Original Research

The impact of climate change on visitor destination selection: A case study of the Central Drakensberg Region in KwaZulu-Natal

Nduduzo A. Ngxongo
Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies | Vol 13, No 1 | a1161 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v13i1.1161 | © 2021 Nduduzo A. Ngxongo | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 12 May 2021 | Published: 03 December 2021

About the author(s)

Nduduzo A. Ngxongo, Department of Hospitality and Tourism, Faculty of Management Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa

Abstract

Many variables influence visitors’ destination choices, for example, affordability, attractions, health and safety, and expectancies. Amongst the indirect influences in destination choice by tourists, climate change is perhaps the greatest factor because of its negative impact on the ecological landscape of tourist destinations. Using the Central Drakensberg Region (CDR) as a case study, this article seeks to investigate the influence of climate change on visitors’ destination choices. A quantitative descriptive survey was conducted on a sample of n347 participants who were selected using purposive and convenience sampling procedures under the auspices of non-probability. The statistical analyses were performed using the latest edition of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (Version 25.0). Based on the study’s results, climate change was found to be a key influence on tourists’ decision-making, behaviour and spending habits at tourist destination like the Central Drakensberg Area. The most significant climatic parameter for tourists was determined to be pleasant and warm temperatures, as well as the summer season. Furthermore, owing to the current climate change circumstances, visitors were found to be less likely to return or recommend future visits to the region. To that end, tourism officials in the CDR should swiftly implement adaptation measures to counter the effects, and explore alternatives such as soft tourism and non-climate-dependent activities to accommodate visitors year-around. Further research is recommended to establish the extent to which socio-demographic characteristics influence destination choice in the area, as well as to ascertain the current state of climate change impacts.

Keywords

climate change; tourism; visitor choice; destination; climate preferences; Central Drakensberg Region

Metrics

Total abstract views: 4789
Total article views: 8018

 

Crossref Citations

1. Climate change perceptions and experiences from tourists visiting popular destinations in South Africa
Lazarus Chapungu, Malebajoa Anicia Maoela, Nthivhiseni Mashula, Hlengiwe Kunene, Godwell Nhamo
Cogent Social Sciences  vol: 10  issue: 1  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1080/23311886.2024.2407024

2. Clustering Profiles of Domestic Seasonal Workers in the Hospitality Industry Based on Quality of Working Conditions and Return Intentions
Marina Laškarin Ažić, Dora Rašan, Iva Prahin
International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration  first page: 1  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1080/15256480.2024.2407343

3. From Awareness to Action: Modeling Sustainable Behavior Among Winter Tourists in the Context of Climate Change
Stefanos Balaskas, Ioanna Yfantidou, Kyriakos Komis
Psychology International  vol: 7  issue: 3  first page: 72  year: 2025  
doi: 10.3390/psycholint7030072

4. Why Do Neighbors Keep Their Distance? Evolutionary Psychology Theory and 2020 COVID-19 Travel Recovery in Central China
David W. Knight, Lina Xiong, Jian Gong, Xuanxuan Zhou
Journal of China Tourism Research  vol: 20  issue: 4  first page: 900  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1080/19388160.2024.2306211

5. Ready for Action! Destination Climate Change Communication: An Archetypal Branding Approach
Uglješa Stankov, Viachaslau Filimonau, Miroslav D. Vujičić, Biljana Basarin, Adam B. Carmer, Lazar Lazić, Brooke K. Hansen, Danijela Ćirić Lalić, Dino Mujkić
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health  vol: 20  issue: 5  first page: 3874  year: 2023  
doi: 10.3390/ijerph20053874

6. Embedding resilience into the platform economy: a climate–health–environment assessment of the Jamaican short-term rental sector
Kalim U. Shah
Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events  first page: 1  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1080/19407963.2025.2574252

7. Enhancing the socio-cultural valuation of ecosystem services in Mountain animal production: a case study from piedmont’s alpine valley (North-west Italy)
Chiara Costamagna, Valentina Maria Merlino, Danielle Borra, Lorenzo Baima, Paolo Cornale, Luca Maria Battaglini
Italian Journal of Animal Science  vol: 23  issue: 1  first page: 842  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1080/1828051X.2024.2360583

8. Efficacy of Automating the Analysis of TripAdvisor Data in Tourism and Climate Studies
Dineo Mokgehle, Jennifer M. Fitchett
Tourism Planning & Development  vol: 21  issue: 6  first page: 959  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1080/21568316.2024.2412060

9. Impact of Climate Change on International Tourism Evidence from Baltic Sea Countries
Dzintra Atstāja, Edmira Cakrani
Sustainability  vol: 16  issue: 12  first page: 5203  year: 2024  
doi: 10.3390/su16125203

10. Revealing the interrelationship of economic, environmental, and social factors with globalization in G-7 countries tourism growth: A CS-ARDL approach
Arifa Jannat, Md. Monirul Islam, Kentaka Aruga
Sustainable Futures  vol: 9  first page: 100483  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1016/j.sftr.2025.100483

11. Tourists’ perceptions of climate change awareness, impact, and response mechanisms in South African national parks
Malebajoa Anicia Maoela, Godwell Nhamo, Lazarus Chapungu, Asanda Madikizela
Development Southern Africa  vol: 42  issue: 1  first page: 153  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1080/0376835X.2024.2443417

12. Weather adaptation strategies in tourism
Gui Lohmann, M. Sadegh Eshaghi, Mona Afshardoost, Brent D. Moyle
Journal of Destination Marketing & Management  vol: 39  first page: 101054  year: 2026  
doi: 10.1016/j.jdmm.2025.101054

13. The mediation effect of destination image on the relationship between local cuisine elements and destination selection: The case of Hatay
Damla DUMAN, Çağrı SAÇLI
Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic Tourism  vol: 8  issue: 1  first page: 51  year: 2023  
doi: 10.31822/jomat.2023-8-1-51

14. Localized climate change impacts on tourism businesses
Frank W. Milbourn V, Ethan R. Wertlieb, Robert W. Orttung
Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights  vol: 6  issue: 1  first page: 100176  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1016/j.annale.2025.100176