Geo-tourism Perspectives on the Impacts of Climate Change in Wadi Rum, Jordan

Climate change is significantly threatening tourism and natural assets in Wadi Rum, Jordan, with rising temperatures, declining rainfall reliability, and increasing frequency of extreme weather events. Research reveals a marked increase in mean annual temperature from approximately 20.7°C (1980–2000) to over 22°C by 2017, alongside a decline in rainfall and a surge in flash floods—from one event in 1990 to seven projected by 2025—and heatwaves, which were previously absent but reached six occurrences by 2025. These shifts pose risks to visitor comfort, safety, infrastructure, and revenue potential. Stakeholders emphasize the need for adaptation measures such as renewable energy integration, flood-resilient design, heat-sensitive scheduling, and community engagement to sustain Wadi Rum's attractiveness and ecological integrity. The study combines long-term climatic data (1990–2025), regional climate model projections, and stakeholder perspectives from literature and field evidence to synthesize key indicators like temperature trends, rainfall variability, flashfloods, and heatwaves with assessments of tourism infrastructure, visitor behavior, and economic vulnerability. This comprehensive synthesis advances understanding of how desert destinations can balance heritage preservation, ecosystem sustainability, and tourism competitiveness under intensifying climate pressures.

JAWABREH, O., FAHMAWEE, E. A. D. A., MAHMOUD, R., JAHMANI, A., QADDHAT, R., & ALQADER, S. A. (2026). GEO-TOURISM PERSPECTIVES ON THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN WADI RUM, JORDAN. Geojournal of Tourism and Geosites, 65(2), 1149–1161. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.65248-1753