Tourism and its workers among first to suffer from changing climate
Play
As we approach World Tourism Day next Tuesday, it is worth reflecting on the absence of tourism workers in the climate action plans of governments in Asia.
From trekking guides in Nepal to luxury hotel-resort workers in the Maldives, climate change is dramatically transforming the environment in which people work and live. Yet governments are only talking to business and international agencies about what needs to be done.
Climate change affects tourism peak seasons, making employment more insecure and incomes more unstable. Tourist attractions – from coral reefs to religious heritage sites – are suffering damage from extreme weather that leaves hotels empty. Climate disasters like flooding leave tourism workers jobless. There is no tourism without tourists.
On World Tourism Day, workers are demanding that governments recognise the impact of climate change on tourism and make protecting the rights and livelihoods of tourism workers part of the response. This needs the independent and democratic trade unions representing tourism workers to be involved in decision-making on climate action plans. Because the only way for the action plans to work is for working people to be part of the plan.
Hidayat Greenfield,
Asia/Pacific regional secretary of the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations
