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The economic impact of tourism in Underberg, Kwazulu-Natal

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT:
Information on tourism trends and visitor numbers is often lacking at a local level. Municipalities
and stakeholders are often unaware of important tourism trends that affect their businesses. This is
especially true for the rural town of Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal.
To address this lack of information an exploratory study has been conducted to estimate the
economic impact of tourism in the district. Surveys and interviews were used to gain insight into the
behaviour and expenditure of visitors and into the business of accommodation establishments.
The findings of these surveys allow for estimations of tourism impact to be calculated for different
levels of occupancy in the district. These provide an indication of the magnitude of the tourism
sector in the district. The calculations also take into account the secondary effects of tourism
through the use of applicable tourism multipliers that provide an idea of the total effect of tourism
on the economy.
The study demonstrates that certain segments spend more than others and confirms the notion
that nature and adventure tourism activities are the major contributors to the tourism economy.
The effect of events, timeshare and the ownership of property is also taken into account in these
estimations as they have a tangible impact on the economy.
While only an estimation, the results indicate quite clearly that tourism is a significant contributor to
the district’s economy. An analysis of employment created by tourism, along with an applicable
tourism multiplier, suggests that up to 30 per cent of the employed people in the district are directly
or indirectly employed by tourism activities.
Key to the development of tourism in the district is the need for proper destination management
that will lead to an increase in visitor days as well as an increase in tourism revenue.
The information generated here will assist in devising strategies for proper destination
management. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:
Inligting oor toerismetendense en besoekergetalle is gewoonlik gebrekkig op ’n plaaslike vlak.
Munisipaliteite en rolspelers is dikwels onbewus van belangrike tendense wat hul ondernemings
beïnvloed. Dit geld veral vir die landelike dorp Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal.
Om aandag te skenk aan hierdie gebrek aan inligting word ’n verkennende studie onderneem om
die ekonomiese impak van toerisme in die distrik te bepaal. Vraelyste en onderhoude is ingespan
om insig te verkry in die gedrag en besteding van besoekers, en die ondernemings van
akkommodasieverskaffers.
Die bevindinge van hierdie opnames maak dit moontlik om die geraamde toerisme-impak vir
verskillende vlakke van okkupasie in die gebied te bereken. Dit verskaf ’n aanduiding van die
omvang van die toerismesektor in die distrik. Die berekeninge neem ook die sekondêre uitwerking
van toerisme in ag en gebruik toepaslike toerismevermenigvuldigers om beter insig in die algehele
uitwerking van toerisme op die ekonomie te verkry.
Die studie toon aan dat sekere segmente meer as ander spandeer en bevestig die vermoede dat
natuur- en avontuur-toerismeaktiwiteite die vernaamste bydrae tot die toerisme-ekonomie lewer.
Die uitwerking van spesifieke byeenkomste, deeltitel en die eienaarskap van eiendom word ook in
ag geneem omdat dit ’n tasbare uitwerking op die ekonomie het.
Hoewel die berekening slegs ’n beraming is, toon die resultate baie duidelik dat toerisme ’n
beduidende bydrae tot die distrik se ekonomie lewer. ’n Ontleding van werkskepping deur toerisme
tesame met ’n toepaslike toerismevermenigvuldiger dui daarop dat tot 30 persent van die
werknemers in die omgewing direk of indirek van toerisme-aktiwiteite vir werk afhanklik is.
Die behoefte aan behoorlike bestemmingsbestuur is van deurslaggewende belang vir die
ontwikkeling van toerisme, ’n toename in die aantal besoekerdae en ’n toename in inkomste uit
toerisme.
Die inligting wat uit hierdie navorsingsverslag voortspruit, sal help om strategieë vir behoorlike
bestemmingsbestuur te ontwikkel.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/8513
Date03 1900
CreatorsTheron, Jacobus Danie
ContributorsDe Villiers, K., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business.
PublisherStellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
RightsUniversity of Stellenbosch

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