Nature-based tourism operators’ responses to changing environment and climate in Uis, Namibia

Abstract

Namibia, one of the driest countries in sub-Saharan Africa, has great potential as a nature-based tourism destination, but is also vulnerable to the impacts of global environmental and climate change. In this study the perceptions of tourism businesses in Tsiseb conservancy of the potential impacts of climate change to their operations, and their adaptation plans are analyzed. The results show agreement with recent climate change, but future change is considered to happen with less certainty. The operators believe that climate change impacts tourism industry, but not their own businesses. As a consequence, no concrete adaptation methods have been developed.

Keywords:

• Nature-based tourism
• environmental change
• climate change
• adaptation
• Namibia