Thursday, October 3, 2024 As climate change intensifies, tourism-dependent communities worldwide are facing unprecedented challenges. Rising sea levels, increasingly powerful hurricanes , and other climate-related hazards are wreaking havoc on cherished travel destinations, leading to significant economic and safety concerns. Erin Seekamp, a professor at NC State and director of the Coastal Resilience and Sustainability Initiative, experienced these challenges firsthand during her family trip to Holden Beach, North Carolina, in August 2020.
Planned to celebrate her parents’ 50th anniversary, the vacation was derailed when Hurricane Isaias threatened the area, forcing officials to cancel all rentals before the storm made landfall. The Category 1 hurricane ultimately caused over $40 million in damages to Holden Beach alone. “It’s becoming increasingly risky to travel to destinations highly exposed to these climate stressors,” Seekamp explained.
“You not only risk losing a lot of money if your trip is delayed or canceled, but you also risk danger if there’s no way to leave the area.” The frequency, duration, and intensity of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, are rising due to climate change. Seekamp’s research shows that while some travelers maintain strong emotional bonds—known as “place attachments”—to vulnerable destinations like the Outer Banks, this attachment does not guarantee that they will follow through with their plans in the face of .
