This research examines tourism within developing island states in the Indian Ocean that will be at extreme risk from the impacts of climate change. Many have a high economic reliance upon tourism and yet will be adversely affected by both higher sea levels and raised water temperatures. However, many developing islands utilise tourism as a vector for economic growth and ironically they too tend to be some of the first destinations to observe possible impacts of climate change like the disappearance of beaches and the greater intensity of storms. Destinations in the developing world are extremely concerned that tourists from developed countries will reduce the number of long haul flights they take to ameliorate their carbon footprint