A Tourism Climatology of the Southeastern United States

Tourism climatology addresses how weather and climate can inform the decision-making process of tourists and businesses that cater to tourists. Most of the research in tourism climatology has been conducted in Europe; however this small field is gaining momentum in the United States. In this study, a user-friendly engagement tool is developed to promote some benefits of the field.

This Tourism Climatology involves the tailoring of climate data to the needs of a given population—in this case recreational tourists. The goal is to graphically illustrate the climate an outdoor tourist would likely experience when vacationing in a certain locale. Hourly weather data are obtained from 2000 and 2009 and the hours between 0900 and 1800 LST are excerpted for analysis.

Results are graphically displayed and tailored for varying levels of specificity needed in decision-making. Graphs include site-specific climatologies and state-wide comparisons. Generalized observations are provided and speak to seasonal and diurnal trends observed in regions of the southeast.