Published Article / Sustainability is a global concern for any organisation seeking to remain relevant and in business. In a developing country like South Africa, tourism has the potential to stimulate the economy and create jobs. The Free State and Northern Cape provinces are generally not at the top of the list for national and international tourists, although they are regions of great natural beauty and splendour. These provinces have many small towns and farming communities and thus extensive areas of rural land. This paper interrogates the sustainability issues related to tourism and reflect on the Volksblad Tourism Town of the Year Competition as a means of stimulating sustainable tourism in Free State and Northern Cape provinces.

The purpose of the study is to explore the strategies in the development of Chiayi cultural tourism through the five dimensions of supply aspects¡Gattractions, services, transportation, information, and promotion. The researcher takes the methods to develop Chiayi¡¦s cultural tourism strategies through tourism resources data analysis, three cases study, and deep interview to induct the strategies. Then, the strategies are evaluated by Delphi. Culture is the core and added-value element in any industries. Cultural tourism is the trend in the world tourism industries. Using the unique natural resources or human resources to develop the regional culture tourism, we can get the competitiveness and uniqueness to be the only tour destination and attract tourists to visit. The results of the study reveal that 1. In the region of Chiayi, there are some essential elements in developing cultural tourism such as ecotourism tours, aboriginals tour, tea-drinking , rail tours, gourmet guide, educational tour, International Band Festival, and the branch of the Palace Museum. They are the niches to develop the regional cultural tourism. 2. Government and non-profit organization and commercials play important roles in regional tourism development. The government establishes policies and rules to set up the friendly tour environment and attracts commercials to invest. Commercials can provide tourists with the essential entertainment equipment, lodging and food service. Non-profit organizations will balance the regional tourism development and area conservation. Schools will also cultivate the human resources for tourism and do the researches in the tourism development to promote the regional cultural tourism.

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A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Recreation and Tourism, at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2011. / Large numbers of rural people in South Africa are stuck in a poverty trap that is characterised by extreme poverty to an extent that it is difficult to meet the evergreen challenges of the lack of infrastructure, the prevalence of diseases and the problem of hunger. These challenges, in turn, hamper economic growth and sometimes promote rural depopulation (Sachs, McAuthur, Schmidt-Traub, Kruk, Bahadur, Faye & McCord 2004:3). The irony of the whole situation is that the countryside still remains a tourism paradise which offers a variety of attractions including scenic beauty, diverse wildlife, a kaleidoscope of traditions, cultures, and an array of opportunities to explore the outdoors through sporting and adventure activities. As a result of this situation, concerned academics such as Bennet & George (2004:4) contend that there is inadequate information about the contribution of the rural tourism assets to the socio-economic conditions of the local people especially the alleviation of poverty. Similarly, scholars like Brown (2000) and Meyer (2006) insist that tourism development planners must change their focus from the enclave development of resorts which is characterised by exclusion of linkages to the local poor rural areas. The danger of such approaches to tourism development is that they undermine the role that the tourism industry can play in poverty alleviation. On basis of this background, this study was undertaken with an aim to analyse the direct and indirect livelihood impacts of tourism and their implications on poverty alleviation in Bergville. The analysis focused on tourism resources, contribution to job opportunities, entrepreneurial skills development, increased income generation and livelihood impacts. These focus areas were informed by a five-fold general research objectives which are:  To identify the resources that can be used for rural tourism development in Bergville. To establish the extent to which rural tourism development can contribute positively to job opportunities, entrepreneurial skills development and increased income generation in Bergville.  To find out the perceptions of Bergville residents relating to rural tourism development as a mechanism for economic development in their area.  To identify the existing management practices or strategies perceived as contributing to the improvement of the quality of livelihoods in the study area.  To propose an integrated development model that would contribute to job creation and thus result in poverty alleviation in Bergville. The survey approach was used to address the research question. A particular research methodology was used to capture the complexity of local perceptions towards tourism development. To cover a broader spectrum of the local community of the study area, three questionnaires were designed for the general public, the local business people as well as the local municipality employees. Triangulation of sources of data and methods blending the qualitative and quantitative methods enabled the study to have the broad understanding of the role that tourism development can play to alleviate poverty. Because of time limitations, the study used the convenience sampling method where the respondents who happen to be available at prominent points such as farm stalls, shopping areas, and public places were targeted for the survey. The sample size which was based on the estimated number of the population of the study area was deemed to be adequate for the purpose of collecting information required to answer the research questions and to achieve the objectives of the study. Questionnaires were used to collect data from the respondents. The administration of the questionnaires took into consideration the objectives of the study, the sequence of questions, question structure as well as ethical considerations. The analysis of the data provided insight into various issues that relate to the objectives of the study. The researcher converted the raw data into a form that is suitable for analysis before it was subjected to statistical analysis. A series of univariate data presented in percentages, frequencies, tables and graphs gave an understanding of the data that is purely descriptive. The interpretation of the data concentrated on tourism resources, contribution to job opportunities, entrepreneurial skills development and generation of income, economic growth, perceptions on tourism development and management practices that contribute to the improvement of the livelihoods of the people of Bergville. The study concludes that the people are convinced that the resourcefulness and accessibility of Bergville can support tourism development. Similarly, the findings imply that rural tourism is seen as a very important and probably the most important factor for economic development. The largest percentages of people agree that tourism development can contribute positively to the creation of job opportunities, development of entrepreneurial skills and the generation of increased income. The study found that the people have both advocacy and cautionary views about tourism development in Bergville. Furthermore, the findings imply that people have mixed feelings about the contribution of existing management practices in improving the livelihoods of local people.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Recreation and Tourism, at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2012. / The growth of tourism as a social phenomenon, a tourist industry as well as an economic enterprise have been full of drama during the last half of the twentieth century. Tourism has become a major economic force in many countries and regions throughout the world. Increasingly, it has been agreed that the growth of tourism offers means for developing countries to escape the confines of underdevelopment and that new forms of tourism allow this transition to be achieved sustainably and equitably (Mowforth & Munt, 1998: 221). As a global tourism player, KwaZulu-Natal has not been immune to the global trend of massive tourism development. The province of KwaZulu-Natal currently holds number one position in the domestic market and is number three in attracting the international market in South Africa (South African Tourism, 2004: 12). The research problem in this study is seen as four-fold: Firstly, tourism in KwaZulu- Natal is governed in terms of the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Act of (1996) as amended in (2000), which regrettably has serious shortcomings. The Act only advocates the establishment of Destination Management Organisation, the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Authority, and regulation of tourist guides without any reference to the mandate and functions of the provincial Department of Economic Development and Tourism [DEDT]. The Act confers the tourism marketing, development and investment function to KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Authority. This state of affairs has culminated to serious clashes in operational roles between the department and the destination management organisation. Secondly, KwaZulu-Natal does not have a provincial tourism master plan. The municipalities are developing their tourism plans and strategies without a guiding provincial tourism plan or tourism strategy. Thirdly, the tourism coordinating structures in Kwazulu-Natal are inefficient and ineffective and do not succeed in providing a coordinated tourism development approach and alignment of tourism policies and strategies between the provincial and local government. Lastly, the local communities are not properly consulted and involved in tourism matters at a local level. The objectives of this study were set to facilitate better comprehension of the study as well as to accomplish the main goals of the study. The objectives are: (a) To analyse the gaps in the legislative frameworks governing tourism development in KwaZulu-Natal and how these influence creation of the enabling environment for co-ordinated planning in the tourism industry. (b) To analyse the national, provincial and local government tourism policies and strategies, revealing how these are aligned to positively influence tourism planning and development in KwaZulu-Natal. (c) To scrutinise relevance, composition, stakeholder efficacy, operations and effectiveness of tourism co-ordinating structures for the public and private sector engagements in KwaZulu-Natal. (d) To investigate policy and strategic planning challenges facing a broad crosssection of tourism stakeholders in planning, coordination and delivery of tourism development in KwaZulu-Natal. (e) To establish the perceptions of tourism stakeholders towards the effectiveness of existing policy, institutional frameworks and their implementation in achieving co-ordinated tourism development in the study area. (f) To propose a mechanisms or model-related master plan that could be utilised to ensure a co-ordinated and integrated tourism planning and development process in KwaZulu-Natal. The section on methodology provides a discussion on the research strategy and general approach that was adopted in conducting the study. In essence the research design utilised the qualitative and quantitative approaches, which according to KZNTA (2008) are ideal in assessing the state of tourism in KwaZulu-Natal. The sample of the study included a number of diverse organisations and institutions, namely; provincial and local government, private sector, local communities, development finance institutions which are all organisations somehow responsible for tourism policy, planning, development and management in KwaZulu-Natal. The study was conducted as an applied research The main findings of the study revealed that the legislative framework in KwaZulu- Natal has gaps and causes challenges in the tourism industry; national and provincial tourism policies are not fully communicated to local communities; the tourism coordinating structures are not effective and fully inclusive of the local stakeholders; the local communities are not adequately consulted on policy and planning matters in the province; and that municipalities do not have necessary by-laws to regulate the industry. The study was conducted as applied research and it developed a conceptual model for tourism planning and management in KwaZulu-Natal which is a new model that adds the body of knowledge in the field of tourism policy and planning. The new model is called the Community Coordination Matrix for Tourism Planning. The model was not adapted from any existing model but was developed to provide coordination and alignment of tourism activities among a number of tourism authorities and coordinating structures that exist in KwaZulu-Natal and to ensure that they are properly coordinated, synergised and work in unison to improve tourism policy, planning and development in the study area.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master Degree in Recreation and Tourism in the Department of Recreation and Tourism at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2008. / Any development, be it tourism development needs to be well planned and executed so as to effectively benefit the broader society in any entrepreneurial environment. Municipalities, such as strategic management model, the national mandate to promote tourism development within their areas with a bias to enhance entrepreneurship and Black economic empowerment. The application of such principles is particularly needed in the GDMA mainly for addressing of basic needs, equity and redistribution of tourism wealth for the benefit of the previously disadvantaged communities. The main purpose of this study is therefore to advocate for the exploitation of tourism opportunities to the superlative degree by historically disadvantaged individuals. The focus of the study is on the identification of tourism business opportunities around the Durban Metropolitan Area. In addition, to develop strategic management approaches that could be used as a guideline to manage the tourism business and empowerment of the previously disadvantaged communities. Some of the objectives of the study are: (a) To reveal the extent of Black people's awareness of tourism entrepreneurial opportunities associated with the study area. (b) To establish the levels of stakeholder participation in the tourism entrepreneurial initiatives within the study area. (c) To investigate whether the BEE policy contributes towards tourism entrepreneurship within the Durban Metropolitan Area. (d) To identify appropriate competitive strategies that can be widely applied in enhancing tourism entrepreneurial opportunities for the benefit of stakeholders in the study area. (e) To propose a strategic management model that can be used as a blue print by entrepreneurs in the tourism industry. The methodology for collecting data comprised a stratified sample size of 178 respondents, which was distributed in the GDMA as follows: sample consisting of Black entrepreneurs [92], tourism officials [8], government officials [5], tourism business persons [27], local community and public [103]. The findings of the study indicated that, on the whole, a significant number of respondents were not sufficiently in support of many of the hypotheses. The findings of the study established that: (a) Black people are adequately aware of tourism entrepreneurial opportunities associated with the study area; (b) Black stakeholders do not participate significantly in the tourism entrepreneurial initiatives within the study area; (c) The present BEE policy as practiced makes an inadequate contribution towards tourism entrepreneurship within the Durban Metropolitan Area; (d) The existing competitive strategies are not adequately successful in enhancing tourism entrepreneurial opportunities for the benefit of stakeholders in the study area; (e) There is no readily existing strategic management model that can be used as a blue print by tourism entrepreneurs in the study area. In conclusion the study found that there was an urgent need for designing a strategic entrepreneurial development or management model that could be used as a blue print for tourism delivery in the study area. The study actually put forward a strategic BEE entrepreneurial management model with the hope that it would contribute to the solution of tourism entrepreneurial shortcomings, towards achieving an equitable distribution of tourism benefits to all stakeholders in the Durban Metropolitan Area. The prospects for future research in this area include: the sustainability of tourism entrepreneurial development initiatives, the community benefits from emerging BEE initiatives in the area, and the adjustment of tourism legislation so as to benefit the BEE infrastructural requirements within the study areas.

Marine tourism in the Canadian Arctic is a rapidly growing industry. The discovery of two shipwrecks, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, in 2014 and 2016 was a monumental and historic moment in Canada. It is anticipated that their discovery will stimulate tourism demand and development opportunities in and around Gjoa Haven, Nunavut - the community that is nearest to the wreck's sites. The community of Gjoa Haven played a critical role in the discovery of the shipwrecks by participating in explorations and offering historical Inuit knowledge of the region and of relevant oral histories. The community will be co-managing the Wrecks of the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site (WET NHS) with the federal government agency, Parks Canada and as such will have an influential role in the site's development and management. This study examined Arctic tourism development through various perspectives (i.e. residents' of Gjoa Haven and potential tourists) to achieve the overarching research aim of better understanding the current and potential future state of tourism within the region. This research sought to address several important research and knowledge gaps including: 1) a lack of baseline data on the current state of the marine tourism industry and marine tourism patterns and trends in the Canadian Arctic; 2) the absence of a comprehensive collection of community perspectives on Arctic tourism development; 3) in-depth understanding of the factors that influence, are contributing to and/or acting as a barrier to Arctic tourism development; and 4) a complete absence of information on potential tourists' desired visitor experiences, and motivations for visiting the region and the Franklin Wrecks. This thesis achieves four key research objectives, including: 1) Identifying temporal and spatial marine tourism trends in Inuit Nunangat; 2) Exploring Gjoa Haven residents' perspectives on tourism development around the Wrecks of the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site; 3) Understanding the underlying factors influencing tourism development around the Wrecks of the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror National Historic Site; and 4) Exploring visitor experience desires for the Franklin Wrecks sites. To achieve these objectives, several mixed methods were utilized including GIS and spatial analysis, semi-structured interviews, and surveys. Key results of the research efforts reveal that the there is potential for the Franklin Wrecks to become a tourism destination as there is a growing cruise industry, demand from highly motivated potential tourists and a strong desire from the community of Gjoa Haven to engage in tourism development. Marine tourism voyages and related shore activity has been steadily increasing in the region; however, the results indicate that the industry is still in its infancy as 150 unique on-shore locations have been advertised to tourists from 2008 to 2019 with a minimum of 44 different on-shore locations advertised each season. Further, there is demand from highly motivated potential tourists to visit the region and engage in Franklin related tourism experiences but the current cost, access to the region and available infrastructure were acknowledged as potential limiting factors. Residents of Gjoa Haven who participated in this study recognized that there are significant benefits and opportunities associated with tourism related development but also understood that there are factors influencing this development (e.g., tourism resources, access, infrastructure, and capacity). It is paramount that any tourism development in the region is community driven and sustainable with clear residual benefits to the community itself. Inuit and Northerners' must be involved in the entire tourism planning process and be at the forefront of any management plans. Ensuring tourism development is realized in a sustainable and self-determined manner and examining the potential of the Franklin Wrecks as a tourism destination requires a significant understanding of tourism patterns, community perspectives, factors influencing tourism development and potential tourists' desired experiences. This research achieved this by contributing to the academic literature on tourism development but by also providing the community of Gjoa Haven and the region of Inuit Nunangat with comprehensive baseline data. The findings from this thesis can be utilized by the region (i.e., Inuit Nunangat) and community (i.e., Gjoa Haven) to ensure self-determined and sustainable tourism development.

This study is to recognize the aspects that need the most reinforcement regarding the tourism development in Kaohsiung city from the angle of tourism suppliers and to develop a complete tourism strategy for the city. Although Kaohsiung is the second largest city in Taiwan with convenient transportation and outstanding natural resources such as the mountains, rivers, ocean, and the port, it lacks various attractions, and it is less modernized compared to Taipei. Therefore, it is difficult to have tourists visit or stay in Kaohsiung. The research first reviewed references including the strategic plans used in other countries and then proposed the important factors of tourism development. Next, it based on the proposal and used Delphi Method to achieve the common consensus of tourism strategy among the government, tourism industries, and the experts in order to develop the complete tourism strategy suitable for Kaohsiung City. The results reveal that the improvement in highest demand for the tourism in Kaohsiung is to create its unique city image and key characteristics. It is necessary to integrate the service facilities, transportation services, and marketing individually and to establish cooperative relationship among them. In addition, the related tourism service systems should be well-qualified, enriched, and internationalized. It is also a crucial issue for Kaohsiung city to increase the amounts of visitors for overnight stay. Kaohsiung city government should cooperate with other nearby cities to develop local tour packages for attracting international tourists effectively.

The thesis investigates the role that sports-related tourism may play in the rejuvenation and reinvestment process for mature mass tourism destinations, specifically, it synthesises a range of material and case studies from, and seeks to contribute to tourism policy development for, various contexts in Greece. Following a review of published material inter alia on the product life cycle applied to tourism destinations, on the debates surrounding the need for new rejuvenating products to be sustainable forms of development, on the development of special interest forms of tourism, and particularly on the rise of active or sports tourism, the work considers methodologically how best to investigate the role that sport tourism is playing, or may play, in assisting to rejuvenate and differentiate mass tourism destinations and assist mass tourism-oriented economies. Seeking a comprehensive insight into the development of new forms of tourism across Greece and the potential for further sports-oriented tourism development, this research included case studies of both traditional regions of tourism concentration (e.g. Crete), and more isolated and, as yet, under-developed tourism areas (e.g. Thrace), thus contributing to further understanding the potential of sports tourism in different contexts. Empirical work in these case study locations was preceded by an in-depth review of public sector policy relating to tourism and, where relevant, to environmental and developmental policy. This included a carefully structured series of in-depth qualitative interviews with both central state policy makers (from senior decision makers, such as the Minister for Tourism, to policy implementers) and regional or local officials, who are both receivers and increasingly designers of policy. The study also benefited from access to a range of both published and unpublished material through the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTo.). A shift in policy direction towards product differentiation, harnessing sports-related tourism, was identified. New policy announcements are beginning to support the increased development of sport tourism forms, through favourable legislation and subsidies to private investors. Sports tourism increasingly recognised as having a profile capable of differentiating the tourism offer by exploiting hidden potential, whilst also helping to bring about a more sustainable development philosophy, despite some industry skepticism.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters in Recreation and Tourism in the Department of Recreation and Tourism at the University Of Zululand, 2017 / This study sought to investigate and assess the attitude of tourism business owners in the accommodation sector, towards sustainable tourism development in uMhlathuze municipality. The business owners were selected from various accommodation facilities within the uMhlathuze municipality ranging from small scale guest houses to 4 star hotels. It was envisaged that this diversity in the types of accommodation businesses would reflect diverse knowledge of sustainable tourism development. The selection of tourism business owners from a wider age range also helped this study in gathering much information and allowed the researcher to assess various trends and practices promoting sustainable tourism development in the study area. The objectives which were set for the study assisted to accomplish the main goals of the study. The fundamental objectives were as follows: • To investigate if the tourism business owners understand the meaning of sustainable tourism development. • To explore if practices of sustainability benefit tourism business owners in the study area. • To find out if tourism business owners are aware of the sustainable tourism development principles. • To find out if tourism business owners have attended any training related to sustainable tourism development.These objectives were formulated in order to clarify the intention of the study which was to find out the attitude of tourism business owners towards sustainable tourism development. The data was collected through self-administered questionnaires and interviews with both open and closed ended questions. The Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the research data. Based on the analysis derived from the above, it could be concluded that respondents in the study area have a good idea of what is meant by the concept “sustainable tourism development”. The respondents were asked to give examples of what indicates practices of sustainable tourism development, and they gave examples that include: saving and conserving infrastructure, recycling waste, good maintenance of facilities, increase number of tourists, and protected environment. The majority of respondents indicated that sustainable tourism development benefits them in their businesses, through education, economy boost, jobs, conserving of environment, protecting businesses and it also helps them to have a sense of wellbeing. Tourism business owners are aware of sustainable principles and how they are important to them and their businesses. Finally, the tourism businesses owners agreed that there are being educated about sustainable tourism development and they do attend training which is organised by uMhlathuze municipality and KZN Department of Economic Development Tourism and Environmental Affairs (KZN-EDTEA). In conclusion, findings identified that sustainable tourism is important to tourism business owners as it assist them in growing their business and maintaining them for the future generation. Tourism business owners understood that sustainable tourism is not a special type of tourism, but rather all types of tourism must strive to be sustainable.