The (ir)relevance of hunting tourism to rural communities: A hunter perspective

Abstract

Hunting tourism is increasingly utilised as a tool for socio-economic development. While numerous studies have examined the economic impact of the South African hunting tourism sector, there is a notable scarcity of research on its overall impact. This study addresses this gap by investigating the impacts of hunting tourism on local communities in rural areas of South Africa, as perceived by the hunters themselves. A quantitative research approach was employed involving a survey conducted among national and international hunters in South Africa, followed by an analysis of the collected data. The findings reveal that hunters perceive their impact as significant, diverse and important, emphasising economic impact. This study makes three key contributions: it is the first to determine the hunter's perspective related to their impacts on hunting tourism in South Africa; it demonstrates a multi-faceted contribution to rural communities; and it highlights differing perspectives on the impacts between international and domestic hunters.