Tourism education policy applications in the Zululand District, KwaZulu-Natal
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Date
2008
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Abstract
The study on Tourism Education Policy Applications in the Zululand District, KwaZulu-Natal was conducted against the background that, in spite of the fact that, although South Africa in general, and Zululand District in particular, is blessed with both natural and cultural attractions which enhance the tourism opportunities that can help to improve the economy, but the greatest deficiency in the tourism industry of South Africa is the absence of adequate tourism education and training. The lack of tourism education and training has been seen to result in a dearth of professional knowledge and skills in tourism, which are necessary for the development of the tourism industry. The study therefore, had specific objectives, which are the following:
(a) To reveal how tourism as a field of study is perceived and
understood by respondents within the study area.
(b) To establish the extent to which respondents in the Zululand
District are aware of tourism education.
(c) To investigate what tourism education policies are in place for
stakeholders in the study area.
(d) To determine the types of tourism education and training
programmes which are available for stakeholders in the Zululand
District.
(e) To find out whether existing tourism education policies are
implemented in a satisfactory manner in local schools in the study
area.
(f) To assess whether the local community participates in tourism
education in the study area.
A number of hypotheses directly related to the objectives of the study were postulated. The hypotheses were duly considered in an attempt to uncover the underlying causes of the identified discrepancies in the study area. The testing of the hypotheses was done through the analysis and interpretation of the data collected from the population sectors that are directly or indirectly affected in the study area.
The findings from analysis and interpretation showed that there is a lack of participation by the local community in tourism in general and in tourism education in particular. This is because the respondents lack knowledge and information about tourism education. It was indicated that there are no educational tourism activities or projects that are conducted to encourage them to participate. Lack of participation limits meaningful involvement and participation in tourism. If the community is not fully involved in tourism because of an inadequate tourism education they miss the various job opportunities that are offered by this industry.
The findings also revealed that the tourism educators do not implement the tourism education policy in a satisfactory manner in schools. The reason is that most of them lack the qualifications that are required to teach this learning area successfully. They lack the expert knowledge and experience needed to develop learners. Recommendations put forward aim to promote adequate tourism education in the study area.
Description
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts in
partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master's degree
in Recreation and Tourism in the Department of
Recreation and Tourism at the
University of Zululand, 2008.
Keywords
Tourism--education--KwaZulu Natal--Zululand District., Tourism