Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008 / The South African Tourism Industry has developed phenomenally since the country adopted and entered into a democratic era in 1994. Between 1966 and 1990, tourist arrivals struggled to reach the 1 million mark. The tourism development history of South Africa was such that international sanctions, poor tourism research and development, and a disjointed and exclusive tourism growth strategy all contributed to an industry that showed very little prospect of major sustainable growth and future success. The tourism industry was never thought capable ofbecoming a major contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country, let alone perceived to possess the potential of becoming a vehicle which would eventually lead to unprecedented, and much needed poverty alleviation and job creation. The myopic strategies and policies of government and government-influenced agencies and organisations were the reason why the period from the 1970's through to the late 1980's showed a general tendency towards tourism stagnation. During this period, there was low investment in the sector and a focus on the narrow white domestic market. As Black South Africans were not allowed to be accommodated in the same hotels as whites or even visit the same beaches as whites, domestic tourism under apartheid geared itself to serve the interests of the privileged white minority population alone (Mkhize, 1994). The period commencing from 1990 until 1998 was characterised by a growth in the tourism industry. The reasons for this growth period are manifold, and include the dismantling ofApartheid, the release of Nelson Mandela, the lifting of international sanctions, the first democratic elections, and the welcoming of South Africa back into the global community of nations. These political milestones also opened up the doors of tourism activity to the previously marginalised sector of the South African population. Tourism arrivals, which had reached the I million mark in 1990, exceeded the 8.4 million mark in 2007. The change in government meant a change in overall policy, which in turn created an enabling environment for future growth of the tourism industry. The process was ushered in with a period oftourism policy and legislation review, all aimed at democratising the sector. The institutional rearrangement of government departments and government-appointed structures and organisations addressed the tourism legislative imperatives - this process resulted in a general reorganisation of the then current exclusive racially orchestrated structures, creating increased accessibility to the mainstream tourism industry. This research has been undertaken in the light ofthe above transformation, and sought to investigate the process of change that has been brought about in the tourism industry, with special reference to the development of the tourist guiding sector. It was imperative to take a closer look at the education and training aspect of the tourist guiding sector and the establishment and structure of the Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Education and Training Authority (THETA). In addition, a focus on international tourist guiding training models as well as emphasis being placed on the tourist guiding centre at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology was provided and finally, an overview of tourist guiding representative bodies and associations was looked at. In concluding, the research would have been incomplete without investigating the development of the broader tourism industry and the legislation, campaigns and initiatives that have been implemented to bring about the much-needed reforms in the tourism industry.

Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2006 / The focus of this study is on the management and impacts of sport tourism events. The study specifically evaluates the Red Bull Big Wave Africa (RBBWA) event as a case study. RBBWA is a unique surfing event taking place at the heart of the community and in an environmentally sensitive area (Sentinel) which is part of the Cape Peninsula National Park. Of cognisance in this study is the stakeholders' involvement, perceptions, attitudes and an understanding of costs and benefits linked to the event. The study examines the involvement of stakeholders and cost and benefits associated with the event as providing a critical view on the management aspects of the event and what impacts are evident from different stakeholders' point of view. Stakeholders involved in this study include: participants, spectators, organisers, sponsors, established businesses, informal traders and residents. Research methods deployed in this study included questionnaires, direct observations and interviews, as an attempt to gain a broader perspective of the research topic. The study reveals that there is a greater need to look at the relationship between participants and spectatorship, a dire need for community involvement, current and possible event leveraging business opportunities for local businesses, environmental control and responsibility as critical aspects in understanding the management and impacts of the event. The study contends that involvement of all stakeholders in the organisation of the RBBWA event will result in a better management of the impacts associated with the event, provide a better sport tourism experience and contribute greatly to the development of a sustainable sport tourism event industry in South Africa.

abstract: In order to be competitive in the hotel market, more and more hotels have proposed various types of "wow" services to inform customers' impressions of the hotel in a positive way. Many customers consider these services excellent, and they often exceed their expectations. However, some "wow" services only generate the effect of amazement instead of meeting customers' needs and wants. Applying the notion of the Zone of Tolerance (ZOT: the range between customers' desired and adequate levels of service expectations) to the unique services provided by the Hotel Royal Chiao Hsi Spa in Taiwan, this research study explores hotel customers' service expectations and perceived service quality while revealing the relationship between service quality, satisfaction, and future behavioral intentions. The findings indicate that the ZOT indeed exists in customers' service expectations through the significant difference between the desired and adequate levels of expectations. In addition, findings indicate that customers have diverse tolerance zones toward different hotel services regarding the perceived level of essentialness. Ultimately, the findings specify that customers' perceived service quality has a direct effect on both customer satisfaction and future behavioral intentions. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Recreation and Tourism Studies 2013

No description available.

This study came about in response to the interest in, and concern about, domestic cooking and cooking skills that has arisen in recent years. It critically reviews the current state of thinking about cooking and cooking skills, provides a critique of both popular and academic discourse and proposes new opportunities for policy and future research. With little existing empirically acquired knowledge and no theoretical convention for the study of cooking and cooking skills, the primary research was designed to be exploratory and to provide systematically researched insights and understanding. It took a qualitative approach in order to provide intricate detail about people's domestic cooking practices, the skills they use, and their beliefs and opinions about cooking in the home and a systematically researched understanding of these aspects of cooking. The findings revealed that "cooking skills" could be seen specifically as the skills of domestic cooking (as opposed to those of professional cooking) and as either "task centred" (the skills involved in a particular task) or as "person centred" (the skills of an individual carrying out a task in a particular context). They also revealed that the informant's (domestic) "cooking skills" consisted of many different types of perceptual and conceptual skills as well as mechanical skills and academic knowledge. The findings revealed that the informants had very individual approaches towards domestic cooking but that there were many beliefs and opinions that they shared. The research also found that there was a complex "interrelationship" between the informants' domestic cooking skills, their approaches towards domestic cooking and their domestic cooking practices and food choice. The findings of this study provide an additional and different perspective of the relationship between domestic food provision, cooking and cooking skills allowing the development of relevant debates and concerns. They clarify that cooking skills are an influence on food choice but show that this influence is complex. They challenge current theoretical explanations of the impact of technology on domestic cooking and food provision, for example, and the deskilling of the domestic cook.

The papers submitted for this PhD by publication represent research centered on event experiences and their design, management and impact. They are the result of research projects that have produced seven published peer-reviewed papers and one book. The body of work has made an original, significant and sustained contribution towards the development of an emerging field of study in events. The work has made a major contribution towards furthering understanding of the human experience that results from the management of events, their design and their impact. At the heart of this submission is a consideration for how events are experienced and what factors and components contribute to the depth of that experience. The majority of papers analyses and reflects upon the construction of experience settings (their design) and essentially seeks knowledge to identify the variables that shape any experience of events (Ryan, 2012). In doing so the research undertaken has embraced a less restrictive set of methodologies usually afforded by statistical exercises in favour of a more embodied, immersive and participative approach. This has included not only observation and autoethnography, but also reflection on that which has been observed. In turn this reflection and analysis has drawn upon a range of theories and models to advance understanding of the social occasions that we call events where human interactions with the designed programme and environment illicit a range of responses that may culminate in a memorable and unique moment in time. The research therefore touches upon the emotional response to event experiences, the study and interpretation of the meaning of events, and notably their signification to an intended audience. In the course of this research I have evaluated and reflected upon the study and practice of event management across a range of event types and genres. Seeking to initially clarify the role of design in creating event experience led me to questioning the paradigmatic model for event management and resulted in the development of an alternative consideration for event planning and management - Event Experience Design Framework (EEDF). Unlike existing models this places design as the central and pivotal driving force that inhabits all areas of the event management process and upon which all events should then be based. The contribution of this body of work can therefore be summarised as follows: 1. Development of a paradigmatic concept that places design as the central and essential practice that underpins the planned event experience. 2. Theoretical positioning of how designing event experiences impacts on stakeholders 3. Recognition and application of theoretical models and tools relevant to event design and creativity, and further use of conceptual models to analyse experiential outcomes 4. Identification and awareness of the broader socio-cultural impact of planned events This submission provides evidentiary material that I have made a positive and meaningful contribution to raising the profile of events through research, teaching and learning by an acknowledged excellence in events management education and as a recognised (and first) National Teaching Fellow in Events. Furthermore, the submission provides a reflection on this research and development that has enabled me to make such a pivotal contribution to the field. It concludes with an outline of plans for the future.

This thesis is based on case studies of two prominent heritage sites in the Greater Manchester area: Wigan Pier and The Museum of Science and Industry. These case studies have involved detailed interviews with and observation of visitors to the sites, interviews with staff, management and associates of the sites, and examination of archival records. The thesis addresses debates about heritage and the changing form and content of museums. In particular, there is an engagement with the work of Bourdieu, Foucault and Urry as the thesis seeks to analyse the construction and consumption of these two sites. Specifically, the complexity and diversity of such locations are highlighted, both in the ways in which such sites are constructed, produced and organised and in the manner in which they are consumed by visitors. Thus, it is argued that it is important to take note of the impact of the modes of operation of specific sites on the consumption patterns, found there. Further, it is maintained that this is a complex relationship, where a focus on the actual consumers enables the full complexity of the narratives they employ to talk about their visit, to emerge. On this basis, the centrality of the concept of the tourist gaze is challenged as the thesis explores the ways in which visitors physically, emotionally and imaginatively map their visit. Moreover, the thesis highlights the distinction of the sites in terms of authenticity. The detailed examination of the idea of cultural capital leads to the argument that this concept needs to be replaced with a theorisation which is better able to incorporate the everyday life and life histories of the visitors. With this aim the thesis seeks to locate visitors' consumption of these particular sites in the context of their general patterns of cultural consumption. Consequently, it is suggested that the notion of the 'cultural omnivore' has some potential in explaining the patterning of cultural consumption found amongst visitors to these two sites.

M.B.A. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Developments in information and communication technology have opened up new possibilities for local tour operators. However, many small tour operators are faced with problems regarding the marketing of their products and services, especially problems relating to the choice of distribution channels. This study therefore undertakes a survey of the place and role of tour operators in the tourism industry, before investigating the different distribution channels available to tour operators as well as the factors that influence a tour operator’s choice of distribution channels. This is done by means of a literature study and a brief investigative questionnaire submitted to a number of small tour operators. The study concludes that the different situations pertaining to different small tour operators make it impossible to determine a set of distribution channels applicable to every tour operator. However, it identifies a number of considerations that individual tour operators can take into account to support their choice of distribution channels, taking cognisance of their unique situations. These include factors like the target market selected, positioning and the establishment of a trade mark, quality of service, specialisation, the nature of the destination and the background of the tourists, control over the marketing process, information and communication, cost-efficiency, and pragmatic considerations. / Prof. C.J. Jooste

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / Tourism is one of the many external forces influencing the direction and options for local economic development. A truly legitimate and practical discussion on tourism development must take place in and with the communities that are being influenced by tourist industry development. The tourism sector is the fourth largest generator of foreign exchange in South Africa and lies third, after manufacturing (24.4%) and mining and quarrying (8.6%), in its contribution to the economy, at 8.2%, but poverty and unemployment still persist, especially in rural areas. In line with the conceptual and theoretical framework derived from both demand and supply factors, this research was conducted to explore and develop a conceptual framework to examine how prices are established in local markets for tourism andassess the level of community participation in the tourism business ventures at Senqu Local Municipality in South Africa. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of research have been applied throughout the study. The views of the community on their socio- economic conditions and their willingness to participate in tourism business ventures were also sought. The findings of the study lead to the conclusion that the socio-economic living conditions of the community of SLM are very poor and that empowerment and participation of the community could be an answer to alleviation thereof and provide a contribution to local economic development.