Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series

Title:
Disjunct perceptions? Climate change threats in two-low lying South African coastal towns

Authors

Gijsbert Hoogendoorn - University of Johannesburg, Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies, Corner Kingsway and University Road, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, South Africa; phone: + 27 115 594 628, e-mail: ghoogendoorn@uj.ac.za

Bronwyn Grant - University of the Witwatersrand, School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, Private Bag X3, WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa; phone: +27 720 126 963, e-mail: bgrant777@gmail.com

Jennifer M. Fitchett - University of the Witwatersrand, School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, Private Bag X3, WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa; phone: + 27 725 506 829, e-mail: jennifer.m.fitchett@gmail.com

Keywords
tourism, climate change, perceptions, St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis

Abstract
Coastal towns rely heavily on the quality and expanse of their beaches to attract tourists. Climate is an important tourism determinant, controlling the length and timing of peak arrivals. South African tourism is particularly reliant on these factors. Perceptions of tourists and tourist accommodation establishment regarding climate change threats to tourism are explored for the towns of St Francis Bay and Cape St Francis. Tourism accommodation establishments were predominantly concerned with day-to-day changes in weather, investing in small-scale infrastructural changes to improve the comfort of their guests. By contrast, tourists demonstrated greater concern for the risk of flooding, sea-level rise and the degeneration of the beaches. This reflects concerning disjunctures between perceptions of tourists and accommodation establishments regarding climate change threats. This may portray to tourists insufficient investment in adaptation at accommodation establishments, resulting in decreased tourist visitations in the short-term in favour of destinations perceived as better prepared.

Pages:
59-71

DOI:
10.1515/bog-2016-0005

BGSS No. 31 (2016)