Blouberg is situated in the Limpopo Province, west of the Soutpansberg, in the Republic of South Africa. The majestic Blouberg Mountain is a 2000-meter high prominence inhabited by a Sotho-speaking community whom live in relative isolation. The area is rich with a diverse range of natural elements: tree species, birds, animals and geographic features as well as cultural heritage. The camp, which is located on top of Blouberg, is a prime example of government-initiated community development. This tourist camp was established on the mountain with the objective that the local community would manage it for their own benefit. The community on Blouberg has strong cultural beliefs and heritage resources, which proves to have immense potential for ethnotourism development. However, cultural heritage and natural resources are also extremely vulnerable to over-exploitation and over-development, which consequently creates a need for sustainable management. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic analysis of sustainable ethnotourism on Blouberg in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. It acknowledges the multidisciplinary limitations and challenges that sustainable ethnotourism development presents, especially in rural communities such as the Hananwa at Blouberg. With regard to contemporary tourism development in the Limpopo Province, there seems to be a sense of expectation amongst local communities. This study investigates whether the full potential of the Blouberg camp is being achieved and whether the need for sustainable management exists. A sustainable management plan requires accurate research, evaluation of resources and the analysis of potential opportunities. Although there is limited information available regarding the opportunities, threats, impacts and effects of ethnotourism in South Africa, it is possible to integrate existing literature with principles of sustainable development to create a valuable framework to evaluate ethnotourism on Blouberg. / Prof. G. Verhoef
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:1895 |
| Date | 19 May 2008 |
| Creators | Fourie, Marike |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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