The impact of climate change on tourism demand: evidence from Kazakhstan

Abstract

This study takes the first step in analysing the impact of climate change on international tourist arrivals to Kazakhstan from 121 origin countries for the period 2000–2018. Despite this interest, little effort has been made to examine the relationship between time-variant climate variables and tourism demand. The study captures the destination choice of tourists based on temperature in the origin and destination countries over time by incorporating time-variant climate variables. The results reveal that the optimal temperature of international tourists visiting Kazakhstan is obtained at 7°C. Moreover, international tourists prefer to travel to Kazakhstan at a moderate temperature, that is neither too hot nor too cold.