Discussion Panel VSF “Between Two Pressures – Climate Risk and People Flows in Tourist Cities”
9th September | 6:25 pm
35°Economic Forum | Karpacz (Poland)
ABSTRACT
Tourist destinations are increasingly exposed to two simultaneous pressures: the effects of climate change and the growing concentration of visitors.
Floods, heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, extreme weather events, and rising sea levels affect cities and territories with distinct geographical and economic profiles. At the same time, high visitor flows exert growing pressure on mobility, public spaces, housing availability, waste management, urban services, and local communities.
Although different in nature, these phenomena present a common governance challenge: how can destinations understand evolving conditions, anticipate critical thresholds, and intervene before impacts become unmanageable?
Data, predictive systems, resilient infrastructure, and coordinated decision-making processes can help cities and territories transition from emergency response to prevention. This session will explore how climate adaptation, data-driven decisions, and visitor flow management can be integrated into the governance of tourist destinations, while also addressing the economic, institutional, and insurance implications associated with rising climate risks.
The discussion will draw inspiration from the emblematic case of Venice, where the MOSE system regulates tidal flows and the analysis of city user mobility helps monitor and manage pressure on the urban environment. The goal is not to present Venice as a model to replicate, but to use its experience as a springboard for a broader discussion on solutions adaptable to destinations facing varying combinations of climate and tourism pressures.
AGENDA
INTRODUCTION
Damiano De Marchi, Project Manager for Sustainable Tourism, Venice Sustainability Foundation (VSF)
The Venice case. The double flood of sea and tourism: data, tools and solutions for urban resilience
PANEL
Anna Pilarczyk, Mayor, Ogrodzieniec City Council
Ogrodzieniec and the tourism tide: promoting and governing a phenomenon, not enduring it
Katarzyna Turosienska, Member of the Board, Polish Chamber of Tourism
Tools for promoting and developing sustainable tourism compatible with valuing communities and residents
Monika Besenyei, Director, Climate Policy Institute Mathias Corvinus Collegium
Climate mitigation policies: the role of institutions and education
Alessandro Moricca, Chief Executive Officer, Consap
Managing climate crises: public responsibility, insurance and reconstruction
MODERATED DISCUSSION
This session will bring together the five speakers and address two questions:
- In your view, what is the priority action for strengthening the capacity to anticipate the negative impacts of tourism or climate change on territories and communities?
- Which tools, in your view, can facilitate stronger public-private collaboration in managing tourism and climate phenomena?
CONCLUSION REMARKS
Moderator: Damiano De Marchi, Project Manager for Sustainable Tourism, Venice Sustainability Foundation (VSF).
