Extreme weather killing tourism? Here’s how Apac travelers are forced to change plans

According to the 11th annual Travel and Sustainability Report from Booking.com, climate change and overcrowding have become primary drivers affecting travel decisions in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. 

Concerning the current situation, 44% of APAC travelers have either canceled or modified their travel plans in the last 12 months due to extreme weather or natural disasters.

Nearly 80% of respondents now factor extreme weather risks into both their destination choice and the timing of their trips. 

Conversely, 68% admit that extreme weather makes the booking process stressful, while 56% say certain destinations have become too hot to visit during their preferred travel windows. 

Sixty-three percent of travelers have removed specific destinations from their wish lists following news of natural disasters or climate events.

In this regard, Danielle D’Silva, Booking.com’s Director of sustainability, said travelers are now adapting to extreme weather and actively avoiding crowds. 

Extreme weather is already shaping destination and timing choices. Seventy-nine percent of survey respondents said they consider extreme weather risks when choosing a destination.

According to Booking.com, 40% of travelers in Asia-Pacific plan to avoid overcrowded tourist destinations. Additionally, 28% will seek out cooler destinations while 36% will prioritize quieter destinations.

D’Silva said: “We are encouraged by the broad range of ways travellers are already traveling more sustainably, and how they plan to continue". Booking.com said travelers booked 100 million room nights at properties with a third-party sustainability certification in 2025, as the report points to behavior changes that are already showing up in booking choices.