Faculty of Management Sciences
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Item The challenges of developing small tourism enterprises in townships: case of Umlazi, South Africa(Business Perspectives, 2016) Chili, Nsizwazikhona Simon; Mabaso, Simiso LindokuhleTownship tourism in South Africa has grown in popularity since 1994 and is considered by some researchers to be an appropriate mechanism for stimulating local economic development. Opportunities for the development of black-owned enterprises in South Africa began for the first time when the country integrated into the global tourism economy after many years of international sanctions. The growth of township tourism thus can provide the context for potential economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs to enter the business, an activity that traditionally has been the domain of established white South African entrepreneurs. The main objective of the study is to present findings on the challenges that face a certain group of small tourism enterprises in townships with more attention being specifically paid to Umlazi as the second biggest township in the Southern hemisphere. The main reason for the choice of the study is due to the fact that there is only a limited literature that explores the conditions of small-scale and informal tourism entrepreneurs operating in South Africa’s black townships. The focus falls upon the challenges of developing small tourism entrepreneurs for black owners in the township, especially because, South African tourism industry is highly concentrated and dominated by small elite group of large, mostly locally owned, tourism organizations which drive the tourism economy that unfortunately excludes and sidelines that of the townships.Item Perceptions and attitudes of the community towards impacts and sustainable development: The Case Study of eMpophomeni in Pietermaritzburg (South Africa)(Business Perspectives, 2015) Chili, Nsizwazikhona SimonThe study examines perceptions and attitudes of the community towards the impact of tourism and its sustainability as it is perceived as an alternative developmental philosophy that can serve as a panacea to alleviate poverty from communities. Social exchange theory is used to achieve the aforementioned. Since the role of residents is crucial within the sustainability paradigm, it is therefore important that their perceptions and attitudes on tourism impact towards sustainable development are understood and assessed. The study investigates and examines a range of variables involved in determining township community attitudes and perceptions towards tourism impact on development and sustainability and as a result social exchange theory is used. Literature is comprehensively reviewed on resident attitudes and perceptions towards tourism impact and sustainable development and social exchange theory are used in determining the above regarding variables involved. The findings reveal that negative perceptions of residents on tourism impact in the township of eMpophomeni offset positive outcomes. The study also reveals that long-term planning as a component of sustainable tourism, full community participation and environmental sustainability within tourism are inextricably linked and related to support for tourism and to the positive impacts of tourism.Item Township Tourism : The politics and socio-economic dynamics of tourism in the South African township : Umlazi, Durban(International Foundation for Research and Development (IFRD), 2015-08) Chili, Nsizwazikhona SimonThe paper analyses how tourism development at Umlazi which is one of the second biggest Townships in the Southern hemisphere has been hampered by politics and socio economic dynamics that stifle the empowerment of both tourism entrepreneurs and local communities respectively. The impacts of tourism have been given much attention by scholars to examine the perceptions and attitudes of local residents towards Township tourism in South Africa. However, there is little research that focuses on how much political and economic dynamics of the past and present dispensations have adversely impacted on the tourism economic development of small emerging entrepreneurs and local residents of the Townships. This study attempts to make a little contribution to South African Township tourism by examining political and economic dimensions that hinder small businesses and local residents of uMlazi to thrive and get empowered through tourism. Township tourism in South Africa has slightly improved and grown in popularity since 1994 and is considered by the government and other social agents to be an appropriate opportunity for small businesses and the stimulation of local economic development. However, the paper argues that tourism fails to act as a panacea of economic development in the township of Umlazi, since there is lack of business opportunities, intervention and support of local government, private sector and racial groups that are endowed with more than enough financial resources. Data were collected by means of interviews that allowed the interviewer to pose some open-ended questions so that the interviewee could express his or her own opinion freely for the extraction of more information. Based on 30 respondents surveyed, the findings show that there are numerous obstacles that are directly linked to political and economic dynamics. These obstacles include lack of political intervention and financial support for tourism entrepreneurs and local residents of UMlazi Township. On the whole respondents viewed Township tourism negatively. They were generally of the idea that township tourism can only be of benefit to residents once it is often visited by racial groups who are better off financially after their fears about safety and security have been allayed.Item The ecology of teaching : efficiency, efficacy and effectiveness of teaching and learning of tourism in township high schools(Kamla-Raj Publishers, 2014) Chili, Nsizwazikhona SimonThe present paper explores the underpinnings that drive efficiency, efficacy and effectiveness in teaching and learning of tourism in some few township high schools. The variables scrutinized have been elicited through the following tools: principals as management strategists, teachers as knowledge experts and learners as recipients for content knowledge imparted by tourism teachers. These variables were analyzed and interrogated based on principals’ inter personal skills and the application of their cognitive thinking reflected in their management styles when interacting with teachers and learners to steadfastly and firmly guaranteeing effective teaching. The paper argues that good principals’ personality and their professionalism assist and encourage teachers to produce desired results. Virtually, in planning instruction, effective teachers draw on a growing body of research knowledge about the nature of learning and on crafting knowledge about teaching that is progressive and developmental. The present paper asserts fundamentally that teachers should consider and take note of the specific characteristics of the material to be taught and learned, prior knowledge of learners, the background of their students, and the conditions under which effective teaching and learning should emerge to achieve positive outcomes. Findings of this study revealed that there is an inextricable link between the extent in which principals cooperate with teachers and effort given by them to achieve good result. Learners’ version also did not contrast much with their teachers regarding what takes place in their classes to achieve effective teaching and learning. According to learners effective teaching and learning in their schools take place progressively and virtually because principals and teachers pull together and commit themselves fully. The study postulates that effective teaching and learning is enhanced, achieved and realized when there is good relations between principals and teachers, when teachers are enthusiastic and competent and most importantly when a teaching ambience is favorable and auspicious.