ABSTRACT

Tourism is the most important export-oriented economic activity in Mauritius. Climate change is predicted to exacerbate environmental degradation in coastal areas, where rapid tourism development is burdening the environmental attributes on which the island’s tourism depends. This research examines climate change risk perceptions among key stakeholders within the tourism sector in Mauritius. It also explores their perceptions of the public policies which guide the management of climate change, their policy preferences and the perceived barriers to an effective approach. The stakeholders consider climate change as being potentially catastrophic and as representing significant risks for tourism. However, the majority lacked awareness of climate change policies as well as the importance of adaptation in Mauritius, and viewed the current institutional approach as being inadequate or insufficient. Therefore, there is an imperative need for improved communication among tourism stakeholders and information about adaptation needs to be disseminated through sources perceived as being credible.

摘要

旅游业是毛里求斯最重要的出口导向型经济活动。预计气候变化将加剧沿海地区的环境退化，那里的快速旅游业发展正在加重该岛旅游业所依赖的环境属性。本研究调查了毛里求斯旅游业主要利益相关者对气候变化风险的看法。它还探讨了他们对指导气候变化管理的公共政策的看法、他们的政策偏好以及对有效方法的感知障碍。利益相关者认为气候变化具有潜在的灾难性，并对旅游业构成重大风险。然而，大多数人缺乏对毛里求斯气候变化政策以及适应重要性的认识，并认为当前的制度方法是不充分或不充分的。因此，迫切需要改善旅游利益相关者之间的沟通，并且需要通过被认为可信的来源传播有关适应的信息。