Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores the role of thermal mineral springs in South Africa in the development of
the early tourism sector. Their healing qualities enhanced the country’s reputation as a health
resort, and therefore they became a national asset and tourist attraction. The ancient history of
thermal mineral springs and the belief in their curative abilities are discussed in order to
familiarise one with the rich history of thermal springs and to help determine their role in the
tourism sector. By looking at the role of thermal mineral springs in the European and
especially British contexts provides a foundation for understanding how the thermal water
culture was passed on to South Africa through colonialism. With the colonisation of South
Africa, thermal mineral springs became host to British invalids who visited the country since
they suffered from consumption, and was hoping to be cured by the country’s health giving
natural assets. The influx of invalids and tourists ultimately spawned wide tourism and the
modernisation of the springs.
The three thermal mineral spring resorts near present day Caledon, Montagu and Citrusdal
are used as case studies of how thermal springs in the Cape Colony and later the Western
Cape developed from primitive sites to splendid resorts and world famous sanatoriums. Their
history is traced from their formation to their modernisation, a time period ranging from the
1700s to 2011. This clearly illustrates the phases of development of each of the thermal
mineral water establishments. The curative aspects of the thermal mineral spring water are
emphasised, concentrating on how the South African thermal water cure culture was used and
developed. This study concludes with discussing how the three thermal mineral spring resorts
had to navigate the changing tourism sector in South Africa, as well as looking at their
development from the 1980s to 2011. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie verken die rol wat warmwaterbronne in die ontwikkeling van die vroëe
toerisme sektor in Suid-Afrika gespeel het. Die genesende kragte van hierdie warm water
bronne het die land se reputasie as ‘n gesondheidsoord versterk en van hul ‘n nasionale bate
asook ‘n toeriste aantreklikheid gemaak. Die antieke geskiedenis van warmwaterbronne en
die geloof in hul genesende kragte word bespreek om bekend te raak met hul ryk geskiedenis
en om hul rol in die toerisme sektor te bepaal. Deur te kyk na die rol wat warm water bronne
in die Europeuse sowel as die Britse konteks gehad het, dien as ‘n platform om te verstaan
hoe die gebruik van die warm water kultuur na Suid-Afrika deur middel van kolonialisme
oorgedra is. Met die kolonialisasie van Suid-Afrika het die warmwaterbronne gasheer gespeel
vir Britse invalides wat aan tuberkulose gelei het en daarom die land besoek het om deur die
land se helende natuurlike bates geneesing te word. Die instroming van invalides en toeriste
het wyd verspreide toersime tot gevolg gehad asook die vermoderniseering van die
warmwaterbronne.
Die drie warm waterbronoorde naby die hedendaagse Caledon, Montagu en Citrusdal is
gebruik as gevallestudies om die ontwikkeling van warmwaterbronne in die destydse Kaap
Kolonie asook die hedendaagse Wes-Kaap, vanaf primatiewe bronne na pragtige oorde en
wêreld bekende sanatoriums te illustreer. Die geskiedenis van die warmwaterbron oorde word
bespreek in die tydperk van die 1700’s tot 2011 om so hul ontstaan tot hul vermoderniseering
te illustreer. As gevolg van hierdie verlengde tydperk kan die verskillende ontwikkelings
fases van die warmwaterbron oorde waargeneem word. Daar word ook gefokus op die
genesende aspekte van die warmwaterbron water en hoe die Suid-Afrikaanse warmwaterbron
kultuur ontwikkel en gebruik is. Die studie sluit af met ‘n bespreking van hoe die driewarm
waterwaterbron oorde by die veranderende toerisme sektor in Suid-Afrika moes aanpas en
dek ook hul ontwikkeling vanaf die 1980’s tot 2011.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/80385 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Van Wyk, Dane |
| Contributors | Grundlingh, Albert M., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 349 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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