We all know climate change will affect our ability to visit certain places we love, but you may not realize how much is happening that can help ensure your next trip has an even greater impact.
While global warming challenges some of our favorite destinations, climate change also creates opportunities that have sparked exciting developments, making these locations ideal for travelers who want to experience authentic cultures while enjoying top-notch amenities and environmental awareness efforts.
Here are just a handful of beautiful spots that offer incredible adventures amid breathtaking scenery thanks largely to their resilience in dealing with climate impacts:
Marrakech: A City Investing in Its Future
As one of North Africa's most magnetic cities, Marrakech is home to an array of stunning sights including its famed medina, souks and gardens. To meet rising demand for regional water, Marrakech and surrounding regions are investing in greater irrigation capacity for their iconic gardens while expanding their use of renewables.
This means that when you're exploring the city's beautiful restorations, such as its riads and palm groves, you'll know the hospitality industry is well positioned to implement water-conscious strategies across this sector of the economy. For visitors who want a sustainable trip, Morocco's tourism board says the country is committed to sustainability as part of its long-term strategy (Morocco National Tourism Office).
Zanzibar: Protecting the Reefs That Make It Famous
Although much of its coastline faces rising sea levels and climate change impacts, Zanzibar's turquoise waters and coral reefs remain among the best diving spots and beaches in the world. However, instead of simply seeing an area under threat, visitors can engage directly in marine conservation while enjoying what makes Zanzibar special.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) works alongside other organizations focused on various aspects of coral reef restoration, including creating marine protected areas around Zanzibar and supporting eco-certified resort operations throughout East Africa, where communities have begun working together on reef rehabilitation initiatives (IUCN). There are also plenty of ways visitors can get involved, depending on personal interests, ranging from volunteering at research stations focused on better understanding how different factors affect overall health to joining guided tours led by experts who explain everything you need to know before heading out onto open water!
Prague: A Heritage City Built for the Long Term
For millennia, Prague's fairytale skyline and old town have weathered centuries of change while responding to contemporary climatic challenges. With one of the most sophisticated systems for protecting against flooding on Europe's rivers, movable barriers have proven effective at keeping the historic city center safe during periods of extreme rainfall.
To complement these efforts, the capital has increased its areas dedicated to greenery and shaded pathways for pedestrians, ensuring tourists can walk around year-round without feeling too hot under the sun. So visitors who want to see more than just the typical 'must-see' spots can now roam around outside the height of summer, when the city becomes less crowded but still very pleasant.
Lima: Innovating Around Water
Lima, known as one of the world's desert capitals, has become renowned for its resourcefulness in tackling challenges such as fog-catching and modernizing its water infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Lima continues to impress tourists with its celebrated culinary scene, colonial buildings and the beauty of its promenades along the coast. As a result, the city has inspired innovative projects studied around the world.
Funchal: A Garden City Rebuilding Stronger
Funchal is renowned as one of the world's most beautiful capitals, with lush botanical gardens, breathtaking coastal views, and a pleasant microclimate year-round. In response to extreme weather in recent years, Madeira has invested significantly in improved drainage systems, slope stabilization, and forest management, ensuring this incredible city and its famous levada trails are now among the best maintained on the planet.
The Madeira Tourism Authority has also rolled out an upgraded sustainable tourism certification program to enable visitors to easily select from hotels and tour operating companies committed to preserving the island's UNESCO-listed laurel forests (Visit Madeira)
The Bigger Picture
Destinations that engage with adaptation and sustainable development strategies today are already well placed to continue to provide quality, resilient travel experiences for generations ahead," said Global Organizations Tracking Climate & Tourism, including UN Tourism. When you visit, your choice supports conservation initiatives, infrastructure improvements, and growing local economies.
Visiting these top choices for destination resilience means you'll also impact each community's future. Travelers should consider visiting responsibly by booking tours that highlight sustainable practices, choosing shoulder seasons, etc., and more.
The goal of highlighting these 5 cities where tourists will feel good knowing their presence helps sustain the destination environment is to help all tourists make informed decisions about where they spend time and money, ultimately helping preserve those sites. Some great locations include Marrakech, Morocco; Zanzibar, Tanzania; Prague, Czech Republic; Lima, Peru; and Funchal, Madeira Islands, Portugal, among others listed above.
