Future bioclimatic scenarios and management of tourist destinations. Case study of the Jardines del Rey tourist region (Cuba)

This study assesses, adapting the weather types method, the suitability of the climate in Jardines del Rey (Cuba) for the practice of sun and beach tourism and how this might be affected by climate change. The analysis pays special attention to issues related to changes in climate comfort. The findings indicate that the distribution of weather types at the destination during the base period is highly consistent with the distribution of tourists in the region, so highlighting the existence of a low season from May to October and a high season between November and April. The future scenarios project an improvement in climate conditions for the practice of sun and beach tourism. This improvement is not based on a spectacular increase in favourable weather types compared to unfavourable ones, but rather on a better distribution of both. The results allow exploring possible repercussions on the management of tourist destinations.