As El Niño is expected to peak in late 2026, the tourism industry is facing disruptions. Susanna Kelly-Shankar, a regenerative tourism expert, explains how travelers can prepare for climate-related events. El Niño has already caused heavy rains and flooding in Peru, restricting access to Machu Picchu, while Indonesia is experiencing wildfires that threaten orangutan habitats.
Higher temperatures, droughts, and floods are characteristic of this climate pattern. Super El Niños are rare, but they have driven global catastrophes, including a 15 percent loss of coral reefs and a population collapse of Galápagos Island penguins in the 1980s and 90s.
Climate and Tourism: A Disconnected Industry
Despite warnings from major news outlets and the World Meteorological Organization, the tourism industry remains relatively quiet about the upcoming El Niño event. The start of El Niño is signaled by slowing Pacific Ocean trade winds, which alter weather patterns. However, this year’s El Niño is expected to be one of the most intense climate disruptions ever recorded.
Sea surface temperatures have surged 5.4°F (3°C) above baseline, well over the threshold for a very strong event. Experts predict that extreme heat, wildfires, and shifting jet streams can cause flight delays and destroy roads and rails, making planning challenging for travelers.
The tourism industry’s silence on the issue may be due to its focus on visitor experience and expenditure, rather than environmental research. Susanna Kelly-Shankar notes that tourism and climate are intrinsically linked, and the industry needs to break down silos and put community knowledge and nature at the center of every decision.
Preparing for Climate Unpredictability
To prepare for climate-related events, travelers need to prioritize safety and community needs. This can be achieved by adopting a regenerative tourism approach, which challenges the status quo and creates thriving communities and nature. Decentering oneself from the travel narrative means acknowledging the privilege gap between travelers and communities and putting their needs first.
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Travelers can make informed choices about when to carry on, pivot, or hit pause, and consider donating to community initiatives that build resilience against extreme weather. By understanding their privilege and making choices that put communities first, travelers can hold immense power in mitigating the effects of El Niño.
As El Niño strains global resources, travelers need to remember that tourism is resource-intensive. Simple swaps, such as choosing community homestays over water-heavy resorts, can help prioritize community needs over personal comfort. Traveling with a local guide can also keep travelers attuned to on-the-ground realities.
By maintaining realistic expectations and being prepared for climate unpredictability, travelers can minimize their impact on local communities and environments. This includes accepting that record heat may close tourist sites, ski resorts may have low snowpack, and landslides may disrupt transit networks.
In a crisis, an unprepared traveler can quickly become an added strain on local emergency infrastructure and first responders. To manage risk, travelers should have a plan B, take travel and health insurance, and register their trip with their government.
As the El Niño event unfolds, travelers must recognize that their presence can either aid economic recovery or use up life-sustaining resources.
If drought is expected, taking shorter showers and turning off running water can have an immediate effect.