CIG: Climate changes' harsh effects on tourism in the Mediterranean.

PR Log (Press Release) – Oct 21, 2009 – Global climate change continues pushing temperatures up seriously affecting tourism as we know it in the Mediterranean.CIG research shows that the Mediterranean Sea attracts almost 20% of the world’s tourists annually, but rising temperatures may see visitors beginning to avoid the region during the summer months.

The island destination of Cyprus, which entertains about 2 million tourists annually, and whose economy relies on the industry for 11 per cent of its total is one of the sites that may be forced into a rethink of current strategy, CIG understands.

Scientific study has indicated that the average temperature of the Mediterranean region has already risen by 1 degree Celsius in the last twenty years, CIG has been informed, and it is anticipated to increase by around another four degrees by the end of the century, with annual precipitation going down by between 20-40%.

Other island nations such as the Commores are already proposing a $3 a day levy on all tourists to assist in dealing with among other issues, rising sea levels, another concern facing the area.

To accommodate the unavoidable problem, countries like Cyprus will have to expand into different seasons, and also into different industries and products, and begin to manage their ocean resources on a basis that may generate carbon credits.

Oil has recently been discovered in the seabed between Cyprus and Egypt, and talks are underway between Lebanon and Egypt to reach an agreement regarding the exploration of these resources.