Successes and Challenges in Sustainable Development Goals Localisation for Host Communities around Kruger National Park

Mashudu Andra Mabibibi, Kaitano Dube and Konanani Thwala
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Mashudu Andra Mabibibi: Department of Tourism and Integrated Communication, Vaal University of Technology, 1900 Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
Kaitano Dube: Department of Tourism and Integrated Communication, Vaal University of Technology, 1900 Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
Konanani Thwala: Department of Tourism and Integrated Communication, Vaal University of Technology, 1900 Vanderbijlpark, South Africa

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-16

Abstract: Tourism has often been blamed for its unsustainable ways for a number of years now. Consequently, there have been efforts to ensure that tourism contributes to the host communities to address some of the sustainability challenges through responsible and sustainable tourism initiatives in the recent past. With less than nine years to go before the lapse of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there is a need to take stock of how tourism enterprises such as national parks are contributing to the SDGs. This study examines how Kruger National Parks (KNP) is assisting the host communities in meeting the SDG goals and targets. The study made use of 30 in-depth key informant interviews, field observations and critical document analysis. The study found that regardless of the challenges it faces as an organization in partnering with host communities for developmental purposes, Kruger National Park has assisted communities to meet at least 15 out of the 17 SDGs. These span from social to economic, environmental and cultural SDGs. Since KNP’s projects address host community needs, several challenges need to be dealt with to ensure the sustainability of these projects post COVID-19 pandemic, which has undermined many nature tourism establishments worldwide. Besides the pandemic, there is a need to manage community expectations with regard to how far it can address some of the challenges faced by communities.

Keywords: Sustainable Development Goals; nature tourism; national parks; host community; responsible tourism; South Africa; sustainable tourism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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