The impact of rhino poaching on tourist experiences and future visitation to National Parks in South Africa

Wildlife tourism attracts substantial numbers of tourists worldwide with Africa as the major wildlife viewing destination earning the bulk of its tourism revenue from such tourism. Iconic animals, such as the rhino, are major attractions for tourists to South Africa who holds approximately 80% of th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inCurrent issues in tourism Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 8 - 15
Main Authors Lubbe, Berendien Anna, du Preez, Elizabeth Ann, Douglas, Anneli, Fairer-Wessels, Felicite
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Abingdon Routledge 02.01.2019
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
impact
National parks
Poaching
rhino poaching
South Africa
Tourism
Tourists
Wildlife
Wildlife tourism
South Africa
Africa
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Summary:Wildlife tourism attracts substantial numbers of tourists worldwide with Africa as the major wildlife viewing destination earning the bulk of its tourism revenue from such tourism. Iconic animals, such as the rhino, are major attractions for tourists to South Africa who holds approximately 80% of the World's rhino population. However, the rapid increase in rhino poaching activities has reached a crisis point and should the rate of poaching continue to increase Africa's remaining rhino population will become extinct in the wild within 20 years. How this affects tourists and tourism is still largely unknown. This study shows evidence that rhino poaching and anti-poaching measures do impact tourism in the short term and could affect future visitation to Parks.
ISSN:1368-3500
1747-7603
DOI:10.1080/13683500.2017.1343807