Locational Heterogeneity in Climate Change Threats to Beach Tourism Destinations in South Africa

The South African tourism sector is a vital contributor to the country’s economy and is highly dependent on the climate and day-to-day weather. Consequently, this sector is threatened by climate change. This chapter, therefore, provides an overview of heterogeneity in both climate change threats and beach tourists’ perceptions of climate and weather at nine destinations along the South African coastline. The beach tourism destinations surveyed were each found to have multiple individual climate change stressors. The north-eastern destinations are projected to experience an increased risk of tropical storms and sea-level rise. In contrast, the south-western destinations are expected to face threats of water scarcity and the loss of local flora. The primary determinants that beach tourists have indicated would prompt them to cancel their trips are extreme climate events and diseases. These threats require each destination to develop local and dynamic adaptation strategies to cope with climate change and sustain tourism’s economic contribution. The output of this research can inform local government planning and assist policymakers and tourism operators in developing a resilient tourism sector in South Africa.