A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfilment of
the requirements for the Master of Recreation and Tourism degree
in the Department of Recreation and Tourism at
the University of Zululand, 2009. / The differentially-abled tourism market is a niche market that could make a significant contribution to the region’s economy. This market is, however, a largely untapped activity in the study area. An Integrated National Disability Strategy White Paper was published in November 1997 by the South African government as a guideline to cater for those who have physical and related challenges. However, the contents of the strategy are not obvious or known to recreation service providers within the study area.
The rights of people with disabilities are protected by the South African Constitution. People with disabilities should be able to access the same fundamental rights and responsibilities as any other South African. People with disabilities are equal citizens and should therefore enjoy equal rights and responsibilities. In line with this, tourism opportunities and equal participation in tourism activities should be the norm but this is not evident in the study area.
This study therefore is based on the following objectives. The objectives have been formulated as component parts within the larger research goal.
(a) To establish the respondents’ understanding of the meaning and importance of tourism for the differentially-able [physically challenged] in the study area.
(b) To investigate the adequacy and provision of recreation facilities and services for the differentially-able [physically challenged] tourists in the study area.
(c) To determine the extent to which the differentially-able [physically challenged] tourists visit and participate in recreation activities in the study area. establish the approximate number of differentially able tourist visiting the eThekwini Municipal Area.
(d) To ascertain the strategies or management practices, which are used by the Ethekwini Municipal authorities to offer services to the differentially-able [physically challenged] tourists in the study area.
(e) To investigate the extent to which recreation service providers are implementing the policy of Integrated National Disability Strategy, relating to recreation service provision for the differentially-able [physically challenged] persons in the study area.
Through the postulation of some related hypotheses, the data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings of the research study established that many of the recreation service providers do not cater for this niche market. The activities offered by recreation service providers are geared towards able bodied tourists. Furthermore, many of the service providers are not aware of the contents of the Integrated Disability Strategy White Paper. Some are not even aware of the existence of such a White Paper. Tourism KwaZulu-Natal has conducted some research on the differentially-able market but has been slow to bring on board the relevant service providers. It is the contention of this study that the tourism authorities need to spearhead and be the driving force behind the campaign for empowering the differentially-able tourism related market. It would be in the region’s best interest to target this market, as it would secure sizeable revenue that would create positive spin-offs for the region as a whole. The study closes by proposing some recommendations towards ameliorating the plight of the physically challenged recreators and tourists. Some of these findings are:
(a) National and regional tourism organization need to establish guidelines for tourism service providers with regard to tourism for the differentially-abled.
(b) Develop tourist areas that cater for the needs of the differentially-abled in terms of transportation, accommodation, access to tourism sites and services.
(c) Enlist the assistance of various organisations that cater for varying forms of disability to research the needs and challenges of its members in terms of travel.
(d) Develop accessible websites with relevant information for the tourist as well as the service providers.
(e) Provide incentives for tourism operators and service providers to cater for tourists with disability. Award prizes to those service providers who cater for the differentially-abled market.
(f) Use the Integrated National Disability Strategy White Paper: November 1997 to develop educational and training programmes for tourism service providers. Differentially-abled persons could assist with the development of relevant programmes and could act as advisors.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uzulu/oai:uzspace.unizulu.ac.za:10530/538 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Naidoo, Suraya |
| Contributors | Magi, L.M., Nzama, A.T. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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