The growth of the Chinese economy represents a significant opportunity for global travel and tourism and it has raised the expectation that the South African tourism industry will explore and benefit from the Chinese outbound market growth. Since international travel and tourism is becoming a significant component of the South African economy, it is important to understand the factors that influence consumer decision-making in tourism. The main objective of this study was to determine the factors that influence the decision-making of Chinese tourists that travel to South Africa. The research gives a systemic review of the Chinese outbound market, starting with the Chinese outbound travel history, and the impact of the social-economic issues on Chinese travel and tourism. An overview is provided of the size, growth and the regulation of the Chinese outbound market, as well as the main characteristics of Chinese outbound tourists. The factors that influence decision-making are compartmentalised into two categories: internal and external factors. Internal and external factors relate to the concept that people travel due to the fact that they are pushed by their own internal forces and pulled by the external forces such as the social environment, reference groups, social class, the restrictions from government regulations and the attraction of travel destination countries. The empirical findings reflect that the factors that have the most significant impact on the decision-making process of Chinese outbound tourists travelling to South Africa are perception about safety, lack of knowledge about South Africa and a growth in the use of the Internet as a source of tourist information. The study also reflects a tendency towards individualism and a shift away from traditional group decision-making. Based on the findings of the empirical study, South Africa tourism needs to offer a safe travel environment, provide greater access to information featuring South Africa as a tourist destination, and offer discounted travel packages

M.Comm. / South Africa’s rich historical sporting background, its cultural attractions and political history make it one of the most attractive tourism attractions nationally and internationally. Demographically, South Africa is an adrenalin sport participant’s dream. Big facilities such as the Standard Bank Arena, Johannerburg Stadium and Mandeville Sport Arena are suited to host international sport tourists. To ensure that sport tourism develop in South Africa, it must be developed as a niche market. To describe the characteristics of tourism as well as sport and leisure tourism, it is necessary to identify and discuss traditional and commercial sport in Gauteng. This information could be used to make recommendations for the development of a sport tourism map and to introduce it to tourists in a form of a brochure. / Dr. J.F. Durand

No description available.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Master's degree in Recreation and Tourism, in the Department of Recreation and Tourism at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2010. / The study was conducted with the view of investigating community participation and benefits from tourism activities and facilities at the Umvoti Municipality. Though the uMvoti people could be perceived as not understanding tourism a human activity and its related benefits, most of them do not seem to participate in any tourism development activities taking place in the area. In an attempt to investigate the research problem, the following research objectives were formulated: (a) To investigate the degree to which the community understands the importance of the concept of tourism. (b) To ascertain the adequacy of the provision of tourism activities and facilities in the study area. (c) To identify the tourism participation patterns of the local community in terms of tourism activities and facilities found in the study area. (d) To reveal the perceived tourism benefits that the local community is expecting to enjoy in the study area, (e) To assess the perceived management strategies or practices, that are been used by the tourism authorities to promote tourism development in the uMvoti municipal area. The research methodology used in an attempt to execute the objectives of the research study involved a stratified sample size of 128 respondents, who were distributed in the uMvoti Local Municipality as follows : sample consisting of Tourism & Municipal officials [13], Tourists [18], tour operators [20] and local communityl"??]. Data was collected by means of questionnaires, which were analysed using the statistical package for the social sciences [SPSS] computer programme, available at the Department of Recreation and Tourism, University of Zululand. The findings of the study essentially revealed that there exists a positive perception towards tourism in the study area. The community has also displayed a variety of expectations since tourism has not achieved any remarkable development in the study area. The findings were that tourism facilities and activities in the study area were inadequately provided and unsatisfactory: there was also minimal to fair participation practice in tourism activities and facilities, mainly influenced by social and education variables. The tourism management practice in the study area were found to be ineffective and inadequate for encouraging community beneficiation. It was further discovered that, notwithstanding that the local community was aware of tourism activities and facilities in the study area, there were tangle and adequate benefits for the community, since they were for a long time excluded from enjoying the rewards of tourism. The community members tend to be sceptical, where there are no identifiable and observable improvements in their lifestyle. The research study finally came up with recommendations that were based on the outcomes of study. The study recommended that there must be heavy investment in skills training and education of the community in uMvoti area.

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of Master's Degree in Technology: Tourism and Hospitality, Durban University of Technology, 2010. / Tourism is playing an increasingly important role in the local national economy. The outstanding beauty of the northern Drakensberg is a prime tourist attraction in KwaZulu-Natal, attracting a regular flow of tourists throughout the year (Drakensberg Tourism, 2007). The primary objective of this research is to investigate whether the benefits of tourism that are supposed to be reaped by the local community of Bergville, exist. If so, what are these benefits? There might be people from the local community, who are working within the tourism sector, but what are the types of jobs that they do, their level of job-satisfaction, and the extent to which they are able to earn a living from employment within the tourism sector? Do they have the necessary skills and training to allow them to make a successful career within sector? The White Paper on the Development and Promotion of Tourism (DEAT, 1996), states that with any tourism development in the local communities, local people should be involved in the decision making. They should be trained if they lack the necessary skills required to participate in that development. All these issues are relevant to Bergville as the region has a lot of tourism development, and it is a place that integrates tourism and conservation. The results and conclusions of this study are based on a sample of 307 members of the Bergville local community and 15 local tourism establishments including hotels, Bed and Breakfasts and community tourism organisations. The results suggest that tourism has a greater potential for job creation in the area, that the local community lack the requisite skills and understanding to fully reap the benefits that tourism can bring to their community and that the local tourism authority is not carrying out its mandate to support tourism in Bergville. Policy recommendations include greater collaboration amongst the community, the local tourism authorities and the private sector to promote Bergville as a prime tourism destination in the Drakensberg. / M

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Tourism is seen and promoted as the economic cure in the developing world. However, in recent years it has been realised that tourism is not an easy or quick solution to economic growth. Business and government have identified tourism as one of the country's critical job providers. In 1989 Smith (1989: 15) identified the following challenges confronting the tourism industry: • A lack of credible measures and objective analysis. • Diversity of the industry. • Complexities created by geographical characteristic of the industry. • The lack of industry organisation. • The need to anticipate future developments. Can the Tourism Industry stimulate the economy and be a solution to unemployment? As the Western Cape is seen as the tourism leader in South Africa, this study will determine whether the industry will lead to an economically stronger Western Cape and ultimately be a helpful and healthy source of income to South Africa. The writer will start this study with world tendencies and the realities of tourism and then move onto tourism in South Africa, including both international and domestic tourism. An important factor for economic growth is the tourism potential in the Western Cape, which will be examined. It is clear from all the data and literature that the tourism industry hold potential for growth in South Africa. Wesgro (2001) has identified the Western Cape as the strongest tourism region. The Western Cape can offer unusual and alternative experience to tourists as facilities are in place for eco-tourism with excursions such as shark diving. The Western Cape is furthermore ensuring that more business tourists can be accommodated with the building of the Conference Centre in Cape Town. Government has realised the potential of the tourism industry and as such has increased the budget allocation drastically. This means that marketing can be done more aggressively ensuring that both the domestic and international tourist markets grows. On the negative side is the effect that crime and political instability has on the tourism industry. It is interesting to note that despite crime, tourism arrivals are still increasing. A vital challenge for the tourism industry is to develop and promote our cultural assets and experiences. Repositioning the role of the previously disadvantage within the tourism infrastructure is an issue that needs to be addressed. We need to re-evaluate, re-package and re-interpret our distinct resources. The Western Cape's growth potential lies in its natural beauty and favourable weather, the wide variety of internationally renowned natural tourist attraction, and a well established infrastructure, all available at a relatively low cost to foreigners. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Toerisme word gesien en adverteer as die ekonomiese oplossing in die ontwikkelende wêreld. Dit is egter die afgelope jare besef dat toerisme nie 'n maklike of vinnige oplossing vir ekonomiese groei is nie. Die besigheidswêreld en die regering het toerisme geïdentifiseer as een van die land se kritiese werkvoorsieners. Smith (1989: 15) het in 1989 die volgende uitdagings wat die toerisme industrie konfronteer, geïdentifiseer: • 'n Tekort aan geloofwaardige maatstawwe en objektiewe ontleding. • Die uiteenlopendheid van die industrie. • Ingewikkeldhede geskep deur die geografiese eienskappe van die industrie. • 'n Tekort aan industrie organisasie. • 'n Behoefte om toekomstige ontwikkelings te voorspel. Kan die toerisme industrie die ekonomie stimuleer en die oplossing vir werkloosheid wees? Aangesien die Wes-Kaap gesien word as die toerisme leier in Suid Afrika sal hierdie studie poog om te bepaal of die industrie sal lei tot 'n ekonomies sterk Wes-Kaap en uiteindelik 'n gesonde bron van inkomste vir Suid Afrika. Die skrywer sal die studie begin met wêreldneigings en die realiteite van toerisme en dan oorgaan tot toerisme in Suid Afrika, insluitend beide internasionale en binnelandse toerisme. 'n Belangrike faktor vir ekonomiese groei wat bestudeer sal word is die toerisme potensiaal in die Wes-Kaap. Dit blyk duidelik uit data en literatuur wat bestudeer is dat die toerisme industrie groot potensiaal vir Suid Afrika inhou. Wesgro (2001) het die Wes-Kaap as die sterkste toerisme streek geïdentifiseer. Die Wes-Kaap kan buitengewone en alternatiewe ervarings aan toeriste bied aangesien fasiliteite reeds bestaan vir eko-toerisme met ekskursies soos haai-duik. Die Wes-Kaap is verder besig om te verseker dat besigheidstoeriste geakkommodeer kan word met die aanbou van die nuwe konferensie sentrum in Kaapstad. Die regering het ook die potensiaal van die toerisme industrie besef en het as sulks die begroting aanwysing drasties verhoog. Dit het tot gevolg dat bemarking meer aggressief kan plaasvind en verseker sodoende dat beide die binnelandse en internasionale toerisme markte groei. Aan die negatiewe kant is die effek wat geweld en politieke onstabiliteit op die toerisme industrie het. Dit is egter interessant om daarop te let dat toerisme aankomste nog steeds groei ten spyte van misdaad. 'n Belangrike uitdaging vir die toerisme industrie is om ons kulturele bates en ervarings te ontwikkel en bevorder. 'n Saak wat aandag moet geniet is die herposisionering van vorige agtergeblewende mense binne die toerisme infrastruktuur. Ons sal ons hulpbronne moet herevalueer, herverpak en herinterpreteer. Die Wes-Kaapse groeipotensiaal is geleë in sy natuurlike skoonheid en gunstige weer, die wye verskeidenheid van internasionaal erkende natuurlike toeriste attraksies en 'n goed gevestigde infrastruktuur wat alles beskikbaar is teen 'n relatiewe lae prys vir buitelanders.

Thesis (DPhil (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The rapid growth of tourism, particularly heritage tourism, in South Africa is leading to a detrimental impact on heritage resources. Part of the problem lies in the lack of knowledge visitors have of the significance and vulnerability of the resources they are engaging with. Another part of the problem is the inherent conflict between the heritage tourism sector and the heritage management sector. Whilst sharing the same resource base, each sector has very different aims. Tourism seeks to exploit heritage resources, whilst heritage management seeks to conserve them. These problems are not necessarily restricted to South Africa and the study of its nature and extent is here limited to the Little Karoo. The Little Karoo is defined in this dissertation as the area in the Western Cape bounded by the Langeberg and Outeniqua Mountains in the south, and the Swartberg in the north. It includes the towns of Montagu, Barrydale, Ladismith, Amalienstein, Zoar, Calitzdorp, Van Wyksdorp, Oudtshoorn, Dysselsdorp, De Rust and Herold. Of importance to this research is the fact that the Little Karoo can be accessed by a variety of passes, poorts and kloofs. This study has been undertaken in order to explore a non-empirical solution to the problem of the human impact on heritage resources through their thematic interpretation and presentation. This research also aims to improve the relationship between the tourism and heritage industries by introducing a shared terminology in the form of a model or framework. This framework is a way of organising and presenting the heritage story in such a way that both heritage tourism and heritage managers (and other stakeholders) can understand. The aim of the study is to devise a mechanism with which to identify, organise, interpret and present heritage resources in a thematic manner. The resulting thematic framework will hopefully enrich the heritage experience of visitors to heritage sites while providing guidance as to the vulnerability of heritage resources. A secondary objective is to develop common terminology for the heritage tourism and heritage management communities. The intent is to improve the relationship between these two sectors and thereby mitigate further damage to heritage resources. Data for this study was collected from several empirical sources. Extant and primary data was accessed. Extant data came from the pertinent published sources, while primary data was collected via a combination of personal and group face-to-face semi-structured interviews and personal observation of heritage sites in the Little Karoo during 2003 and 2004. The main outcome of this research was the development of a South African Heritage Tourism Thematic Framework (SAHTTF). The SAHTTF is, in part, based on and inspired by frameworks from the United States, Australia, Canada and South Africa. There are three tiers within the framework: theme groups, themes and sub-themes. The framework is intended to be flexible and the three tiers can be mixed and matched in whatever way best serves the story of the heritage resource in question. The five theme groups are: Development of the environment; Peopling our land; Way of life; Governing South Africa and Developing South Africa. The whole story of South Africa can be organised and presented using this framework. However, in order to keep this study within reasonable limits, the focus of the story was limited to the heritage story of the Little Karoo. The case studies of the Cango Caves, Cogmans Kloof, Swartberg Pass and Seweweeks Poort tested the effectiveness of the SAHTTF. It is recommended that the SAHTTF be presented to the heritage tourism and heritage management sectors for further evaluation and testing. This research has proved that the SAHTTF can be an effective tool in the identification, organization, interpretation and presentation of heritage resources. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die snelle groei van toerisme, veral erfnistoerisme, in Suid-Afrika het tot gevolg dat erfnisbronne onder groot druk geplaas word. Die probleem is deels dat besoekers geen of weinig kennis dra van die kwesbaarheid en belangrikheid van die bronne waarmee hulle handel. Verder is die probleem die belangebotsing tussen erfnistoerisme en erfnisbestuur sektore. Toerisme verbruik erfnisbronne, terwyl erfnisbestuur poog om dit te bewaar. Hierdie probleem is egter nie noodwendig eie aan Suid-Afrika nie en vir die doeleindes van dié studie word die omvang en aard daarvan slegs in die Klein Karoo ondersoek. Die Klein Karoo word beskou as die gebied in die Westelike Provinsie wat in die suide deur die Langeberge en Outenikwaberge en in die noorde deur die Swartberge begrens word. Dit omsluit die dorpe Montagu, Barrydale, Ladismith, Amalienstein, Zoar, Calitzdorp, Vanwyksdorp, Oudtshoorn, Dysselsdorp, De Rust en Herold. Die Klein Karoo kan deur talle passe, poorte en klowe bereik word – die belangrike feit wat in hierdie studie ontgin word. Die navorsing is onderneem ten einde 'n nie-empiriese oplossing vir die impak van die mens op erfnisbronne deur tematiese interpretasie en voorstelling te vind. Dit beoog om die verhouding tussen die bedryf van erfnistoerisme en erfnisbestuur te bestendig deur gedeelde terminologie in die vorm van 'n model of raamwerk. Hierdie raamwerk bied 'n metode om die verhale van erfnis so aan te bied dat beide die bedrywers van erfnistoerisme en -bestuur begrip daarvoor kan ontwikkel. Die doel van die navorsing is om 'n meganisme te vind waardeur die erfnisbronne op 'n tematiese wyse geïdentifiseer, georganiseer, vertolk en aangebied kan word. Hierdie tematiese raamwerk sal hopelik besoekers se ervaring van erfnisbronne verryk en leiding gee rakende die kwesbaarheid van terreine. Data vir die navorsing is uit verskeie empiriese bronne versamel. Bestaande en primêre data is gebruik. Bestaande data was afkomstig van toepaslike publikasies en primêre data is versamel en ingewin via 'n kombinasie van individuele en groepsonderhoude deur middel van semigestruktureerde onderhoude, asook persoonlike waarneming van verskillende erfnisterrreine in die Klein Karoo tussen 2003 en 2004. Die belangrikste opbrengs uit die navorsing is die ontwikkeling van 'n Suid-Afrikanse Erfnistoerisme Tematiese Raamwerk (South Afican Heritage Tourism Thematic Framework – SAHTTF). Die SAHTTF is deels gebaseer op, en geïnspireer deur, soortgelyke raamwerke in die VSA, Australië, Kanada en Suid-Afrika. Daar is drie vlakke in die raamwerk: tematiese groepe, temas en sub-temas. Die raamwerk is aanpasbaar en die drie vlakke kan in enige kombinasie gebruik word om die verhaal of geskiedenis van die betrokke bron ten beste voor te stel. Die vyf tematiese groepe is: Onwikkeling van die omgewing; Bevolking van ons land; Lewenswyses; Regering van Suid-Afrika; en Ontwikkeling van Suid-Afrika. Die hele erfnisverhaal van Suid-Afrika kan georganiseer en voorgestel word deur dié raamwerk. Ten einde hierdie navorsing hanteerbaar te hou, is op die erfnisverhaal van die Klein Karoo gekonsentreer. As gevallestudies het die Kangogrotte, Kogmanskloof, Swartbergpas en Seweweekspoort as toets vir die doeltreffendheid van die raamwerk gedien. Die navorsing beveel aan dat die SAHTTF aan die beheerstrukture van erfnistoerisme en erfnisbestuur voorgelê word vir verdere evaluering en toetsing. Die navorsing het bevind dat die SAHTTF 'n doeltreffende instrument kan wees in die identifisering, organisering, vertolking en voorstelling van ons erfnis bronne.

This thesis identified Cape Town's important destination attributes. It also examined how and to what extent Cape Town's important destination attributes impact on international tourists decision on choosing Cape Town as their destination.

Ph.D. (Geography) / This research investigation straddles the disciplines of economic geography, innovation studies and tourism studies. In recent decades, services have outperformed manufacturing from an employment and output perspective in most advanced economies. This trend, associated with neoliberal restructuring, is also observable in emerging market economies like South Africa and regions like the Western Cape. Research on innovation in services has been limited in the international, as well as the local context. Innovation activity has significant implications for firm and destination competitiveness, as well as regional economic development. Policy makers, concerned with fostering innovation, are increasingly recognising the economic significance of tourism for economic development. In South Africa and the Western Cape, tourism is regarded as a key sector for job creation and growth. However, in South Africa innovation policy excludes tourism, whilst there is a limited understanding of tourism innovation evident in tourism policies. Therefore, tourism innovation, and related issues such as networking and regional competitiveness, needs to be understood better in the South African context to support evidence-based regional economic, tourism and innovation policies. The research confirms that the Schumpeterian notion of innovation is appropriate for measuring innovation in services and tourism. The European Community Innovation Survey questionnaire was adapted for a sector-specific survey of tourism firms in the Western Cape. In addition, qualitative interviews with firms on the establishment and corporate levels; as well as with tourism actors in the Western Cape tourism system, and with tourism experts, entrepreneurs and associations formed part of the empirical investigation. In total, 182 responses were obtained. It is determined that innovation by tourism firms is widespread in the Western Cape tourism economy. The incremental nature of innovation, however, is an outstanding feature in an emerging economy, global South, context. Evidence of product, marketing, environmental, organisational, process, structural and social innovations in tourism are identified. The identification of environmental, social and structural innovation in tourism contributes to the literature. This investigation contributes further by providing perspectives on innovation per tourism sub-sector.

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.