Scholarlink

<p>Water scarcity remains one of the most pressing global sustainability challenges, particularly in regions where tourism, ecological conservation, and local livelihoods intersect. This study explored reflexive water governance in the tourism and hospitality sectors through an in-depth case study of game lodges operating in and around the Dinokeng Game Reserve, Gauteng Province, South Africa. The research critically examined how national legal frameworks and local governance structures influenced water efficiency practices, and how game lodges navigated complex, often competing demands from residents, agriculture, conservation, and industry. Qualitative data collection methods were employed through semi-structured interviews with targeted participants, using purposive sampling, to gather their views on water governance. Findings indicated that reflexive governance practices were limited but emerging. Some game lodges had begun self-assessing their water use and adopting the use of different water efficiency measures to support their business, but this had not yet been formally institutionalized. There was also growing but uneven awareness of balancing commercial interests with environmental and community needs. This study further highlighted how game lodges, as key actors in eco-tourism economies, can potentially serve as experimental sites for integrating water-saving innovations and collaborative governance models. The findings contribute to global debates on sustainable tourism, environmental governance, and responsible resource management by highlighting strategies and challenges relevant to promoting equity, resilience, and sustainability in water-stressed ecosystems. This research underscores the need to strengthen reflexive governance capacities by embedding continuous learning, cross-sectoral dialogue, and legal-institutional coherence. In doing so, it offers policy-relevant insights for enhancing water stewardship within the global tourism-hospitality sector, especially in ecologically sensitive and water-constrained regions.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Reflexive water governance and efficiency in tourism hospitality operations in Dinokeng game reserve South Africa

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月17日

查看全文
  • Simphiwe Mnguni,
  • Llewellyn Leonard

摘要

Water scarcity remains one of the most pressing global sustainability challenges, particularly in regions where tourism, ecological conservation, and local livelihoods intersect. This study explored reflexive water governance in the tourism and hospitality sectors through an in-depth case study of game lodges operating in and around the Dinokeng Game Reserve, Gauteng Province, South Africa. The research critically examined how national legal frameworks and local governance structures influenced water efficiency practices, and how game lodges navigated complex, often competing demands from residents, agriculture, conservation, and industry. Qualitative data collection methods were employed through semi-structured interviews with targeted participants, using purposive sampling, to gather their views on water governance. Findings indicated that reflexive governance practices were limited but emerging. Some game lodges had begun self-assessing their water use and adopting the use of different water efficiency measures to support their business, but this had not yet been formally institutionalized. There was also growing but uneven awareness of balancing commercial interests with environmental and community needs. This study further highlighted how game lodges, as key actors in eco-tourism economies, can potentially serve as experimental sites for integrating water-saving innovations and collaborative governance models. The findings contribute to global debates on sustainable tourism, environmental governance, and responsible resource management by highlighting strategies and challenges relevant to promoting equity, resilience, and sustainability in water-stressed ecosystems. This research underscores the need to strengthen reflexive governance capacities by embedding continuous learning, cross-sectoral dialogue, and legal-institutional coherence. In doing so, it offers policy-relevant insights for enhancing water stewardship within the global tourism-hospitality sector, especially in ecologically sensitive and water-constrained regions.