Abstracts

Evaluating the Economic Impact of Climate Change to the Eco-tourism and Cultural Tourism Sector of Bouctouche, New Brunswick

Lisa Debaie
Environment Canada
Lisa.Debaie@ec.gc.ca

A three-year, multi-partner and multi-disciplinary research project has been underway along the south-eastern coastal zone of New Brunswick to quantify the impacts of climate change (and more specifically sea-level rise, storm surge and coastal erosion) in support of sustainable management, community resilience and the development of adaptation strategies. An important dimension of the research project has been the examination of socio-economic impacts associated with climate change in the study area. A case study approach is being used to examine three types of impact (storm surge damage, sectoral impact, and coastal habitat alteration) using three different analytical approaches (damage cost approach, economic impact analysis, and non-market valuation; respectively). The presentation will review the results obtained to date for one of the socio-economic case studies: evaluating climate change’s impact upon the eco-tourism and cultural tourism sector of Bouctouche. The presentation will review results obtained through a survey of tourist reaction to future climate change scenarios. In addition, the presentation will emphasize the process used to develop future-oriented socio-economic scenarios for incorporation into the analysis and the important role such scenarios play in assessing impacts and costs.

2005-04-05