Urbani izziv Volume 30, No. supplement, February 2019
: 229-243
(Articles)
doi: 10.5379/urbani-izziv-en-2019-30-supplement-015
Author
Wayde R. PANDY
School of Tourism & Hospitality, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Wayde360@gmail.com
Christian M. ROGERSON
School of Tourism & Hospitality, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Crogerson@uj.ac.za
Title
Urban tourism and climate change: Risk perceptions of
business tourism stakeholders in Johannesburg, South
Africa
Abstract
The nexus of climate change and cities is acknowledged as of growing importance for inter-disciplinary research. In this article the focus is upon the perceptions of climate change and responses by tourism stakeholders in Johannesburg, South Africa’s leading city and major tourism destination. Using semi-structured qualitative interviews with 30 tourism stakeholders an analysis is undertaken of the risk perceptions of climate change. Overall the results suggest a major disconnect between the climate change threats as openly recognised by Johannesburg city authorities and of the risk perceptions as revealed by local tourism stakeholders. The predominant view articulated by tourism industry stakeholders is that climate change responses and associated sustainability initiatives are something of a ‘nice to have’ rather than a necessity given current the current state of awareness and of climate change risk perceptions by businesses.
Key Words
climate change, urban tourism, risk perceptions, tourism businesses, Johannesburg, South Africa