Evaluation of Tourist-recreational Resources in the Background of Climate Change in Georgia

Abstract

Environmental protection and the sustainable use of natural resources represent some of the most pressing challenges of the modern era. Effective decision-making in both ecological and economic contexts is increasingly dependent on an accurate understanding of environmental conditions. Key drivers of environmental degradation include the decline of biosphere components and biodiversity, climate change, and the intensification of damages caused by natural disasters. Recognizing these challenges, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the World Tourism Organization (WTO) have emphasized the need to integrate climate change considerations into the evaluation of tourism and recreational resources. As a full member of both organizations since the 1990s, Georgia is required to assess its tourism potential in light of changing climatic conditions. This study examines the impacts of climate and climate change on the development of the tourism sector in Georgia, with a particular focus on mountain and ski tourism. For the first time, several Tourism Climatic Indexes were applied to evaluate recreational resources by integrating diverse meteorological parameters. The findings highlight the importance of incorporating climatic variability into tourism planning and tour design across different climatic zones, particularly in relation to the risks posed by negative climatic events. Furthermore, long-term changes in snow cover duration were analyzed across multiple mountain and ski resorts by comparing two time periods (1961–1985 and 1986–2015). The results underscore the critical need for climate-informed strategies to ensure the sustainable development of Georgia’s tourism sector under changing environmental conditions.