Perspectives of Decision Makers and Regulators on Climate Change and Adaptation in Expedition Cruise Ship Tourism in Nunavut

Abstract

Increases in Arctic tourism over the past few decades have occurred within a context of change, including climate change. This article examines the ways in which tourism decision makers and regulators in Nunavut view the interactions of cruise ship tourism and climate change, the challenges presented by those interactions, and the opportunities available within this context of change. The article uses an approach that is aimed at assessing sensitivities and adaptive capacity in order to develop strategies for managing change. It describes the findings from thirty-one semi-structured interviews conducted with federal government, Government of Nunavut, and industry personnel and managers involved in Nunavut’s tourism industry. The two major themes of the article are the growth and adjustment in the cruise tourism industry stemming from climate change and the governance issues that are associated with these changes. A strong focus in the interviews was recognition of the need for a collaborative approach to managing the industry and the need to enhance and extend territorial legislation to ensure a safe and coordinated industry to provide benefit to Nunavut, the communities that host the ships, the industry, and the tourists. The article concludes that decision makers and regulators need to address the compounding of challenges arising from tourism and climate change through a multi-level stakeholder approach.