Community based tourism within uMhlathuze Municipality: involvement and participation of the local residents in tourism

Abstract
The study was based on community based tourism and was conducted to find out whether the local residents are involved and participate in community based tourism within the study area of uMhlathuze Municipality. Community based tourism provides job opportunities to those who participate and should, ideally, involve every resident of the study area. Men and women are to be given the equal participation opportunities. The study had the following specific objectives: (a) To establish the extent to which the local community understands the importance of tourism in the study area. (b) To find out the level of participation and involvement of the local community in community based tourism (c) To identify the types of community tourism facilities available in the study area. (d) To establish the strategies that can be used to promote involvement and participation in community based tourism within the study area. The findings of the study revealed that some community members do not even know the local tourism authorities who should be promoting community based tourism within the study area. Misconceptions about tourism became evident as some respondents viewed tourism as an activity for the rich and for the white people. The study is concluded by recommending the promotion of community based tourism within the study area applying the managerial strategies to promote participation and involvement by local communities.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Course-work Degree of Masters of Recreation and Tourism in the Department for Recreation and Tourism at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2014.
Keywords
community based tourism --uMhlathuze Municipality
Citation