Potential impacts of climatic changes on the touristic activity sector in Libya: A review and future research

Abstract

This study showed the effect of climate on tourism sector especially for the ‎beach, nature and winter ‎sport tourism segments. Climate change at tourist destinations and ‎generating countries ‎can significantly affect the tourist’s‎ comfort‎and‎their‎travel‎ ‎decisions. ‎Changing demand model and tourist flows will have impacts on tourism industry, host communities and knock off effects on ‎related sectors, like, agriculture, ‎handicrafts or construction. There is a need for local, region and global cooperation so that the businesses and individuals in the tourism sector will be able to adapt to weather changes. The tourism industry has to adopt measures so that natural resources are protected. These measures should also contribute to the protection of the global environment. The vast lands of Libya have been settled by many civilisations across its history, including the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Arabs amongst others. They have left some amazing ruins of their ancient cities, most notably the Roman ruins at Leptis Magna, one of the most impressive such sites in the world. Away from the lush Mediterranean coast lie the harsh but dramatic landscapes of the Libyan Desert, with the picturesque Acacus Mountains and Ubari Sand Sea as well as ancient desert towns and fascinating rock art paintings. Libya is well off the main tourist trails of North Africa and receives only a fraction of the visitors of its neighbours which, combined with its many attractions, makes it an ideal travel destination. These factors make Libya a centre of tourism in Middle East. There is now a wider recognition of the urgent need for the tourism sector to adapt to the climate changes and to take preventive actions for future effects, as well as to mitigate tourism’s‎environmental‎impacts‎contributing‎to‎climate‎change.