Recent Hurricanes Helene and Milton have wreaked havoc across Florida and the Southeast, leaving communities devastated by high winds, storm surges, and flooding.
As back-to-back hurricanes become more frequent and destructive due to climate change, travelers to coastal areas are facing increasing risks.
Erin Seekamp, a professor and expert on climate resilience, personally experienced the effects of Hurricane Isaias at Holden Beach in 2020, when the massive storm disrupted her vacation plans. This event served as a wake-up call, highlighting the growing threats from extreme weather and how these events are increasingly impacting coastal travel.
Since then, her research has focused on these risks. She advocates for “bounce-forward” strategies, such as elevating structures and integrating renewable energy, to help coastal communities adapt and thrive despite the ongoing climate crisis.
Considering increasing climate risks, destination communities should encourage tourists to financially support climate adaptation projects.
Seekamp’s research shows that visitors with strong attachments to destinations are willing to contribute, which can complement broader efforts to build resilience in coastal communities, reinforcing their ability to withstand the growing threats of climate change while protecting both infrastructure and tourism economies.
Without proactive climate action, these destinations may face uncertainty, as their infrastructure and economic stability are increasingly threatened by climate change.
Within our .earth tribe, several organizations are working to transform tourism into a more sustainable industry, helping to safer future for travel, including:
- WildImpact.Earth: This organization nurtures, restores and protects natural wild systems by empowering the communities that are the custodians of these systems, which includes sustainable tourism in these areas. Learn more here.
- Greenly.Earth: Greenly works with tourism organizations to easily measure their carbon footprint and identify the most important reduction opportunities to offer their customers a more climate-friendly experience. Learn more here.
- Systemiq.Earth: This organization, in partnership with the Sustainable Tourism Global Centre, created a report which sets out a fully costed plan for a more sustainable future for the tourism industry. Learn more here.
- EnviroRental.Earth: The organization is made up of a group of industry professionals who have worked relentlessly to incorporate and implement sustainability into our vacation rental businesses. Learn more here.
Are you in the travel industry working towards more sustainable tourism? The .earth web domain is ideal for enhancing your brands and communicating your mission of creating a safer planet through platforms for social and environmental activism.
In addition, we are running a special promotion where GoDaddy is offering .earth domains for $7.99 for a limited time. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
To learn more about the .earth domain, visit Voices.Earth. In addition, many organizations and individuals are sharing their voices about the benefits of a .earth domain in our Voices.Earth podcast series.
