City Destinations Alliance examines climate change scenarios shaping the future of urban tourism

City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA) has published a new Trend Room Whitepaper titled Climate Change and the Future of Tourism, a strategic study that addresses how climate disruption will impact urban visitor economies in Europe. The report was unveiled during the organisation’s Autumn Conference in Tórshavn and calls on Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) to embrace long-term planning and climate readiness.

Developed in collaboration with the European Tourism Futures Institute (ETFI) at NHL Stenden University, this is the third Whitepaper in CityDNA’s future-focused series, following previous analyses on the metaverse (2023) and the traveller of tomorrow (2024).

Climate change as a defining challenge

The report explores the effects of extreme weather, changing traveller behaviour and technological disruption on the competitiveness of European cities. It outlines four future scenarios that highlight different pathways of adaptation and transformation for tourism. Rather than predicting one outcome, the study challenges destinations to prepare for multiple possible futures.

Also read → European city tourism leaders chart new direction for visitor economy at CityDNA 2025 Autumn Conference

Barbara Jamison-Woods, President of City Destinations Alliance, stated: “Climate change is the defining challenge of our time, and tourism cannot stand aside. This whitepaper reinforces the urgent need for our cities to shift from reactive crisis management to proactive foresight.”

Strategic guidance for DMOs

The Whitepaper provides practical recommendations for DMOs to adopt climate foresight and resilience within destination strategies. Key actions include:

• Embedding climate foresight into long-term planning
• Investing in adaptive infrastructure and data-driven risk management
• Strengthening cross-sector collaboration with urban planners and transport authorities
• Balancing innovation with inclusion, ensuring solutions are accessible to all communities

The study was led by Carolin Giarra and Dr. Stefan Hartman from ETFI.

Claire Mertens, Chair of the CityDNA Trend Room Knowledge Group, said:“This Whitepaper is a call to embrace foresight not as theory, but as practice in everyday strategy.”

Collective action for the future of urban tourism

During the conference, CityDNA members also contributed to the Tórshavn Declaration, a shared commitment to redefine the role of DMOs in Europe. The message from CityDNA is clear: preparation for 2035 must begin now.

Barbara Jamison-Woods added: “Our message is clear: adaptation is no longer optional. This whitepaper offers strategies to help DMOs act today while preparing for tomorrow.”

Although CityDNA Trend Room Whitepapers are exclusive to members, the organisation extended an open invitation to European DMOs to engage with the findings and collaborate toward more resilient, sustainable urban visitor economies.