Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Tourism in South Beaches of Iran based on Climate Tourism Information Scheme

Tourism and recreation are important economic factors which are directly connected to weather and climate of a specific destination. Climate is an important resource for tourism and an equally important element that needs to be included in tourism purposes. Tourism, especially coastal or maritime tourism is an important source for economic growth in the countries such as Iran. This study reveals potential impacts of climate change on tourism in south beaches of Iran. These conditions were identified by using Climate Tourism Information Scheme (CTIS) over 1989-2008 period in the 24 meteorological stations and analyzing the different thermal perceptions values that emerged. At first, by using of Ray Man and CTIS software models, thermal, physical and aesthetical aspects of Climate Tourism Information Scheme were calculated. Then, Mann-Kendal method was also used to detect possible trends in the data time series. The results revealed that from December to February is the optimum period (comfortable) in the Oman Sea shores and March and November in Persian Gulf shores. The parameters of thermal and physical aspects have changed in the studied area. The results also indicated, in Oman, sea shores that sultry days and heat stress are absolutely consistent with increasing and thermal comfortable with decreasing trend. These conditions cause a decrease in the desirable times for tourism in the future. In the Persian Gulf shores, the situation is different. In the March and November, a significant decrease in cold, heat stress and sultry trends was evident. Therefore, it is predicated that desirable times for tourism will increase in the future.