Faculty of Management Sciences
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/13
Browse
13 results
Search Results
Item A framework for the facilitation of community-based tourism in natural environments : a case of the Save Valley in Zimbabwe(2019) Maruta, Albert Tavavarigwa; Hlengwa, Dumsile CynthiaIn Zimbabwe, because of the lack of a clear facilitation framework, very little effort has been made in recent years by tourism authorities in the country to make community-based tourism (CBT) part of the national tourism growth agenda. Yet globally, within the general tourism sector CBT is becoming increasingly relevant in LEDCs because it fosters poverty reduction and biodiversity conservation. Underpinned by the participation and power redistribution theory (Arnstein, 1969) this study aimed at developing a framework of collaboration and participation of all stakeholders for facilitating CBT in Save Valley as a strategy to reduce poverty in local communities while also promoting sustainable wildlife conservation. The study adopted mixed methods as a distinct research approach, which combines both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The research adopted a two-phase sequential exploratory research design, which involved the collection and analysis of qualitative data from in-depth interviews followed by the collection and analysis of quantitative data from questionnaire-based surveys. The research results showed greater preference for vegetable outgrowing by female household heads who, incidentally, were less educated and poorly resourced than male household heads who had a wider variety of preferences such as handicrafts and cultural performances, wildlife conservation, and accommodation SMMEs such homestays, lodges or bed and breakfast were the preferred CBT ventures. There was gender consensus in the composition of CBOs and duties. Critical challenges for prospective local CBT entrepreneurs according to education levels of participants included lack of economic variables such as market, capital or technology, and managerial and other requisite skills, human-animal conflict, and land invasions by peasants. The research results also demonstrated that through the poly-centric CBT facilitation framework, advanced as original contribution, CBOs in collaboration with powerful and highly resourced external facilitators would encourage the local community residents of Save Valley to gain legitimate bargaining power during decision making because the CBO would act as an organised power base in the community. The study recommends that outreach programmes that have long been contemplated as a way of transmitting tourism benefits from SVC to local community residents should be transformed into CBT projects to bring about community participation in tourism by adopting the polycentric CBT framework developed as original contribution of this study. This may be the only sure strategy for achieving the twin objectives of community participation and beneficiation while promoting wildlife conservation in Save Valley in Zimbabwe.Item Community-based tourism development : a Hiking Trails perspective(AJHTL, 2017) Mnguni, Mzobanzi Erasmus; Giampiccoli, AndreaCommunity-based tourism (CBT) is an alternative form of tourism development that aims to contribute to holistic development of disadvantaged community members. The relevance of CBT is growing and while CBT development may have many opportunities, it also boast various and relevant challenges. Thus, specific CBT development models are required to enhance CBT chances of success. Hiking trails are seen as a possible option to local development specifically, but not exclusively, to rural areas. In addition heritage tourism is also seen as a relevant tourism sector. In this context, this paper proposes a specific model for CBT link to hiking trails development as trails mostly based on the local cultural and natural assets. The paper that is based on desk research intends to contribute to the tourism literature in relation to community development by specifically proposing a model of CBT hiking trails development. After an introductory section, the paper will explore matters related to CBT and trails development leading to a proposed CBT hiking trail development model. Thereafter, an initial suggestion about a possible CBT hiking trails system in the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa is briefly outlined. A conclusion will terminate the paper.Item Community participation and tourism development in KwaZulu-Natal : a case study of the Didima Resort and the Umhlwazini community, Drakensberg(2017) Ngxongo, Nduduzo Andrias; Chili, Nsizwazikhona SimonThis thesis discusses the concept of community participation and tourism development in KwaZulu-Natal using a case study of the Didima Resort and Umhlwazini community in Bergville, Drakensberg. In order to examine the research topic, the thesis scrutinizes the following key concepts: community participation in tourism development; tourism development initiatives for the local community of Umhlwazini; and, the contribution of tourism development towards community enhancement. The research was guided by four research objectives: (1) To investigate the level of understanding and awareness that the Umhlwazini community have regarding tourism development and the importance of community participation; (2) To investigate whether there is active community participation and whether there are tourism development initiatives or practices the resort authority is offering to the local community; (3) To ascertain strategies employed by Didima Resort to encourage maximum participation of communities for development of tourism at Umhlwazini; and, (4) To identify problems that hinder the community's participation in tourism development at Umhlwazini. The outcomes from the interviews indicate that the majority of the Umhlwazini community members are willing and interested in participating in the development of the tourism initiatives happening at Didima Resort and within their community. Currently, the community's participation in tourism development in their area is predominantly at the level of temporary jobs which are occasionally offered to unskilled labour. Work opportunities for skilled workers are non-existent so that not even a single member from the community is part of the Didima Resort management team. Recommendations arising from the study include but are not limited to the following: There must be a vigorous, selfless and mutual cooperation between the following role players; Amangwane Traditional Council, Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife (Didima), Ingonyama Trust, Okhahlamba local municipality and the community of Umhlwazini. This association will ensure that the interests of the community are taken into account and that the community is part and parcel of any tourism development projects taking place in the Umhlwazini area. There is an obligation for community enhancement programs such as tourism awareness campaigns and tourism seminars in the Umhlwazini community. Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife (EKZNW) must put more effort into advertising and promoting community products such as bicycle hire and handcraft work. That effort can increase the visibility and sales of such community products. Community problems appear to be more noticeable than benefits. Some of the problems identified are: the lack of jobs from Didima Resort; no improvement in the infrastructure of the community; local artistic talent is not utilised during mega events happening at Didima. The lack of tourism awareness and education was identified as two main causal factors that impede community participation in tourism development, as well as the breakdown of communication between Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife and Umhlwazini leadership (traditional council and contemporary political councillor). According to the outcomes derived from analysis of the data from interviews, this research study concludes that local community members desire to play an active role in the tourism development process of Didima and Umhlwazini. In general, community members want to see decisions about tourism development in their area made co-operatively by Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, Okhahlamba municipality and local leaders (Amangwane Traditional Council) in consultation with the local community of Umhlwazini. They also want to be recipients of tourism benefits and want transparency regarding the community levy fund which is meant to support community projects. This research study further concludes that there is great potential for community participation in tourism development initiatives at Umhlwazini community and Didima Resort. There are various tourism opportunities for the community which can be explored including a traditional restaurant and a cultural village which would benefit the community immensely. The community of Umhlwazini needs to be empowered with knowledge, business skills and financial assistance to start business ventures. It is only when the local community benefits financially that their participation in tourism development will become meaningful to them.Item Community-based tourism and food : towards a relationship framework(AJHTL, 2016) Mnguni, Mzobanzi Erasmus; Giampiccoli, AndreaTourism is currently a growing sector of the economy and its possible relevance in community development is acknowledged. Within tourism CBT has been advanced to counteract negative effects of mass tourism and as a strategy to facilitate disadvantaged community development. Food tourism is also on a growing trend. Literature related to food and catering in CBT is present however, a general framework of relationships between CBT development and food seems absent. Based on the relevance of these tourism forms this article, which is based on extant literature, aims to propose a relationship framework between CBT and food. The article advances that it is important to understand the various aspects of the relationship between CBT and food to enhance the chance of growing (scaling-up) CBT entities through the combined community-based food tourism (CBFT). Thus various issues relevant to this framework are mentioned such as matters related to food as a tourist attraction, to food production and selling, to food standards in CBT. Whilst not pretending to be fully comprehensive, the article advances the need to comprehend food in CBT from various angles.Item Local natural and cultural heritage assets and community based tourism: Challenges and opportunities(AJOL, 2016-03) Jugmohan, Sean; Spencer, J.P.; Steyn, J. N.Community based tourism (CBT) is seen as an opportunity which mass tourism does not offer for, especially, rural communities to develop their natural and cultural assets into tourism activities for the benefit of the community. The point of CBT is that the community, collectively and individually, gains a livelihood from home-stay activities, tourist guiding, producing crafts from the local environment, offering traditional food and drinks, and generally organising, exploiting and maintaining the natural and cultural environment. Community tourism development includes all the functions of planning, development, marketing and management of the natural and cultural heritage, and requires community decision-making. However, the communities under review face critical challenges which need to be converted into opportunities, including own-control of facilities, security of natural and cultural resources, infrastructure, carrying-capacity of the environment, regulatory frameworks, and skills development. The research took the form of case studies at local villages, of which Noqhekwane is the subject of this article. The study revealed that sufficient natural and cultural attractions exist in Noqhekwane, but that the threats identified to both cultural and physical environments are serious.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 A pre-condition evaluation and management model for community-based tourism(AJOL, 2015-09) Jugmohan, Sean; Steyn, J. N.Tourism is often regarded as a vehicle for the economic development of disadvantaged rural communities. Although the concept is good in principle, the successful implementation of community-based tourism projects has proved to be problematic. This article focuses on the preconditions required for the successful implementation of community based tourism development projects. A list of pre-conditions extracted from a literature study (the research design) is compiled and subsequently field-tested on existing CBT projects in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A CBT pre-conditions model is subsequently proposed and an implementation strategy suggested.Item Community-based tourism affinity index: a visitor’s approach(AJHTL, 2015) Giampiccoli, Andrea; Jugmohan, Sean; Mtapuri, OliverCommunity-based tourism (CBT) is a model of community development which places the community at the centre of that development. It attempts to harness the effort of communities through their empowerment for the benefit of the community. This article develops a Community-based Visitors Affinity Index (CBTVAI) based on perusal of extant literature in which only secondary was used in terms of research methodology. The key contribution of this article is the development of a CBTVAI which is an instrument useful to owners/managers of CBT entities in evaluating their CBT businesses from a visitor perspective. The index does not include all possible items because CBT ventures exist in different contexts with different requirements. This index merely provides sample items related various basic aspects linkedto the attractiveness of CBT to visitors. As such, the index represents a flexible framework which can continuously evolve and be reformulated based on specific needs of a CBT entity. The CBTVAI has some strengths and weaknesses. Some of its strengths include the provision a visitor perspective grounded in real life experience; a framework for profiling CBT ventures; a platform for receiving visitor feedback in the form of immediate ‘post-trip’ feedback; and a tool for assessing broad visitor/customer (dis)satisfaction with CBT offerings. The weaknesses include: failing to take into account the visitor’s demographics and psychographics; ignores prices per item; places an extra burden on communities to undertake technical data analysis which skills could be deficient in communities.Item Cruise tourism and community-based tourism: towards a possible relationship(AJHTL, 2015) Jugmohan, Sean; Giampiccoli, AndreaTourism is a relevant growing industry worldwide and is often regarded as an important development tool. The cruise tourism sector is also an important segment of the tourism industry and is viewed as having positive and negative features. Community-based tourism (CBT) is a relatively new type of tourism and, despite its possible problems and limitations, it has been known to foster community development. In view of the aforementioned issues as a contextual background this paper aims to explore possible collaboration opportunities between cruise tourism and CBT. The paper focuses on a literature review on cruise tourism and CBT. It then explores the possible relationship between the two forms of tourism. A relationship and linkages between cruise tourism and community-based tourism is subsequently proposed. The value of both cruise tourism and CBT on the local disadvantaged section of the population is suggested. Some specific references to the South African context will be proposed in the paper.Item The impact of e-marketing on business performance: A case study of the Midlands Meander Association members(2015) Wisdom, Elizabeth; Veerasamy, DayaneethieThe study was undertaken to establish to what extent the use of e-marketing has impacted on the Midlands Meander Association (MMA) members relationship with their customers and influenced their business performance (during the period August 2013 to January 2014). As stated in the literature review, the utilisation of technology and e-marketing are important areas of future research. The literature review incorporates various studies such as Mathfield (2000), Lourens (2007) and McLaren (2011) which focus on the MMA members and their customers. Moreover, the literature review includes a discussion of several definitions of e-marketing, while the importance of a number of e-marketing techniques was examined. The study was an empirical, descriptive investigation which applied a mixed methods approach. The study utilised three types of data collection methods: online survey, telephone interviews and the analysis of public domain documentation. The research found an extensive difference between how the various MMA members implemented e-marketing within their businesses. The research showed that e-marketing was not utilised or exploited by the majority of the MMA members to its full potential. Also, the study revealed the need for the MMA members to increase their utilisation of social media, search engine optimiser and complementary links to other websites in order to realise the advantages which may be gained. The study found that over half of the MMA members held a moderately positive perception of e-marketing and that the members’ ages might impact on their perceptions of e-marketing. The research suggested that the majority of the respondents recognised that their business performance had increased due to the use of e-marketing. Furthermore, the research found that two thirds of the MMA members acknowledged the importance of e-marketing to connect and build relationships with their customers. Finally, the research highlighted the need for future research to be undertaken to incorporate other tourism routes within South Africa in order to examine the use of e-marketing and its effect on both customer relationships and business performance.