The federal government is looking for a consultant to model the potential effects of climate change on tourism in order to help the industry cope with a range of scenarios, a report said.

The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism is seeking to quantify the effect that greenhouse gas emissions could have on one of Australia’s largest industries over the next 60 years, WAtoday reported.

The economic modelling should take account of how consumers would respond "based on perception of the impact of travel on the environment", the department noted.

It would consider a range of emissions scenarios to be tracked at 2030, 2050 and 2070 under present costs at both state and national levels. Consideration would also be given to environmental and asset degradation, and the effect of an increased frequency of natural disasters.

Tourism accounted for about 595,000, or 29 percent, of the businesses operating in Australia in 2006-07.

The industry directly employed 486,000 people and contributed $32.8 billion, or 2.6 percent, of gross domestic product in 2008-09. In the same year, it accounted for $23.5 billion, or 8.3 per cent, of the nation's exports. 

A final report is expected to be completed by January.