Nature-Based Tourism and Climate Change: The Risk Perceptions of Industry Stakeholders in the Waterberg, South Africa

Abstract

Nature-based tourism is highly vulnerable to the ramifications of advancing climate change. This paper seeks to extend an energetic African literature around climate change and nature-based tourism. The aim is to investigate the risk perceptions of tourism industry stakeholders in the Waterberg region of Limpopo province. The results are unpacked from 32 qualitative semi-structured interviews conducted in this area. The research findings concern issues of industry stakeholder awareness of climate change, the risk perceptions and adaptive responses undertaken by Waterberg nature-based tourism sector stakeholders. A major conclusion is to pinpoint the disconnect between the climate change threats which are projected to be facing local tourism stakeholders and the risk perceptions as expressed in the interviews conducted with these tourism stakeholders.

Keywords

• climate change
• nature-based tourism
• risk perceptions
• waterberg
• south africa