Responsible tourism in protected areas: ecolodge operators’ perceptions of carbon emission sources and mitigation needs in Zimbabwe

Ecolodges are increasingly important components within Southern African nature-based tourism destinations. Ecolodges aim to provide tourists with experiences that are socio-economically and environmentally responsible. Due to growing concerns about climate change, ecolodges are expected to play a responsible role in mitigation efforts. One of the existing mitigation tools for tourism operators is based on carbon footprint assessment. This study analyses ecolodge managers’ perceptions of key sources of carbon emissions, needed mitigation strategies, and related challenges in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 lodge managers. The results indicate that the dominant sources of carbon emissions are transportation, energy, and waste disposal by operators. The ecolodges investigated have employed various mitigation strategies, which were mainly based on saving costs. This is a good motive for a business, but it may guide mitigation to only those processes that do not create costs for them. Overall, crucial issues and challenges affect the adoption of mitigation strategies, such as financial constraints, knowledge and skills gaps, and technical limitations.