Abstract
Climate change and resultant climatic variability impose on the tourism sector particularly on tourism businesses are significant. Their ability to adapt to these changes and reduce vulnerability is inherently linked to their adaptive capacity and their potential to build long-term resilience. This study critically investigates the impacts of climate variability and extreme weather events on tourism businesses in Cameroon, with a specific focus on the environmentally vulnerable regions of Buea and Limbe. These areas are increasingly exposed to climate-induced challenges such as heavy rainfall, flooding, landslides, and unpredictable weather patterns, all of which threaten tourism operations and long-term sustainability. Framed by the theoretical constructs of adaptive capacity and resilience, the research adopts a qualitative methodology, drawing on insights from 33 in-depth, face-to-face interviews with tourism business owners, national park managers, government tourism officials, and representatives from non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Findings reveal that climate-related disruptions have significantly affected tourism infrastructure, reduced visitor flows, and created operational uncertainties. These impacts are further intensified by weak institutional frameworks, socio-political instability, and limited access to resources for adaptation. While some tourism enterprises have implemented basic coping strategiesn - such as modifying operations or diversifying offerings—these responses are largely reactive, short-term, and insufficient to build robust resilience. The study underscores the pressing need for integrated and proactive adaptation planning that involves all key stakeholders in the tourism and environmental sectors. It calls for strengthened policy support, investment in resilient infrastructure, improved disaster preparedness, and targeted training for tourism operators. By capturing the lived experiences of stakeholders in a climate-sensitive and under-researched context, this research contributes to both theoretical and practical understandings of tourism resilience in the Global South. The study concludes by proposing a set of context-specific adaptation and mitigation strategies to guide policy development and inform sustainable tourism planning. It offers valuable insights for decision-makers seeking to enhance the adaptive capacity of tourism enterprises and promote long-term resilience in the face of accelerating climate change.