Coastal towns rely heavily on the quality and expanse of their beaches
to attract tourists. Climate is an important tourism determinant, controlling the
length and timing of peak arrivals. South African tourism is particularly reliant on
these factors. Perceptions of tourists and tourist accommodation establishment regarding
climate change threats to tourism are explored for the towns of St Francis
Bay and Cape St Francis. Tourism accommodation establishments were predominantly
concerned with day-to-day changes in weather, investing in small-scale infrastructural
changes to improve the comfort of their guests. By contrast, tourists
demonstrated greater concern for the risk of flooding, sea-level rise and the degeneration
of the beaches. This reflects concerning disjunctures between perceptions
of tourists and accommodation establishments regarding climate change threats.
This may portray to tourists insufficient investment in adaptation at accommodation
establishments, resulting in decreased tourist visitations in the short-term in
favour of destinations perceived as better prepared.