Environmental consequences and climate change linked ecotourism activities in remote and protected areas of South Africa

Abstract

ABSTRACT The research focuses on the current and potential implications of ecotourism activities, and their environmental consequences for climate change and sustainability, in South Africa. By linking data and reports on the Musina Municipality's environmental biodiversity management, ecotourism administration, and local community subsistence issues in Limpopo Province are presented. The methods used include focus group discussions and field observations to examine the municipality's natural and tourism resource management and benchmarking ecotourism, conservation, and environmental degradation in terms of sustainability, sustainable tourism, and responsible tourism within the municipality. A detrimental association was uncovered between rural ecotourism-borne environmental consequences and exercises possessing potential climate change effects. When tourism activities adhere to the ideals of sustainable and responsible tourism, however, ecotourism management can result in sustainability achievements. In conclusion, the article argues environmental sustainability strategies can be achieved while permitting livelihoods.