Short-term summer trips: Climate hazards & substitution

Climate change and related impacts on tourism and outdoor recreation in Austria are increasingly felt in the number of hot days and variable weather conditions. This paper investigates how these effects likely influence visitor behavior in the future. A survey with an integrated discrete choice experiment was applied combining weather information, travel distances, travel means, attraction type, certification and parking fees (N = 5544). The analysis of the results yielded a four-class model which showed different substitution behaviors during unpleasant weather conditions, making clear that decisions are based on complex trade-offs and lead to significant behavioral changes under climate change conditions. For destination management, these innovative insights into planning behavior and greater understanding of the four segments are crucial for future product development.