Tourism is the fastest growing economic industry and has become one of the leading sources of growth and development in South Africa. However, tourism is in a constant state of flux requiring continuous research to document and analyse these shifting trends. Since 1999, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (South Africa’s first World Heritage Site) has been using ecotourism as part of its development and conservation strategy. This has resulted in the shift in tourism from what used to be a fishing destination prior 1999 to its current form as a premier ecotourism destination. The aim is to analyse and document the shift from mass tourism to ecotourism in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, using the Eastern Shores as a case study. Through modernism and postmodernism tourism discourse, this dissertation analyses visitor characteristics, behaviour and perceptions of both tourists and tourism businesses over time in an attempt to describe and explain the tourism shift on the Eastern Shores. This research reveals that there has been a distinct tourism shift in the Park from the ‘mass’ fishermen created by the Fordist mode of mass and standardised production to the more ecologically inclined ‘niche’ tourist where the de-differentiation of postmodernism has created diversified forms of tourists and tourism products. Within these broad classifications, this research has discovered the existence of more nuanced tourist profiles. Mass tourists range from the ‘sun, sea, sand, sex and sangria’ tourist to fishermen. Ecotourists on the other hand range from the casual or mainstream ecotourist who practices a shallow form of ecotourism to the dedicated ecotourist whose activities promote conservation and sustainable development allowing for a deeper form of ecotourism. Further, on the Eastern Shores, domestic coastal ‘mass tourists’ have also become more ecologically inclined. Previously these tourists would come for one activity, that is, to relax on the beach or fish. At present, the majority of these tourists now also pursue nature based activities, adventure tourism and/or sightseeing. The changes in the tourists visiting the Eastern Shores are representative of the global shifts in tourism that are currently taking place. Tourism is constantly evolving as part of global capitalism and will continue to shape tourism in iSimangaliso Wetland Park. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

Despite rapid growth of avitourism globally, the international market potential of avitourism in South Africa, which has remarkable birdlife, is not fully utilised. This research aimed to profile international avitourists by investigating their behavioural involvement, motivations, preferences, agreement to ecotourism principles, and awareness of avitourism in South Africa. Primary data were gathered by distributing questionnaires at the British Birdwatching Fair and Dutch Vogelfestival. Exploratory factor analyses (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were applied. The results indicated that avitourists differ in terms of behavioural involvement, motivation and preferences for each fair and birder type (casual, active or committed), but agreed on ecotourism principles. A second-order CFA model for avitourist motivation revealed three new constructs – wellbeing, intellectual activity and engagement. Respondents indicated relatively low awareness but high interest in visiting South Africa as a birding destination. The results support the South African avitourism industry potential in product development and destination marketing. / Transport, Logistics and Tourism / M.Com. (Tourism Management)

M.Sc. / OBJECTIVES Tourism in the Kruger National Park is closely linked to nature conservation. Tourism being the revenue earner and conservation the resource provider; this results in a mutually beneficial symbiosis. This finely tuned interdependence between tourism and conservation should be properly managed to ensure that tourism does not become a self-destructive process, destroying the very resources on which it is based. Mounting pressure from central government is forcing the National Parks Board to become financially independent of State grants. Tourism provides the most viable solution towards achieving financial independence. All the national parks in South Africa will therefore have to make a concerted effort to accommodate and attract more tourists. The Kruger National Park, being the largest national park (1 948 528 hectares), will have to make a major contribution towards financial independence. In order to achieve this goal, tourism in this Park will have to be planned and managed more effectively. It is within this context that this study was initiated. In order to facilitate future tourism planning and management, the study will investigate the number of tourists visiting the Kruger National Park as well as the occupation of accommodation by tourists. These results will in turn be used to investigate the tourist carrying capacity of the Park and to make suggestions regarding the Park's tourism management policies. RESEARCH METHOD As a result of the primarily descriptive nature of the investigation relating to the number of tourists visiting the Park as well as the occupation of accommodation by tourists, the research will include diagrammatic and cartographic representations of the data. In order to explain the temporal and spatial variations of the tourists in the Kruger National Park, a correlation and regression analysis was used in conjunction with non-tourist variables (which include both socio-economic and physical variables). The results obtained in the above investigation were used to study the physical and perceptual tourist carrying capacity. Physical tourist carrying capacity was researched by indicating the percentage occupation of available accommodation and available day visitor quota. As a result of the its subjective nature, the balance between the costs and benefits associated with gaining a holiday experience was used in conjunction with the number of visitors to the Park in order to determine the perceptual tourist carrying capacity. RESULTS The number of visitors to the Park as well as the occupation of accommodation by tourists both indicated that large temporal and spatial variations exist. The temporal variations in tourist data were best explained by school holidays. An obvious relationship exists between school holidays and the number of visitors to the Park. The spatial variation was best explained by distance from the PWV and rainfall. The distance from the PWV (now Gauteng Province) indicates the strong influence of this region as a source area for tourists to the Park. Rainfall in the Park influences the type of vegetation, which in turn influences the distribution and population densities of animals which are sought after by tourists. With regard to the tourist carrying capacity, the results showed that the physical tourist carrying capacity is utilised below the optimum levels. More tourists can therefore be accommodated, particularly during non-school holiday periods. With reference to the perceptual tourist carrying capacity, it was found that it has been reached. The most important reason for this is the higher tariffs that are being charged.

The major focus of this essay is the case study of the Voortrekker Monument Heritage Site in Pretoria, the introduction of a new management team in 1994 and the suggested manner in which the management could be improved. To place this particular case study in perspective, it was necessary in the first place, to look at the meaning of cultural resource- or heritage management and other related terms. It soon became apparent that no single term for this new discipline has been determined and that countries around the world differ greatly on this issue. South Africa uses the term Heritage Resource Management. An overview of cultural resources management (CRM) in other countries such as the U.S.A., Great Britain and some members of the Commonwealth, was also presented. Cultural resource management is a relatively new discipline in South Africa, and an historical overview, in which most of the relevant legislation was referred to, was undertaken. In comparison to other countries in the world, much less publications have been produced in South Africa. Most of these had been completed as dissertations or as papers for conferences. A detailed summary of all the relevant (directly or indirectly) legislation was compiled. In the last chapter, a case study of the Voortrekker Monument was undertaken. An attempt was made to provide adequate answers to the questions why?, how?, and who? should manage a heritage site. Answers to the question as to why a site should be managed, include the establishing of a cultural identity, the site's educational value, for research purposes and finally for its important role in the tourism industry. In the section on how to manage a site, aspects such as the identification and cultural significance of a site were discussed. The importance of a mission and a vision and key strategies, as well as policies were stressed. Resource management on the site includes conservation techniques, sustainable use and visitor management as well as heritage impact assessment. The site's financial management and the site's marketing were addressed in the last section. A heritage site must be managed by 'someone' and in the last section the 'who' (human resources) behind the management of the site, is discussed. Finally the hope is expressed that this dissertation will serve as a basis for a conservation management plan for the VTMHS and serve as a manual for other, similar heritage sites. / Dissertation (MA (Heritage and Museum Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2002. / Historical and Heritage Studies / unrestricted

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the Degree of Masters of Technology: Tourism and Hospitality, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / The current biodiversity and extinction crisis has ignited global concern for human and planetary well-being, culminating in the declaration by the United Nations of 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity. Concomitant with these developments has been the steady ascent of the ecotourism industry, a subset of the travel and tourism industry that holds some promise for the conservation and enhancement of natural areas. A third strand that may be added that weaves them all together for mutual benefit, is the use of interpretation as a communication strategy that enhances the travel experience for the visitor, stimulating interest and enriching their knowledge of local natural resources. This study examines the role of interpretation within one of the largest protected areas in the Durban area, Shongweni Reserve. Rich in faunal and floral diversity, the reserve hosts a range of active and passive recreational pursuits for local and international visitors. This study examines the range of natural, historic and cultural resources within the Shongweni Reserve and then develops appropriate themes for interpretive print material to effectively provoke and stimulate visitor interest in local biodiversity. Print samples were attractively designed to showcase interesting facets of plant and animal wildlife in the reserve. The samples integrated aspects of floral and faunal conservation status together with Zulu cultural use in the narrative and text. Findings from the survey revealed that most visitors were interested in learning more about local biodiversity and found the interpretation material to have a high degree of personal relevance. This has significance in terms of encouraging reserve management to communicate effectively with their visitors using interpretive media as a vehicle and stimulus for biodiversity conservation.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of Master’s Degree in Technology: Tourism and Hospitality, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the community-based tourism model adopted by the Zulu-Mpophomeni Tourism Experience (ZMTE). ZMTE is a community-based tourism initiative that aims to provide visitors with a combined experience encompassing the elements of culture, history and nature. It is fully owned and managed by the Mpophomeni local residents. ZMTE is made up of different service providers including cultural and township tours, accommodation, restaurants as well as arts and crafts, which are all locally owned and managed. The inception of ZMTE was influenced by the growth in demand for authentic cultural and township experience by international markets as well as the immediate need to improve the livelihood of the local community. However, increased tourism activity results in a number of positive and negative implications to the area of Mpophomeni and its residents, primarily because the local community forms part of the tourism product. ZMTE is selected as a significant area of study due to its great potential for growth and has generated increased interest from different stakeholders within the tourism industry as well as the Mpophomeni local community. Its inception has largely improved tourism in the area of Mpophomeni and the province of KwaZulu-Natal in particular (KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Authority: 2012). The study findings are based on a sample of 280 Mpophomeni local community members, one managing director of the ZMTE and six establishments that are service providers of the ZMTE. The study adopted both quantitative and qualitative methods for data collection. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to obtain data from the Mpophomeni local community. Face- to-face interviews were conducted to obtain data from ZMTE service providers and one managing director of this project. The results suggest the ZMTE is not beneficial to the majority of the local people and a lot still needs to be done in order to improve its viability. The major factor contributing to the lack of positive contribution of the ZMTE to the local community is due to the lack of knowledge about approaches that the local people can adopt in order to be part of the ZMTE and benefit from it. Findings derived from this study will unveil the CBT model adopted by the ZMTE. This will enable to revelation of areas that require improvement within the ZMTE so that benefits and opportunities are exploited. / M

Ecotourism has generated great interest from governments, tourism enterprises, tourists, conservation groups, the private sector and other stakeholders in the industry. A reason for this interest is the availability of pristine natural environments, especially in Africa. The need for more rigorous data on economic, environmental and social impacts of ecotourism development from different perspectives and stakeholders is central to unpacking key issues related to sustaining ecotourism in Africa that is both responsive to environmental as well as social and economic needs. There seems to be a need for a better understanding of ecotourism’s impacts, and how those impacts are affected by various developmental needs and management strategies. South Africa is a country which is closely linked with disputes resulting from land claims as a result of apartheid. Thus, this thesis attempts to unpack issues relating to the historical legacy, the proliferation of Private Game Parks in South Africa and related issues of privatised concentration of natural resources, access and affordability as well as potential social, economic and environmental impacts. Research was undertaken in two Private Parks in KwaZulu-Natal: Ezulwini Private Park and Tala Private Park. A fundamental ingredient for stakeholder involvement is collaboration among key players. The specific stakeholders identified for this study were: visitors, local communities, tour operators, Park personnel, Park managers and the Private owner of both the private Parks. The research employed both qualitative (participatory approaches) and quantitative (questionnaires) techniques when collecting data. The study revealed that visitors to Ezulwini Private Park and Tala Private Park listed important factors regarding their own efforts to promote ecotourism such as: conserving nature, limiting the over-utilisation of resources, being environmentally conscious, reducing water consumption, being litter conscious, spreading the conservation message via word of mouth and visiting more ecotourism destinations. There is a good level of interaction between the tour operating company (that carries out tours to Ezulwini Private Park and Tala Private Park) and the community. This is attributed to visitors purchasing from cultural villages and the use of local tour guides. The local communities living near the private Parks indicated that no relationship exists between the community, management and staff of the respective private Parks. Participatory exercises (venn diagrams, mental mapping and problem ranking exercises) were conducted with focus groups. These focus group discussions established heterogeneity within the respective communities and emphasised the need for the involvement of all community members who best understand and have the greatest stake in social, economic and political issues linked to the Parks. According to the Park personnel at Ezulwini Private Park and Tala Private Park local communities were somewhat involved in the activities and decision-making of the private Parks. However, the Park owner of both the private Parks stated that the local communities were not involved in the activities and decision-making of the private Parks. To mitigate social, environmental and economic impacts it is imperative that all stakeholders are consulted as this will reduce conflict and enhance consensus. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Rural tourism and agritourism are in their infant stages in South Africa. It benefits the farmer, the local community, the rural area, the tourist and the country. It is therefore a viable option but requires more research, management, planning and control for it to be successful. Many agritourism ventures are not as successful as they should be. The problem is that farmers/landowners do not research the demand for tourist products before they deliver them and do not know whom they are catering for. To stay competitive, the tourists' characteristics ought to be understood. This would provide insight into what facilities and services to supply, what resources to utilise and how to promote the agritourism destination. The aim of this study was to segment the potential and practising agritourists into different clusters, according to their preferences, and to investigate the clusters' characteristics and behaviours. The objectives were to: 1. Investigate the potential and practising agritourists' socio-economic, demographic and travel characteristics. 2. Rate all the attractions, activities and services according to their popularity. 3. Clarify the preferences of these tourists, concerning attractions and activities, by combining similar ones. 4. Divide the tourists into clusters of similar preferences. 5. Compare the socio-economic, demographic and travel characteristics of the different clusters of tourists. 6. Produce a set of guidelines for entrepreneurs/farmers/landowners, as to what tourist products they should supply or develop, and for whom, and how they should market them. This study entailed distributing questionnaires to potential and practising agritourists at shopping centres and farms involved in agritouri'swimming', 'picnicking', 'scenic drives', 'dams/lakes/pans' and 'small game' were the most popular agritourism attractions and activities. Factor analysis was used to reduce the number of variables by combining like variables (attractions) and cluster analysis was utilised to segment the respondents into five clusters of tourists with similar preferences for agritourism attractions and activities. Cross tabulation, frequencies and descriptive statistics were used to describe these different clusters. These groups of tourists were described according to their demographic, socio-economic and travel characteristics. Segmenting tourism markets and compiling profiles of the tourists within each sub-market has proved to be advantageous. Once the demands of the tourists are known, the appropriate facilities and number of facilities can be developed. Knowing who the tourists are and where to target them, will lead to better marketing, planning and promotion of the destination. Customer satisfaction will be increased, as it is known exactly who must be catered for, thereby resulting in repeat visits. The five clusters of tourists were: 'general nature tourists'; 'urban tourists'; 'hard outdoor adventure tourists'; 'visual or soft outdoor adventure tourists'; and 'agritourists'. All these tourists, except 'urban tourists', are excellent potential agritourists. The results of this study were used to compile guidelines for entrepreneurs. These guidelines could help them in deciding who to target (which clusters), what agritourism products to develop (attractions, activities and services) and how to market them (means of advertising). Appropriate accommodation types and the availability of equipment and facilities for activities also act as attractions. This study demonstrates an inexpensive method of gathering information about tourists, thereby improving marketing and planning approaches. It illustrates how the potential and practising agritourists can be divided into sub-markets. The agritourism market is a heterogeneous market and must therefore be segmented. Any entrepreneur can use the results of this market segmentation. Any future studies, similar to this one, could consist of a sample much larger. As this study was primarily based in the Western Cape, similar research should be executed in other distinct regions. It would be illuminating to see how the groups of agritourists vary according to geographical areas. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Landelike en agritoerisme is in hulontluikende fase in Suid-Afrika. Dit bevoordeel die boer, die plaaslike gemeenskap, die landelike streek, die toeris en die land. Dit is 'n lewensvatbare opsie maar benodig meer navorsing, bestuur, beplanning en beheer om suksesvol te wees. Baie agritoerisme ondernemings is nie so geslaagd as wat dit kan wees nie. Die probleem is dat die boere/grondeienaars nie die nodige navorsing doen omtrent die aanvraag na 'n produk voordat hul dit aanbied nie, en weet ook nie watter toerismesegment hul wil bevredig nie. Om mededingend te bly moet die toeris se eienskappe verstaan word. Dit sal insae gee in watter fasiliteite en dienste om te voorsien, asook watter bronne om te benut om die agritoerismedestinasie te promoveer. Die doel van hierdie studie was om potensiële en praktiserende agritoeriste te groepeer in verskillende segmente volgens hulle voorkeure en groeps gedrag. Die doelwitte was om: 1. Potensiële en praktiserende agritoeriste se sosio-ekonomiese, demografiese en reiseienskappe te ondersoek. 2. Die rangorde van attraksies, aktiwiteite en dienste volgens gewildheid te bepaal. 3. Voorkeure van toeriste aangaande attraksies en aktiwiteite te bepaal deur gelyksoortige groeperings te kombineer. 4. Toeriste in trosgroepe met gelyksoortige voorkeure te verdeel. 5. Die sosio-ekonomiese, demografiese en reiseienskappe van verskillende toeristetrosgroepe te vergelyk. 6. Riglyne vir ondernemers/boere/grondeienaars te formuleer vir watter toeristeprodukte hul behoort te verskaf of ontwikkel en aan wie en hoe hul dit behoort te bemark. Hierdie studie het die verspreiding van vraelyste aan potensiële en praktiserende agritoeriste in winkelsentrums en plase, betrokke by agritoerisme, behels. Die vraelyste het informasie oor potensiële en praktiserende agritoeriste verskaf Een-honderd en agt vraelyste was voltooi. Die respondente het aangedui dat 'berge', 'watervalle', 'riviere', 'grootwild', 'swem', 'pieknieks', 'natuurskoonplesierritte' , 'damme/mere/panne' en 'kleinwild' die gewildste agritoerisme attraksies en aktiwiteite is. Faktoranalise is gebruik om die getal verandelikes te verminder deur soortgelyke verandelikes (attraksies) te kombineer en trosanalise te gebruik om die respondente te segmenteer in vyf trosgroepe toeriste met gelyksoortige voorkeure vir agritoerisme attraksies en aktiwiteite. Kruistabulering, frekwensies en beskrywende statistiek was gebruik om hierdie verskillende trosse te beskryf volgens hul demografiese, sosio-ekonomiese en reiseienskappe. Segmentering van die toerismemark en die saamstel van profiele van die toeriste binne elke sub-mark is voordelig bevind. As die vereistes van die toeriste bekend is, kan die gepaste fasiliteite en aantal fasiliteite ontwikkel word. Om te weet wie die toeriste is en waar om hulle te teiken sal tot beter bemarking, beplanning en promosie van die destinasie lei. Kliëntbevrediging sal toeneem, omdat ondernemers presies weet wie om te bevredig en dit sal herhaalde besoeke tot gevolg hê. Die vyf trosgroepe toeriste was: 'algemene natuurtoeriste'; 'stedelike toeriste'; 'ekstreme buitelug avontuurtoeriste' ; 'visuele of nie-ekstreme buitelug avontuurtoeriste' ; en 'agritoeriste'. Al die toeriste behalwe stedelike toeriste is uitstekende potensiële agritoeriste. Die resultate van hierdie studie is gebruik om riglyne vir ondernemers te kompileer. Hierdie riglyne kan hul help om te besluit wie om te teiken (watter trosse), watter agritoerisme produkte om te ontwikkel (attraksies, aktiwiteite en dienste) en hoe om dit te bemark (wyse van advertensie). Toepaslike akkommodasie en die beskikbaarheid van toerusting en fasiliteite vir aktiwiteite dien ook as attraksies. Hierdie studie demonstreer 'n ekonomiese manier om informasie omtrent toeriste in te win, om bemarking en beplanning te verbeter. Dit illustreer hoe die potensiële en praktiserende agritoeris ook in sub-markte ingedeel kan word. Die agritoerisme mark is 'n heterogenemark en moet dus gesegmenteer word. Enige ontwikkelaar kan die resultate van hierdie marksegmentasie gebruik. Soortgelyke navorsing behoort in die toekoms op 'n groter steekproef gedoen word. Omdat hierdie studie hoofsaaklik in die Wes-Kaap gebaseer was, behoort soortgelyke navorsing in ander bepaalde streke uitgevoer te word. Dit sal insiggewend wees om te sien hoe die groepe agritoeriste volgens geografiese streke varieer.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Management Sciences: Hospitality and Tourism Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017. / The study addressed four questions using secondary annual time series data: (1) How is event spend related to economic development? (2) How are the physical attributes of the region (natural capital) related to economic development?(3) How is social cohesion related to economic development? (4) How does human capital influence economic development? The study period starts in 1994 and ends in 2016, accordingly 100 data points were pulled from the time series. Error Correction Model and Ordinary Least Squares were used as analytical tools to test the regression model developed for the study. Economic development is the dependent variable and is represented by tourism employment data sourced from Statistics South Africa. The independent variables are event spend represented by expenditure figures for culture, sports and recreation published by Statistics SA; human capital was measured using gross educational ratio for secondary education accessed from the World Bank database; natural capital was measured using the gross domestic product attained from Statistics South Africa; and social cohesion was measured using social expenditure data acquired from the South African Reserve Bank. The theoretical framework that underpins the study is the geography political theory as espoused by different authors including Collier (2007) and Kollosov (2001). On the basis of this theoretical framework the study seeks to look at the effect of event spend, natural capital, human capital and social cohesion on economic development. The findings of the study show that there is no relationship between economic development, event spend and human capital. However a relationship was established between natural capital and social cohesion. The results of the study will inform policymakers in the allocation of budgets towards major events. It will also contribute to the equitable distribution of resources to promote social cohesion in communities. / M

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Technology: Tourism and Hospitality, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017. / The past decades indicate enormous interest in tourism as a tool for regional economic development. However, it is not always clear if tourism creates a significant contribution to local destination communities, as, in most cases, benefits from tourism emerge slowly and usually accrue to certain groups within the community. This study is driven by the researcher’s desire in determining tourism’s contribution to local community development, and to seek ways in which the local indigenous community can enhance their standard of living through tourism. Hence, increased understanding of tourism’s contribution to community development is necessary to establish strategies to ensure that employees and community receive equal benefits from tourism. Therefore, the study sought to investigate ‘the contribution of tourism to local community development, using Shakaland Zulu Cultural Village (SZCV) as a case. A qualitative and quantitative approach was employed. However, more emphasis was placed on the qualitative approach. The study sample compromised of 84 purposely selected employees of SZCV. The data collected were coded and organised according to the interview questions and were analysed and interpreted according to five analytic categories that were based on the objectives of the study. The findings of the study indicated that: SZCV contributes to local community development; and SZCV has different tourism employment categories that improve the community’s livelihoods in Eshowe, including cultural dancers, cultural chief, traditional herbalist, sangoma, arts and craft workers, chefs, receptionist, reservationist, spaza shop retailer, food and beverage manager, front office manager, maintenance manager as well as cultural manager. The study further revealed that a few respondents received training for their positions; and that the majority of employees are involved in the decision-making process within the SZCV; however, this involvement was not at a strategic level. Furthermore, the study recomended that local community development in Eshowe needs to be improved especially through the diversification of the cultural village. This is attainable by forming a partnership with other tourism business in close proximity to the SZCV that attract a high volume of tourist, to increase the possible benefits to communities that are residing along SZCV. / M