Water (In)Justice and Tourism in South Africa

Abstract

The South African tourism industry has grown tremendously since the fall of apartheid and is one of the few economic sectors with consistent growth, providing desperately needed employment. However, South Africa will face a 17% water shortfall by 2030, severely affecting water justice. The South African tourism industry should not wait for 'water-shedding' before implementing adaptation plans to ensure business continuity. This short communication advocates for urgent research in the South African tourism industry to be part of the solution, not the cause of water injustice.