The value of tourism as a driver of economic and social development in Africa cannot be overstated. Tourism is regarded as a source of foreign currency, employment creation and more importantly, a means of achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Notwithstanding its contributions, many African countries are yet to reap the full benefits of the industry. While the current pandemic has adversely affected tourism across the continent, it has also created opportunities for rural tourism. Rural destinations in Southern Africa could tap from this new trend as local and international visitors seek to experience open spaces and rural settings. Succeeding in these highly competitive tourist markets, however, requires effective destination promotion which can be achieved by ensuring that the projected image of a destination reflects its identity. By focusing on Nyanga, a typical rural tourist destination in Zimbabwe, Southern Africa, this study sought to analyse the projected destination image against its identity as perceived by the local community. To establish the projected image, a content analysis was done for Nyanga’s images as portrayed on the online platforms of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), the official destination promoter. A total of 44 pictures were analysed from the ZTA website, Facebook page, Instagram, and Twitter handle. The destination identity was evaluated through semi-structured interviews with seven residents who were purposively selected through snowball sampling. Participants were also asked to give their opinion on the images of Nyanga that were showcased on the online platforms of the ZTA. This was done to ascertain whether the images were reflecting the true identity of Nyanga, from the perspective of the local community. The findings of the study reveal that there is a gap between the projected image and Nyanga’s identity. While the projected image emphasises on the natural environment and the portrayal of humans interacting with nature and each other, the identity is hinged on culture and religion. Elements relating to history, authenticity, and knowledge also shape the identity of Nyanga even though these aspects are not incorporated in the projected image. The study provides important insights for enhancing the promotion of Nyanga and creating opportunities for sustainable development.

Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur företag inom besöksnäringen i Stockholms skärgård samarbetar och om samarbete kan leda till längre säsonger. Samt huruvida de statligt finansierade utvecklingsprojekten i skärgården bidragit till längre säsonger enligt de undersökta företagen. Metod: I denna studie har en kvalitativ metod i form av semi-strukturerade intervjuer används för insamling av empiri. Sex företag på två skärgårdsöar har intervjuats och används som empiriskt huvudmaterial men även en intervju som gjorts med Värmdö kommun har fått ligga till grund för en del av det empiriska materialet. Slutsatser: Det har under studien framkommit att samarbete mellan lokala aktörer är en viktig del i utvecklingen av destinationen. Samarbetet är inte bara en del i utvecklingen utan kan också vara en hjälp till att förlänga säsongerna. Utvecklingsprojekten har enligt företagarna som intervjuats ej gynnat dem. Det framgår att företagarna anser att det är de själva som måste jobba hårt om de ska se någon förändring. / Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate how companies in the tourism industry in the Stockholm archipelago cooperate and whether cooperation can lead to longer seasons. As well as if the state-funded development projects in the archipelago have contributed to longer seasons according to the investigated companies. Methodology: In this study, a qualitative method in the form of semi-structured interviews has been used for the gathering of empirical data. Six companies on two archipelago islands have been interviewed and used as main empirical material, but an interview with Värmdö municipality has also formed the basis for some of the empirical material. Conclusions: During this study, it has been found that cooperation between local actors is an important part of the development of the destination. Not only is the cooperation a part of the destination development, it can also help extend the season. According to the interviewees, the development projects have not benefited them. It is apparent that the entrepreneurs believe that they themselves that must work hard for any change to happen.