Climate change affecting tourists’ destination choices

Photo: Jim Cornall

What will travel look like in 2025? One thing is sure: the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident, significantly altering travel behaviours.

More and more travellers are opting for cooler destinations (coolcationing), while others are looking to visit places at risk of disappearing (last-chance tourism).

According to Safeture, a technology platform for travel risk management, and Riskline, a global company in travel risk analysis and content provision, other than climate-related changes, the most significant risks for travellers in 2025 are from geopolitical tensions and digital challenges.

The findings are published in the companies’ latest annual forecast, ‘Foresight 2025.’

While visa regulations in Asia are being relaxed, opening up new growth opportunities, geopolitical tensions in other regions are creating additional challenges for travellers. The Israel-Hamas conflict and uncertainties in Europe will continue to affect flight routes in 2025. Travellers should prepare for unexpected route changes and extended flight times.

Stricter border controls are also expected in Europe. New systems such as the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will increase administrative burdens for travellers. Meanwhile, persistent conflicts, such as those in Ukraine and on the Korean Peninsula, continue to exacerbate security risks.

Climate change

The impact of climate change on the travel industry is profound. Increasing heatwaves, floods, and storms are influencing destination choices. The trend of coolcationing, travelling to cooler destinations, is gaining popularity alongside a growing interest in sustainable tourism. Another significant trend is last-chance tourism, where travellers aim to visit places threatened by irreversible climate damage. Domestic travel is also becoming a more environmentally friendly alternative to international trips.

The travel industry increasingly uses digital technologies, such as biometric border controls and AI-driven travel planning. While these innovations enhance efficiency, they also introduce new cyber risks. IT outages and targeted cyberattacks have the potential to disrupt travel significantly.

Health risks

Health threats from emerging viruses such as Mpox and Marburg and climate-related diseases remain a significant concern in 2025. Climate change introduces new health risks in tropical regions, including water shortages and spreading diseases like cholera. Companies must continue to adapt their health strategies to ensure employee safety during business trips, even in crisis situations.