Climate variability and change have both direct and indirect implications for outdoor recreation and tourism. Direct implications stem from changes in key climatic variables that may directly impact the feasibility of outdoor recreation and tourism activities, or levels of satisfaction with them. Indirect implications result from projected changes in the natural environment, as a result of climate variability and change, which will cause secondary impacts on visitor behavior and experience. Climate variability and change have implications for both the supply of outdoor recreation and tourism resources and settings, and the demand for outdoor recreation and tourism activities and experiences. Anticipating the reaction of outdoor recreation and tourism participants to climate variability and change is complicated. Weather and climate are but one of a series of factors that influence outdoor recreation and tourism decisions. Moreover, changing climatic and environmental conditions, resulting changes in the feasibility and safety of activities, and alterations in the level of enjoyment associated with activity participation, may cause participants to alter one or more of the frequency, duration, timing, and/or location of future activity, or to shift participation to an entirely different activity altogether.

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