Climate Change Adaptation and Tourism: Towards Sustainable Tourism development in Kilimanjaro National Park Mountain, Tanzania

Abstract

Tourism is among the major economic sectors in Tanzania, contributing about 17.5% of the gross domestic product (GDP). However, the sector is facing many challenges including climate change leading to the destruction of tourist attractions. This study clearly identifies the impacts of climate change in KINAPA. Furthermore, the study examines the existing climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in KINAPA. Also the study analyzes the contribution of climate change adaptation on tourism development in KINAPA and last the study examines policy option for tourism development in KINAPA. The study used cross-sectional in design employing interviews, observations and documentary review data collection techniques. The study involved 90 respondents who were randomly selected among the residents of the three villages adjacent to KINAPA. Furthermore, one month and one week used to collect data from three villages adjacent to KINAPA. Results from the study showed that afforestation, eco-tourism, green tourism, provision of loans, environmental conservation projects, and environmental education were the major adaptation and mitigation strategies for climate change in KINAPA and adjacent villages. In addition, there was a strong relationship of 4.705 between climate change impacts and available resources in KINAPA. The more the climate change the more the resources available were affected. Based on these findings it is recommended that all stakeholders should work together to address climate change adaptation especially those adaptation strategies, which were reported to be low.