CR 57:259-269 (2013)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/cr01183

ABSTRACT: Weather and climate are a principal resource and constraint for tourism that directly and indirectly influence global demand patterns. Against the background of rapidly expanding literature on climate and tourism, this study sheds needed insight into the complexities of tourist climate preferences and the implications for rating current and future climate resources for tourism. A survey of 472 beach tourists is the basis for comparing the climatic preferences of diverse tourism market segments on the Caribbean islands of Barbados, Saint Lucia and Tobago. Key findings include warmer temperature preferences and tolerances for tourists originating from tropical regions, with lower heat preferences and tolerances for tourists from temperate regions. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were also found between temperate and tropical residents for every climate variable examined (temperature, rain, sky conditions, wind). The results are discussed with regard to their implication for the construction of tourism climate indices, demand models and climate change assessments.

KEY WORDS: Climate · Tourism · Preferences · Thresholds · Weather · Beach tourism