Climate risk perceptions in urban tourist destinations of Zimbabwe

Abstract

Questions surrounding climate change and responses in urban tourism destinations are attracting a growing scholarship. Perception studies provide valuable insights into the behavioural dynamics of stakeholders, and improved understanding of the risk perceptions of tourism stakeholders is seen as critical in confronting the challenges posed by climate change in urban destinations. This study presents results from a semi-structured questionnaire administered to 160 tourism businesses in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second city, about perceptions of climate change risk. Key research findings reinforce the notion that climate risk perception in urban tourism is multi-dimensional. Water shortages, damage to heritage sites and urban attractions, heat discomfort and disruptions to electricity supply were perceived by tourism businesses as the most severe impacts of climate change. The novelty of this paper is in contributing to the limited literature concerning climate change and urban tourism in the Global South and situated geographically in a context that is identified as one of the major knowledge gaps concerning international research on climate risk.