Impact of Environmental Education on Waste Disposal Behavior of Beachgoers on the Durban Central Beachfront

Abstract

The study focused on beachgoers' waste disposal behavior and its impacts on the coastal and marine environment. Coastal and marine tourism is a key subsector of tourism that is fast becoming one of the most popular forms of tourism globally. The objective of the study was to discuss the resilience of coastal destinations by examining the role of environmental education in shaping environmentally responsible tourists’ behavior. A mixed method approach that combined both qualitative and quantitative research design was adopted for this study. A total of 248 domestic and international beachgoers were surveyed using a purposive sampling technique. The results indicate that the level of environmental awareness has a direct impact on environmental behavior, fundamentally the more environmentally aware beachgoers are, the less likely they will dispose of their waste incorrectly. Drawing on the existing studies as well as discussions from the findings show that the city’s service delivery forums should be strengthened through robust stakeholder collaborative efforts. The study recommends quantifying tourist-generated waste to identify the types and sources of waste and minimize waste generation streams. Further studies should be undertaken to explore incentive initiatives for beachgoers who dispose of their waste correctly.

Keywords

• waste management
• stakeholders
• domestic tourism
• pro-environmental behavior
• environmental education