CASE STUDY

BACKGROUND TO THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

There are many businesses in today's world that are becoming more environmentally sustainable in the products

and services they offer to tourists, as tourists' awareness on the impacts of tourism on the environment is

increasing and is becoming crucial in choosing where they will travel and stay. The effect of climate change, along

with pollution and the depletion of non$-$renewable natural resources, have given rise to environmental awareness

$($Douglas$,2006$:$458).$

Even though the word green practices comes across as positive, responsible and creating a better environment for

the future, it's important to understand that this is not always the case, there are certain disadvantages for a

business going green $($Biondi and Frey, $1995).$ In green practices, negativity can arise from small business because

the practices require the business to always update and maintain their green initiatives. In terms of greening the

business, effort and dedication takes time and work.

The accommodation sectors are developing many green practices in order to minimize the impacts that their

business environment is creating such as greenhouse gases, climate change and waste. Green practices mean to

increase the knowledge on how industries can become more environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible

about management decisions and consumer lifestyles, which can in turn help protect the environment. Tourism is

moving as an industry towards sustainability, which 'meets the needs of the present without compromising the

ability of future generations to meet their own needs' $($Brundtland$,1987$:$8).$ Porritt and Winner $(1988)$ stated that

businesses can assist in protecting the environment by becoming green businesses, in other words becoming

sustainable businesses in terms of environmental management.

Llagg Lodge, a leisure tourism accommodation in Johannesburg, implements green practices but have never

measured the impact of their efforts on its tourist trade.

READ the case study in APPENDIX $1$ above.

Answers the following questions.

B$1.$ Write a research problem $($not more than $5$ lines$)$ for the case study below.

B$2.$ Write a research question for the case study that addresses the research problem of B$1.$

B$3.$ Set a Primary Objective for the research of this case study.

B$4.$ Outline a research design process suitable to address items B$1,$ B$2$ and B$3.$