
attractions to climate change and sets up measures to
adapt to changing weather conditions.
Azerbaijan, so far, has had two state programmes
on tourism development but none of these are in
force at this stage. However, the country recognises
tourism as a key development sector (President of
Azerbaijan n/a) and currently is in the process of
drafting a new tourism strategy – it is not known
whether the new strategy will consider climate
change issues or not. Georgia will finalise its
Tourism Development Strategy for 2015–2025 by
the end of 2015 (USAID/CAPS n/a). Similarly to
Azerbaijan, at this stage it is not known whether the
new strategy will incorporate climate change and
adaptation considerations or not.
The tourism development strategies of all the three
countries should consider climate change not only
as a factor directly impacting tourist mobility and
numbers (shifting of tourist seasons), but should also
address the vulnerability of tourist infrastructure
to different natural disasters triggered by climate
change. The policies should also reflect general
standards of tourist security and safety under climate
change considerations.
Snowboarding in Georgia