Levels of participation in outdoor recreation at Malolotja Game Reserve, Swaziland
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Date
2007
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Zululand
Abstract
The study on Levels of Participation in Outdoor Recreation at Malolotja Game Reserve was conducted against the background that, the Game Reserve has lot of outdoor recreation facilities. Everyone must use these facilities, so that the participation level in outdoor recreation is increased. The study was aimed at finding out the levels of participation in outdoor recreation at Malolotja Game Reserve. This aim was narrowed down to the following objectives:
• To establish the levels of understanding the respondents have about the meaning of outdoor recreation activities.
• To ascertain the level of participation of various stakeholders in activities provided by Malolotja Game Reserve.
• To ascertain if the management of the Game Reserve is regarded as efficient by the respondents.
• To find out the nature and types of recreation facilities offered at Malolotja Game Reserve.
• To reveal who the respondents think is responsible for financing the Malolotja Game Reserve.
• To find out how local community perceive safety and security in Malolotja Game Reserve.
Data was collected through the use of sets of questionnaires, which had both
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opened-ended and closed ended questions. Data was collected, it was analysed through the use of computer programme, statistical Package for Social Sciences. This programme was used to formulate frequency tables.
There were various findings that the researcher obtained from respondents which were tourists, local community, authority and Swaziland National Trust Commission. It was discovered that all the tourists' respondents had a good understanding of outdoor recreation whereas local community had poor understanding of the meaning of outdoor recreation. The participation level was low in local community and moderate for tourists. Participation level was elevated in international tourists and in local community it was declining. Nature and types of facilities the study area had were satisfactory to all the respondents. Management of the facilities were regarded as inefficient and the Game Reserve gets most income from its profit and Government of Swaziland.
To address the concerns of the decreasing level of participation, various recommendations were suggested. These include creation of projects to facilitate the participation level in outdoor recreation, provision of outdoor recreation facilities and activities, marketing and promotion of Malolotja Game Reserve, involving the government in development of outdoor recreation, provision of access to finance, development of information centres and lastly improve safety and security. If all this is considered the participation level in outdoor recreation could increase.
Description
A dissertation of limited scope submitted to the Faculty of Arts in
partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Post-Graduate Diploma in
Recreation and Tourism, in the Department of Recreation and
Tourism at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2008.
Keywords
Outdoor living spaces., Outdoor recreation--Swaziland--Public opinion, Malolotja Game Reserve (Swaziland)