In order for the Vredefort Dome to be declared, and to exist as a World Heritage site, it is
imperative that the tourism product owners in the area realise their roles as custodians of this
precious site. This proposition leads to the main aim of this study, namely to develop an
integrated tourism development strategy for the Vredefort Dome as a proposed World
Heritage site.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned aim, a thorough literature review was conducted.
The goal of the literature study was to investigate the birth and growth of sustainable
development based on Agenda 21. This literature review revealed that the three-legged
chair of sustainable development has more profound foundations than the obvious
economical, social and environmental aspects. Each one of these aspects consists of
various elements that are interrelated. In order to formulate a strategy for sustainable
tourism development, this interrelation between aspects was analysed and the following
conclusions were drawn:
Sustainable tourism development is an integrated system
Education, poverty alleviation, health and insight into human settlements and
demographics are the cornerstones of social well-being
Climate change, land resources, deforestation, drought, mountain development,
agriculture, biodiversity, freshwater resources, toxic chemicals and waste are central
concerns in environmentally sensitive development
0 Institutions involved such as the different levels of Government, as well as aspects
such as fair trade, economic enhancement programmes and economic measuring are
essential elements of economic sustainability.
The custodians of the present generation in the Vredefort Dome should realise their role in
this complicated and integrated system and therefore the practices at present were
evaluated as well as the future view regarding sustainable practices. In order, then, for
sustainable tourism development to realise in the Vredefort Dome, the following strategies
were formulated to assist product owners to achieve sustainability:
Assisting to alleviate poverty in the VFD with a view to a sustainable future and
supporting sustainable livelihoods
Improving participation that would be true to the demographic composition in the VFD
Protecting and promoting human health in the VFD
Promoting education and training in the VFD
Promoting sustainable human settlement development in the VFD-area
Following an integrated approach to the planning and management of land resources
Promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development
Conserving the biological diversity in the VFD
Acquiring support from national, provincial and local levels of government
Establishing a system that guarantees supply that is coherent with fair trade in
tourism
Establishing an economic enhancement system that will contribute to the well-being
of the VFD community
Reducing leakage and other purchasing practices.
The results of the empirical study indicated that tourism stakeholders are prepared to
improve the present situation in the Vredefort Dome and are willing to adjust their businesses
practices in the future. These changed practices addressed some strategic issues and the
strategies above would give direction to this proposed World Heritage site to become more
sustainable. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/458 |
| Date | January 2004 |
| Creators | Coetzee, Willem Johannes Lourens |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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