The rapid and sustained rise of tourism over the past 50 years is one of the most remarkable phenomena of our time. The number of international tourist arrivals has increased from 25 million in 1950 to 808 million in 2005. International tourism represents approximately 7% of the worldwide export of goods and services. For over 80% of countries tourism is one of the top five export categories, and for around 40% of countries it is the main source of foreign exchange earnings. The 11% increase in global revenues generated annually by international tourist arrivals is well above the rate of growth of the world economy.

Favourable climatic conditions at destinations are key attractions for tourists. Weather can ruin a vacation, while climate can devastate a holiday destination. Climate is especially important for the success of beach destinations and conventional sun-and-sea tourism, the dominant form of tourism. Tourists are attracted to coastal areas and islands by ample sunshine, warm temperatures and little precipitation, escaping from harsher weather conditions and seasons in their home countries. Other forms of tourism, such as mountain tourism and winter sports, are also highly dependent on favourable climate and weather conditions, such as adequate precipitation and snow cover.

Climate change will not only impact on tourism directly by changes in temperature, extreme weather events and other climatic factors, but also indirectly as it will transform the natural environment that attracts tourists in the first place – for example, by accelerating coastal erosion, damaging coral reefs and other sensitive ecosystems and by reducing snowfall and snow cover in mountainous regions. It will also affect the basic services that are so critical for tourism, such as water supplies, especially during periods of peak demand.

In the Djerba Declaration (2003), the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) acknowledged the need to align the tourism sector's activities with the concerns, objectives and activities of the United Nations (UN) system in relation to climate change, and more generally with respect to sustainable development.