Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores the role of thermal mineral springs in South Africa in the development of the early tourism sector. Their healing qualities enhanced the country’s reputation as a health resort, and therefore they became a national asset and tourist attraction. The ancient history of thermal mineral springs and the belief in their curative abilities are discussed in order to familiarise one with the rich history of thermal springs and to help determine their role in the tourism sector. By looking at the role of thermal mineral springs in the European and especially British contexts provides a foundation for understanding how the thermal water culture was passed on to South Africa through colonialism. With the colonisation of South Africa, thermal mineral springs became host to British invalids who visited the country since they suffered from consumption, and was hoping to be cured by the country’s health giving natural assets. The influx of invalids and tourists ultimately spawned wide tourism and the modernisation of the springs. The three thermal mineral spring resorts near present day Caledon, Montagu and Citrusdal are used as case studies of how thermal springs in the Cape Colony and later the Western Cape developed from primitive sites to splendid resorts and world famous sanatoriums. Their history is traced from their formation to their modernisation, a time period ranging from the 1700s to 2011. This clearly illustrates the phases of development of each of the thermal mineral water establishments. The curative aspects of the thermal mineral spring water are emphasised, concentrating on how the South African thermal water cure culture was used and developed. This study concludes with discussing how the three thermal mineral spring resorts had to navigate the changing tourism sector in South Africa, as well as looking at their development from the 1980s to 2011. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie verken die rol wat warmwaterbronne in die ontwikkeling van die vroëe toerisme sektor in Suid-Afrika gespeel het. Die genesende kragte van hierdie warm water bronne het die land se reputasie as ‘n gesondheidsoord versterk en van hul ‘n nasionale bate asook ‘n toeriste aantreklikheid gemaak. Die antieke geskiedenis van warmwaterbronne en die geloof in hul genesende kragte word bespreek om bekend te raak met hul ryk geskiedenis en om hul rol in die toerisme sektor te bepaal. Deur te kyk na die rol wat warm water bronne in die Europeuse sowel as die Britse konteks gehad het, dien as ‘n platform om te verstaan hoe die gebruik van die warm water kultuur na Suid-Afrika deur middel van kolonialisme oorgedra is. Met die kolonialisasie van Suid-Afrika het die warmwaterbronne gasheer gespeel vir Britse invalides wat aan tuberkulose gelei het en daarom die land besoek het om deur die land se helende natuurlike bates geneesing te word. Die instroming van invalides en toeriste het wyd verspreide toersime tot gevolg gehad asook die vermoderniseering van die warmwaterbronne. Die drie warm waterbronoorde naby die hedendaagse Caledon, Montagu en Citrusdal is gebruik as gevallestudies om die ontwikkeling van warmwaterbronne in die destydse Kaap Kolonie asook die hedendaagse Wes-Kaap, vanaf primatiewe bronne na pragtige oorde en wêreld bekende sanatoriums te illustreer. Die geskiedenis van die warmwaterbron oorde word bespreek in die tydperk van die 1700’s tot 2011 om so hul ontstaan tot hul vermoderniseering te illustreer. As gevolg van hierdie verlengde tydperk kan die verskillende ontwikkelings fases van die warmwaterbron oorde waargeneem word. Daar word ook gefokus op die genesende aspekte van die warmwaterbron water en hoe die Suid-Afrikaanse warmwaterbron kultuur ontwikkel en gebruik is. Die studie sluit af met ‘n bespreking van hoe die driewarm waterwaterbron oorde by die veranderende toerisme sektor in Suid-Afrika moes aanpas en dek ook hul ontwikkeling vanaf die 1980’s tot 2011.

The objective of this study was to develop turnaround strategies for the Calitzdorp Spa Tourism Resort (herein after referred to as Calitzdorp Spa) to stop the performance decline and put it back on the road of recovery again. The development of turnaround strategies are dependent on establishing the cause of the performance decline and to enable management to plan effective and optimal strategies for the tourism resort focused on the recovery response. An analysis of various sources on strategic management models were undertaken to find a theoretical framework for the development of a strategic management model that could be applied to a tourism resort. The following model for the strategic management of a tourism resort was consequently developed and consists of the following main components: • Mission, objectives and stakeholders; • Strategic position; • Strategic choice; and • Strategic implementation. A second model for the Turnaround Process of a tourism resort was proposed to assist management in guiding the resort to recovery, consisting of two main phases, namely: • Turnaround situation; and the • Turnaround response. The research methodology followed included: • a literature survey to define the important concepts of tourism, resorts, strategic management and turnaround strategies; • a questionnaire survey to determine customer satisfaction at the Calitzdorp Spa; • telephone interviews to determine the marketing and positioning strategies of the Calitzdorp Spa; and • a focus group discussion session to determine the current situation at the resort and to plan future management strategies of the Calitzdorp Spa. Specific conclusions were made and specific actions recommended based on the results obtained.

B. Tech. (Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Faculty of Human Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / Tourism is a fast-developing industry globally, and the impacts of tourism are exceedingly diverse. The relationship between the environment and tourism has assumed a unique position in research through the development of tourism studies over the years. From an economic viewpoint, tourism is aimed at bringing income to local communities. It also could also increase and spread economic development, thus reducing the inequalities in income distribution by providing and creating employment opportunities. However, from an ecological standpoint, tourism poses a threat to the delicate environment. Thus, the pressure on natural resources remains a major problem globally, and the fact that tourism-related activities and facilities such as resorts contribute to the scarcity and overuse of resources is of great concern. The rapid growth in tourist numbers poses a significant threat to natural resources, more so tourists are significant consumers of natural resources such as water and electricity while on holiday. Overuse and depletion of these natural resources can cause environmental degradation in and around a destination. Even though some tourists hold positive environmental attitudes, they may not behave environmentally responsible while visiting resorts, because they want to experience the destination in full. Behavioural change is a complex process involving the interaction between numerous variables of which attitude is only one attribute. Attitude itself is also a complex attribute which is challenging to define and may involve multiple and even contradictory values. Previous studies indicate that positive attitudes toward the environment do not necessarily lead to environmentally responsible behaviour. Researchers have found a weak relationship between attitudes and behaviour. Although there is not a direct or linear relationship between attitude and behaviour, they may have significant causal effects on behaviour. Suffice to say, however, viiattitudes, especially strong specific and narrowly defined attitudes that have been acquired through direct experience, that influence the person’s self-interest and are accessible, have a strong effect on behaviour. For this reason, a general indication of the variable ‘environmental attitudes’ was obtained by recoding the respondents’ identification and ratings of severe environmental problems when visiting LWR in Limpopo. The measurement of environmental concern or rather behaviour is generally regarded as an integrated component of broader attitudinal dispositions. This study attempted to determine whether tourists are behaving in an environmentally responsible manner while visiting selected resorts in Limpopo South Africa. This was approached based on an empirical study which followed a quantitative research design. A non-probability, convenience sampling method by means of a web-survey was adopted. The target population for this study were tourists to all LWR (Limpopo Wildlife Resorts) in Limpopo South Africa. Once the data was collected, it was captured and processed by means of SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). Environmentally responsible behaviour of tourists visiting LWR was analysed by means of descriptive statistics, using factor analysis and ANOVA. With the information gathered, the researcher wanted to test if there was a difference in visitor behaviour in comparison to their attitudes toward the environment. ANOVA was used to compare the difference in visitor’s behaviour and attitudes while visiting resorts and the use of factor analysis as a procedure was necessary for data reduction and summarisation. Therefore, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to investigate how tourist environmentally responsible behaviour differs between visitor profiles. The data showed that females agreed more strongly with statements empathetic to the environment than male respondents did. Furthermore, the data showed that as one becomes older, so the agreement with the opinion of empathetic opinion to the environment becomes larger. The apathetic environmental opinion factor shows an opposite tendency, namely as one grows older, the agreement with the apathetic opinion factor becomes less. Awareness has become heightened, which is shown in the visitor’s value of nature and leads to environmentally conscious behaviour and activities to preserve the environment. Moreover, an increased concern of the environment has made consumers more aware of the environmental impacts of their viiipurchase decision concerning the service industry. The increased awareness of environmental impacts of tourism has led to the emergence of tourist called, among others, environmentally responsible tourist. Therefore, one can say that tourist as consumers are becoming more aware of the importance of protecting the environment and more involved in practising environmentally friendly behaviour while on holiday.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Technology: Tourism Management Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012 / There are 11 thermal springs in the Western Cape, seven of which have been developed into eight resorts. Only one of these resorts has a focus on health and wellness, with appropriate facilities, with the others functioning primarily as family leisure resorts. Internationally there has been a move by traditional thermal spring resorts to begin offering a combination of health (medical and wellness) services in combination with leisure activities. In light of current international trends, as well as perceived domestic needs, it appears that the Western Cape‟s thermal spring resources are not being optimally utilized as tourist attractions, neither for domestic nor for international tourist markets. This research sets out to evaluate the potential for health tourism development of thermal springs in the Western Cape. It analyses relevant aspects of both the supply and demand sides of thermal spring tourism in the Western Cape. A database is compiled of thermal spring resorts and undeveloped thermal springs in the Western Cape, which includes facilities and services, and relative locations with respect to tourist attractions and tourism routes. The mineral and radon gas contents of the respective thermal waters are measured and discussed in relation to known medicinal properties. A questionnaire-based survey was undertaken, involving 383 respondents at six resorts, and activity-based market segmentation was carried out using k-means cluster analysis. A four-segment user profile (typology) of current visitors, based on activity preferences, was compiled. It was found that there is considerable potential for the development of thermal spring health (medical and wellness) tourism products in the Western Cape, based on available resources. A framework for thermal spring health tourism product development in the Western Cape is proposed, and recommendations are made for future development and marketing. Key recommendations include the development of balneological treatments, and radon therapies, at certain resorts, and investigating of the availability of local resources that could be incorporated into medical or wellness tourism products.