The Effects of Climate Change on Recreation and Tourism on the Prairies

The report examines the vulnerability of the Canadian Prairies' recreation and tourism sectors to climate change. It predicts that rising temperatures will extend the summer season for activities like golfing and camping but will shorten the winter season, threatening the viability of ski resorts. Environmental shifts, including the northward migration of the grassland ecozone and wildlife, are expected to shift hunting and viewing activities north. The document highlights potential socio-economic risks for rural communities diversifying into tourism and warns of increasing resource conflicts over scarce water between recreationists, farmers, and industry.

• Climate models generally predict increasing temperatures for both summer and winter in the Prairie Provinces, though there is less consensus on whether precipitation will increase or decrease. However, there is agreement that water availability will decline due to high temperatures and evapotranspiration.
• Warmer temperatures are expected to extend the season for water-based and dry-terrain activities, such as swimming, golfing, picnicking, and camping. However, the quality of these activities may decline as warmer, shallower water encourages algae and plant growth, which inhibits swimming and negatively affects fishing.
• Winter recreation is threatened by a shorter season and reduced snow cover. Specifically, activities requiring ice, such as skating and ice fishing, will be curtailed. Downhill and cross-country skiing face significant risks; a cited study in Quebec suggests the downhill ski season could shorten by 50 to 70 percent, a concern echoed for the prairies.
• The prairie ecozone and its associated wildlife are expected to shift northward. This will likely cause hunting and wildlife viewing activities to move north as well, potentially increasing the travel distance and costs for out-of-province hunters.
• Climate change poses a socio-economic risk to rural communities that are diversifying their economies through tourism. High-capital facilities, particularly ski resorts, are most vulnerable; if sub-optimal conditions lead to a drop in attendance, operators may go out of business, causing a loss of local jobs and revenue for hotels and restaurants.
• Increased drought and water scarcity in the prairie region are expected to create resource conflicts, as recreational water users compete with the agricultural and industrial sectors for limited supplies of quality water.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (1997). The Effects of Climate Change on Recreation and Tourism on the Prairies. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/recreation_climate.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. The Effects of Climate Change on Recreation and Tourism on the Prairies. 1997. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/recreation_climate.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=The Effects of Climate Change on Recreation and Tourism on the Prairies |date=March 1997 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/recreation_climate.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment1997effects, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{The Effects of Climate Change on Recreation and Tourism on the Prairies}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {1997}, month = mar, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/recreation_climate.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }