The new IKI  project ADAPTUR started in order to support the Mexican Tourism Industry to adapt to climate change using ecosystem-based approaches (EbA).

The new IKI project ADAPTUR: “Adaptation to climate change based on ecosystems (EbA) with the tourism sector in Mexico” started off with a kick-off workshop on 13^th of October 2017, with the participation of SECTUR (Secretariat of Tourism), SEMARNAT  (Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources), CONANP (National Commission of Natural Protected Areas) and INECC  (National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change).

With more than 35 million international visitors each year who spend more than 17 billion USD, the tourism sector plays an essential role for Mexico’s economy and it directly accounts for 8.7% of its GDP (2016). Travel & Tourism provides livelihoods to more than 4 million people (around 8% of total employment) and this is expected to rise to nearly 5 million by 2027.

Nevertheless, the industry is facing profound impacts from climate change that are already being felt. As temperatures rise, the attractiveness of many destinations may fade. Coastal tourism is highly vulnerable to rising sea levels, the degradation of beaches and hurricanes. Diving business highly depends on a rich flora and fauna of its coral reefs. But also inland destinations face the loss of forests, fauna-rich savanna or reduced water availability.

The main objective of ADAPTUR is to increase the capabilities of the Mexican tourism sector to adapt itself to the effects of climate change by using eco-system based approaches (EbA). Key element of ADAPTUR is the cooperation between different actors from the public and private sector. The project provides technical assistance on different levels, from policy advice to concrete pilot project development in 3 destinations, which will be selected in the upcoming months. ADAPTUR has a planned project period of 4 years and is funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

Contact:  adaptur[AT]giz.de