Sustainability of Wildlife Tourism: Tourist Perceptions on Threats to Wildlife Tourism in Two State Protected Areas in Zimbabwe
The study sought to determine tourist perceptions on the threats to the sustainability of wildlife tourism using a case study of two state protected areas in Zimbabwe. Using close-ended questionnaires, we collected data from 128 tourists in December 2015. Results show respondents generally perceive...
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| Format: | Article |
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AfricaJournals
2021-08-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure |
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| Online Access: | https://www.ajhtl.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_8_10_3_895-911-1.pdf |
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| author | Chiedza Ngonidzashe Mutanga Edson Gandiwa Never Muboko Oliver Chikuta |
| author_facet | Chiedza Ngonidzashe Mutanga Edson Gandiwa Never Muboko Oliver Chikuta |
| author_sort | Chiedza Ngonidzashe Mutanga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The study sought to determine tourist perceptions on the threats to the sustainability of wildlife tourism using a case study of two state protected areas in Zimbabwe. Using close-ended questionnaires, we collected data from
128 tourists in December 2015. Results show respondents generally perceived all the seven tested threats as serious, i.e., illegal hunting, destruction of wildlife habitats, human-wildlife conflict, lack of involvement of local
people in national park tourism, lack of benefits from the national park to local communities, negative attitudes towards tourism by local residents, and poor local community and national park relationships. Moreover,
respondents generally had similar perceptions on the impacts of the threats on the sustainability of wildlife tourism regardless of their gender, age, level of education and income. We conclude tourists are more environmentally
conscious and well informed of the threats to wildlife tourism in Zimbabwe, which may indicate willingness to support conservation. It is thus necessary for park management to promote local people participation in ecotourism, enhance innovative law enforcement measures as well as motivate tourists to participate in conservation. Results could help broaden policy decision-makers' knowledge base in response to sustainable wildlife tourism development challenges. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:25:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-faa447b7b1024760a8aa0dee4d5b191c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-814X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:25:03Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | AfricaJournals |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure |
| spelling | doaj.art-faa447b7b1024760a8aa0dee4d5b191c2022-12-21T23:25:04ZengAfricaJournalsAfrican Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure2223-814X2021-08-01103895911https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720-139Sustainability of Wildlife Tourism: Tourist Perceptions on Threats to Wildlife Tourism in Two State Protected Areas in ZimbabweChiedza Ngonidzashe Mutanga0Edson Gandiwa1Never Muboko2Oliver Chikuta3School of Hospitality and Tourism, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi, ZimbabweScientific Services, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management AuthoritySchool of Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi, ZimbabweFaculty of Hospitality & Sustainable Tourism, Botho University, Gaborone, BotsawanaThe study sought to determine tourist perceptions on the threats to the sustainability of wildlife tourism using a case study of two state protected areas in Zimbabwe. Using close-ended questionnaires, we collected data from 128 tourists in December 2015. Results show respondents generally perceived all the seven tested threats as serious, i.e., illegal hunting, destruction of wildlife habitats, human-wildlife conflict, lack of involvement of local people in national park tourism, lack of benefits from the national park to local communities, negative attitudes towards tourism by local residents, and poor local community and national park relationships. Moreover, respondents generally had similar perceptions on the impacts of the threats on the sustainability of wildlife tourism regardless of their gender, age, level of education and income. We conclude tourists are more environmentally conscious and well informed of the threats to wildlife tourism in Zimbabwe, which may indicate willingness to support conservation. It is thus necessary for park management to promote local people participation in ecotourism, enhance innovative law enforcement measures as well as motivate tourists to participate in conservation. Results could help broaden policy decision-makers' knowledge base in response to sustainable wildlife tourism development challenges.https://www.ajhtl.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_8_10_3_895-911-1.pdfecotourismhuman-wildlife conflictillegal huntinglocal communitywildlife tourism |
| spellingShingle | Chiedza Ngonidzashe Mutanga Edson Gandiwa Never Muboko Oliver Chikuta Sustainability of Wildlife Tourism: Tourist Perceptions on Threats to Wildlife Tourism in Two State Protected Areas in Zimbabwe African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure ecotourism human-wildlife conflict illegal hunting local community wildlife tourism |
| title | Sustainability of Wildlife Tourism: Tourist Perceptions on Threats to Wildlife Tourism in Two State Protected Areas in Zimbabwe |
| title_full | Sustainability of Wildlife Tourism: Tourist Perceptions on Threats to Wildlife Tourism in Two State Protected Areas in Zimbabwe |
| title_fullStr | Sustainability of Wildlife Tourism: Tourist Perceptions on Threats to Wildlife Tourism in Two State Protected Areas in Zimbabwe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sustainability of Wildlife Tourism: Tourist Perceptions on Threats to Wildlife Tourism in Two State Protected Areas in Zimbabwe |
| title_short | Sustainability of Wildlife Tourism: Tourist Perceptions on Threats to Wildlife Tourism in Two State Protected Areas in Zimbabwe |
| title_sort | sustainability of wildlife tourism tourist perceptions on threats to wildlife tourism in two state protected areas in zimbabwe |
| topic | ecotourism human-wildlife conflict illegal hunting local community wildlife tourism |
| url | https://www.ajhtl.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_8_10_3_895-911-1.pdf |
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