Abstract
The tourism sector is facing significant challenges due to global climate change. The sector is a major contributor to carbon emissions while at the same time relied upon to drive regional development in Arctic Finland. This paradoxical situation highlights the urgent need for effective mitigation and adaptation policies and governance frameworks for both climate change and tourism. Finland has set one of the world’s most ambitious national climate mitigation targets into a legally binding framework. The state aims to be the first country in the global North to reach carbon neutrality by 2035. The new Climate Change Act 2022 outlines the key requirements for climate change policy planning and related monitoring and defines the national climate objectives. However, the tourism industry’s future growth potential in the Arctic Finland relies heavily on international tourism, which is largely based on the aviation sector. Tourism therefore faces a paradoxical situation for growth thinking in the current climate change policy context. Against this backdrop, this chapter aims to explore the complex issue of sustainable tourism development governance in the context of carbon neutrality policy in Arctic Finland. Specifically, it focusses on the potential contradictions between the role and needs of the tourism sector in regional development policies, and the responsibilities outlined in the Climate Change Act. This ‘wicked problem’ requires careful consideration and innovative solutions to ensure that tourism can continue to drive economic growth while also addressing the challenges of climate change.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 65-79 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Advances in Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research |
Volume | 17A |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 15 Aug 2024 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- adaptation
- Arctic Finland
- Climate change
- mitigation
- resilience
- sustainability
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
- Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management