Participatory risk assessment of tourism development in coastal areas : challenges and implications for management on the KwaZulu-Natal coast.
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Date
2013
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kamla-Raj Enterprises.
Abstract
Geographic concentration of coastal tourism and its associated development impacts are strongly
associated with proximity to the littoral zone. Concurrently, this is an area where normative collaboration, policy
and science rarely coincide. Poor understandings of interlinks between coastal ecosystems by both public and
private entities has led to short-sighted tourist investment which fails to consider beach capacity or resource
constraints. The results are the loss of ecosystem services which critically impair the resilience of coastlines,
making them susceptible to natural and climate-related risks. Concerns and contestations over natural resources
are entrenched in ecological, economic and social dynamics. However tourism tends to favour the economic, which
is inadequate. The potential for high-income, mass and ecotourism is huge along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline
which is relatively undeveloped. The objective of this study emphasizes a participatory risk assessment of the
tourism sector by interrogating land use-ecology interactions as necessary for optimal relationships between
coastal uses and protection of coastal ecosystems. Key findings reveal that there are stressors acting cumulatively
on individual ecosystems, thus the need to adopt a strategic view to management. Furthermore, the tourism
footprint emerged as being larger than the industry itself, implying the potential benefits of integration across
different sectors, stakeholders and legislation along the coast, with regard to tourism and its associated development.
Description
Keywords
Ecotourism--KwaZulu-Natal--Environmental aspects., Coastal zone management--KwaZulu-Natal., Tourism--KwaZulu-Natal--Environmental aspects.
Citation
Ahmed, F., Nadasen, N. 2013. Participatory risk assessment of tourism development in coastal areas : challenges and implications for management on the KwaZulu-Natal coast. J Hum Ecol. 43 (1) pp. 7-16.