The applicability and suitability of the Camping Climate Index for South Africa

Camping serves both as tourist recreation and accommodation. For both purposes, it is particularly sensitive to the local weather and climate, with little protection from the elements. In South Africa, camping forms a key component of the tourism market. The camping sector is growing in popularity due to the relatively low costs. While the South African climate can be considered excellent to ideal for tourism, the country has a highly varied climate. In some locations strong winds, large diurnal temperature ranges, and strong or persistent rainfall can make camping difficult. The Camping Climate Index (CCI) was developed based on occupancy data in the United States of America. The index potentially provides a mechanism to quantify the relative climatic suitability of campsites across South Africa. However, before applying this, or indeed any other index in a new region, it is important to evaluate its applicability and suitability to ensure that the outputs would provide meaningful data for management decisions. We find that with 33 meteorological stations measuring all of the requisite data variables, it is feasible to apply the index in South Africa. The questionnaire responses confirm the importance of the two factors that form the primary index, and the thresholds for the overriding factors. We would therefore support, and indeed encourage, the use of the CCI in South Africa. This would incorporate climate information to enhance management decisions at the scale of individual current and future campsites, camping destinations, and in the broader South African camping sector.

Automated summary

Camping serves as both tourist recreation and accommodation, and it is particularly sensitive to local weather and climate in South Africa. The Camping Climate Index (CCI) can be applied in South Africa, with 33 meteorological stations providing the required data variables. The importance of the primary index factors and the thresholds for overriding factors have been confirmed through questionnaire responses, making the use of the CCI in South Africa feasible and beneficial.