Climate change and tourism development impacts on locals: implications for sustainable environmental management and equitable resource utilization amongst peripheral-underprivileged areas

Purpose The knowledge on existing and potential effects of unsustainable tourist practices and integrated rural activities on sustainability and the environment was the main focus of the study. The potential influence of integrated rural tourist practices on sustainable, equitable livelihood and ecological well-being was crucial. The outcomes are generally benchmarked to the latent essence of local and sustainable tourism-centered initiatives and their influential role in social equity, economic inclusivity and environmental justice. It communicates extensively with studies on the governance of natural resources, rural tourism and local community subsistence issues in the South African province of Limpopo. Design/methodology/approach The study gathers and examines the municipality's perspectives on the preservation of biodiversity, tourism, and rural administration of resources through a variety of methods, including focus groups, interviews, and narrative literature studies. After that, the data were carefully examined to determine core trends and frequency distributions. Findings According to the study, there is a negative correlation between merged rural activities and rural tourism, and climate change is likely to have an impact on sustainable livelihood achievements. Due to this, climate change is likely to have an undesirable impact on sustainability efforts and ideals. However, conclusions are made that in order to support sustainable development and sustenance, rural tourism and farming activities must optimally adhere to sustainable development principles. Originality/value The study has offered a model for a genuine rural land use administration focused on tourism that promotes environmental management, increased productivity and sustainable operations. Integrative rural programs focused on tourism and agriculture would promote environmental sustainability and enable local economies via ecotourism, agro-ecotourism and responsible agritourism.