Environmental change impacts and inclusive rural tourism development on the livelihoods of native societies: evidence from Musina Municipality, South Africa
International Journal of Ethics and Systems
ISSN: 2514-9369
Article publication date: 30 August 2023
Issue publication date: 2 August 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the latent potential of alternative-responsible tourism and ecotourism leadership in sustainable tourism and the sustenance of rural communities in Musina Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa. It also sought to compare this potential with other African pastoral areas and to integrate it with various rural sites elsewhere abroad.
Design/methodology/approach
Narrative literature, document reviews, interviews and focus group discussions were used to garner relevant data and were analyzed through cross-tabulation analysis and manually. On this account, probable climate change-bound environmental consequences, rural, tourism, farming and ecological administration issues came to the forefront.
Findings
The examination correlates the potential position of proper ecotourism exercises and responsible tourism as an agreeable path to promote sustainability in rural localities. Subsequently, upon apparent countryside products, ecotourism and farming exercises glimpsed in the study area, environmental degradation poses a conceivable hazard to natural resource governance. Hereafter, it aggravates the possibilities for climate change effects and poor subsistence.
Originality/value
The rich biodiversity in the study area provides platforms for sustainable rural tourism enterprises and addresses any pertinent concerns. Thus, the study has manifested a demand for a creative tourism approach and innovations against environmental change outcomes and to capacitate Musina Municipality residents and probably others elsewhere on the continent to engage in ethical tourism initiatives and sustainable livelihoods.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author acknowledges the editors and anonymous reviewers for their management and guidance on the manuscript. The initial environmental change, environment and development and eco-tourism management certifications from the University of Pretoria Tourism Management Division and Centre for Environmental Studies extended this appropriate examination and are worth recognition. To this end, they contemporaneously endorsed varied environmental paradigms and biodiversity values for livelihoods and sustainability. Rural development geography, conservation biology and ethnobiology credentials from the University of Venda Environmental Sciences School and Biological Sciences Department furnished in-depth wisdom, as did all research parties in the study area. SANSA Earth Observation is appreciated for the allocation of this study.
Declaration of interest: The author declares and confirms that there is no conflict of interest regarding this research paper.
Citation
Ramaano, A.I. (2024), "Environmental change impacts and inclusive rural tourism development on the livelihoods of native societies: evidence from Musina Municipality, South Africa", International Journal of Ethics and Systems, Vol. 40 No. 3, pp. 495-525. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOES-04-2023-0089
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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