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.

<p>This thesis explores communities’ participation and involvement in both wildlife-based and tourist activities in south Luangwa national park with particular focus on local participation/ devolution. Specifically, it assesses whether the legal provisions for community participation in wildlife management spelt out in the wildlife policy take into account various factors which enhances the effectiveness of local participation in CBNRM. It then examines various forms of community participation in wildlife management and small scale tourism activities. Finally, the study examines sources of conflict which may occur over natural resources in SLNP and adjacent GMA.</p><p>The study uses political ecology and protected area management paradigm as the theoretical frameworks. The former comprises four major elements, which include the politicization of the environment, a focus on actors as the contestants in this politicization, inequality in distribution of power between and among actors in the park, and the dynamic involvement of natural environment in this process. The latter, uses a CBC framework that is based on: allowing people living near the protected lands to participate in land-use policy and management decisions; giving people proprietorship or ownership over wildlife resources; and, giving local people economic benefit from wildlife conservation. A case study approach is adopted involving qualitative research method. Data were collected through personal observation, formal and informal interviews, focus groups and document review. In a case study approach, an empirical inquiry, which investigates contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context such like wildlife, is analyzed and interpreted through the selected theoretical frameworks.</p><p>The data reveal that, local people living near SLNP and in the Lupande GMA do not per se actively participate in land-use policy and management decisions. Further, data indicate that community resource boards in the three chiefdoms have not been given ownership over wildlife resources. ZAWA has continued appropriating all the revenues accruing from wildlife utilization in the area since its inception. This is contrary to what is stated in the wildlife policy and wildlife Act 1998. Also, data shows that many local people do not individually benefit from wildlife-based and tourist activities. Additionally, data indicates that different interest groups expect different types of participation to achieve their own goals. Accordingly, participation varied among various interest groups although much of it as reported by respondents concentrated in the two lower levels of Pretty’ typology. The findings are significant because they offer a framework for understanding challenges and conflicts related to wildlife conservation and tourism development.</p>

This thesis explores communities’ participation and involvement in both wildlife-based and tourist activities in south Luangwa national park with particular focus on local participation/ devolution. Specifically, it assesses whether the legal provisions for community participation in wildlife management spelt out in the wildlife policy take into account various factors which enhances the effectiveness of local participation in CBNRM. It then examines various forms of community participation in wildlife management and small scale tourism activities. Finally, the study examines sources of conflict which may occur over natural resources in SLNP and adjacent GMA. The study uses political ecology and protected area management paradigm as the theoretical frameworks. The former comprises four major elements, which include the politicization of the environment, a focus on actors as the contestants in this politicization, inequality in distribution of power between and among actors in the park, and the dynamic involvement of natural environment in this process. The latter, uses a CBC framework that is based on: allowing people living near the protected lands to participate in land-use policy and management decisions; giving people proprietorship or ownership over wildlife resources; and, giving local people economic benefit from wildlife conservation. A case study approach is adopted involving qualitative research method. Data were collected through personal observation, formal and informal interviews, focus groups and document review. In a case study approach, an empirical inquiry, which investigates contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context such like wildlife, is analyzed and interpreted through the selected theoretical frameworks. The data reveal that, local people living near SLNP and in the Lupande GMA do not per se actively participate in land-use policy and management decisions. Further, data indicate that community resource boards in the three chiefdoms have not been given ownership over wildlife resources. ZAWA has continued appropriating all the revenues accruing from wildlife utilization in the area since its inception. This is contrary to what is stated in the wildlife policy and wildlife Act 1998. Also, data shows that many local people do not individually benefit from wildlife-based and tourist activities. Additionally, data indicates that different interest groups expect different types of participation to achieve their own goals. Accordingly, participation varied among various interest groups although much of it as reported by respondents concentrated in the two lower levels of Pretty’ typology. The findings are significant because they offer a framework for understanding challenges and conflicts related to wildlife conservation and tourism development.

Tourism does not operate in a predictable and mechanistic environment and is influenced by unpredictable circumstances. Influences include underlying values and perceptions keeping the system unpredictable and dynamic. Tourism that utilises natural resources is exposed to the additional unpredictability of natural changes and activities and/or decisions of other stakeholders. Tourism research generally adopts reductionist approaches and has not effectively understood tourism as a stakeholder within a complex system of stakeholders. Reductionist approaches have led to interpretations of sustainable tourism development being highly focused and sector specific limiting understanding of the complex systems in which tourism operates and resulting in narrow perspectives. To understand underlying elements influencing the system, a new paradigm is required.

The decision has been made: The new cruise-ship quay in Visby will soon be an essential part of the Swedish island Gotland. This can be a great deal not only in regard to Gotland’s Vision 2025 and its citizens but also for Gotland as a tourist destination and its sustainable tourism development. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore which sustainable considerations and goal settings Gotland’s municipality emphasised in the decision process of construction a new cruise-ship quay in Visby. Besides, we intended to raise awareness of discussing the cruise project from a sustainable tourism development perspective. This study explored the decision process through an overarching sustainability lens with the help of the triple bottom line (TBL) concept. The analysis was based on a triangulation of protocols and reports, meetings and semi-structured interviews with different key actors. This study contributes to the existing tourism literature by adopt the TBL concept on a political setting. The empirical contribution was to better understand and explain the results normally used by organisations from a broader, more holistic sustainable tourism development perspective. An overall conclusion from our study is that the planning and decision process for building a cruise quay in Visby has left residents not involved in the industry with split reactions. The case study reveals that public participation and public information throughout the decision process is essential to the public legitimacy.

Local Authorities have a duty to promote the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of their communities. The study deals with the promotion of community involvement and other stakeholders by municipality in ensuring the tourism sustainability. The objectives of this research are to explain the theoretical analysis of the concepts: tourism and poverty alleviation; mechanisms and procedures to be used to encourage community participation in making tourism economically viable around Sedibeng District Municipality; results in economic benefits to business and host community and management of available resources and procedures. A random sample of thirty participants took part in the study. A questionnaire was used as research instrument for data gathering from the participants. Literature study was utilized to support the empirical research and to check implementation of legislation and regulations, regarding tourism management. It was discovered that municipalities may not be so capable of effectively addressing the role that tourism can play in poverty alleviation. As such, it is recommended that local government's existing mechanisms, resources and systems to manage tourism be reviewed to help promote a sustainable training programme. / MA, Public Management and Administration, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2011

When tourism is growing fast it is important to develop it in a sustainable way which benefits the communities involved as much as possible. Homestay tourism can benefit local communities such as mass tourism has been widely criticized for failing to do. Homestay has shown to be successful as a tool for building sustainable tourism and contributing to locals involved in other countries. The concept has given hosts an opportunity to gain from their local resources. This gives the resources importance thereby locals preserve them. Although, there is a lack of studies on how the homestay concept can contribute to sustainable tourism development and how the concept is implemented in the Philippines. The aim with the research is to explore impacts of the homestay concept in sustainable tourism development through following perspectives: assess the social and economic impacts of having a homestay, identify motivational factors behind local peoples' decisions to put up a homestay, explore further ways of developing homestays in a developing country with focus on the central part of The Philippines. In the research, several challanges for implementing the homestay concept in a sustainable way have been identified and given suggestions on. The biggest challenge identified is that hosts do not have the skills and knowledge for the purpose of the homestay concept. The study argue that this challenge could be overcome by host-training to a large extent. This host-training should preferably be facilitated by the government, which in the Philippines has internal challenges such as reversed hierarchy and low commitment to overcome before being able to facilitate the homestays for a more sustainable tourism development.

Local Authorities have a duty to promote the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of their communities. The study deals with the promotion of community involvement and other stakeholders by municipality in ensuring the tourism sustainability. The objectives of this research are to explain the theoretical analysis of the concepts: tourism and poverty alleviation; mechanisms and procedures to be used to encourage community participation in making tourism economically viable around Sedibeng District Municipality; results in economic benefits to business and host community and management of available resources and procedures. A random sample of thirty participants took part in the study. A questionnaire was used as research instrument for data gathering from the participants. Literature study was utilized to support the empirical research and to check implementation of legislation and regulations, regarding tourism management. It was discovered that municipalities may not be so capable of effectively addressing the role that tourism can play in poverty alleviation. As such, it is recommended that local government's existing mechanisms, resources and systems to manage tourism be reviewed to help promote a sustainable training programme. / MA, Public Management and Administration, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2011

Sustainable tourism development is widely accepted as an alternative approach to tourism development in many countries. However, the sustainable tourism development concept remains problematic, in both definitional and operational terms, attributable in part to a lack of effective channels for diffusion and communication of the concept to destination stakeholders. As such, this thesis aims to identify, understand, and describe effective communication mechanisms for the dissemination of the sustainable tourism development concept, with the aim of facilitating a more effective implementation of it. To achieve this, three important issues are addressed. Firstly, identification of destination stakeholders’ understanding of the sustainable tourism development concept; secondly, determination of the communication channels for diffusing the sustainable tourism development concept; and thirdly, identification of the key actors of the social system for transferring information about sustainable tourism development. In exploring these issues, the thesis is underpinned by diffusion of innovations theory, which constitutes an explanatory framework for considering the findings of 55 in-depth interviews with key tourism stakeholders on Kret Island, Thailand. The findings reveal that sustainable tourism development is considered important for tourism development in the destination; however, the implementation of such principles remains problematic as the term is complex and there is no common understanding of its implementation. In terms of the dimensions of sustainable tourism development, while economic, environmental and socio-cultural as the triple-bottom line aspects are still embedded in the concept, there are four additional dimensions of sustainable tourism development found in Kret Island, Thailand; these are the community integration, education, tourist satisfaction, and regulations dimensions. The findings further reveal that diffusion of the sustainable tourism development concept occurs through interpersonal as well as media communication, and that while these two types of communication have differing roles to play in disseminating information, there is synergy between them. Key actors in relevant social systems which facilitate dissemination of the sustainable tourism development concept to destination stakeholders are change agents; members of social networks and opinion leaders. Each actor has both differing roles and attributes when it comes to transferring information. The findings of this research provide a contribution to knowledge by highlighting that diffusion of the sustainable tourism development concept is related to aspects and qualities of the concept itself, the communication channels employed in its diffusion, both interpersonal and media, and the relative time of diffusion and adoption within the social system. It also offer some guidelines according to the characteristics of the people involved, the social systems involved and communications channels used for the key stakeholders on the island to develop appropriate communication channels in order to diffuse tourism information regarding sustainable tourism development to other destination stakeholders. Both the contributions and implications of this research have the potential to contribute to better dissemination of information regarding sustainable tourism development to destination stakeholders as a whole.

Sustainable tourism development is widely accepted as an alternative approach to tourism development in many countries. However, the sustainable tourism development concept remains problematic, in both definitional and operational terms, attributable in part to a lack of effective channels for diffusion and communication of the concept to destination stakeholders. As such, this thesis aims to identify, understand, and describe effective communication mechanisms for the dissemination of the sustainable tourism development concept, with the aim of facilitating a more effective implementation of it. To achieve this, three important issues are addressed. Firstly, identification of destination stakeholders’ understanding of the sustainable tourism development concept; secondly, determination of the communication channels for diffusing the sustainable tourism development concept; and thirdly, identification of the key actors of the social system for transferring information about sustainable tourism development. In exploring these issues, the thesis is underpinned by diffusion of innovations theory, which constitutes an explanatory framework for considering the findings of 55 in-depth interviews with key tourism stakeholders on Kret Island, Thailand. The findings reveal that sustainable tourism development is considered important for tourism development in the destination; however, the implementation of such principles remains problematic as the term is complex and there is no common understanding of its implementation. In terms of the dimensions of sustainable tourism development, while economic, environmental and socio-cultural as the triple-bottom line aspects are still embedded in the concept, there are four additional dimensions of sustainable tourism development found in Kret Island, Thailand; these are the community integration, education, tourist satisfaction, and regulations dimensions. The findings further reveal that diffusion of the sustainable tourism development concept occurs through interpersonal as well as media communication, and that while these two types of communication have differing roles to play in disseminating information, there is synergy between them. Key actors in relevant social systems which facilitate dissemination of the sustainable tourism development concept to destination stakeholders are change agents; members of social networks and opinion leaders. Each actor has both differing roles and attributes when it comes to transferring information. The findings of this research provide a contribution to knowledge by highlighting that diffusion of the sustainable tourism development concept is related to aspects and qualities of the concept itself, the communication channels employed in its diffusion, both interpersonal and media, and the relative time of diffusion and adoption within the social system. It also offer some guidelines according to the characteristics of the people involved, the social systems involved and communications channels used for the key stakeholders on the island to develop appropriate communication channels in order to diffuse tourism information regarding sustainable tourism development to other destination stakeholders. Both the contributions and implications of this research have the potential to contribute to better dissemination of information regarding sustainable tourism development to destination stakeholders as a whole.