Recreation and Tourism

Permanent URI for this collection

https://hdl.handle.net/10530/418

Browse

Browsing Recreation and Tourism by Author "Gcwensa, Pretty-Girl Smangele"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Tourism Spatial Development Framework and Black Economic Empowerment in the ILembe District Municipality
    (2010) Gcwensa, Pretty-Girl Smangele; Magi, L.M.; Nzama, A.T.
    According to Mkhabela (2009a) it is generally acknowledged that since 1994 the government of South Africa has adopted progressive policies that sought to ensure that the economic advancement of the previously disadvantaged people, is catered for. Concepts such as transformation, spatial development framework, Black economic empowerment [BEE], job creation, employment equity, affirmative action and preferential procurement have become a regular feature in our statute books and day-to-day discussions (Mkhabela, 2009a). These government policies, be they in economic advancement in general, or in tourism development in particular, need to be well planned and executed so as to effectively benefit the broader society in any business environment. Municipalities have the national mandate to formulate spatial development frameworks [SDFs], promote tourism development within their areas with a bias to enhance Black economic empowerment. The application of such principles is particularly needed in the iLembe District Municipality mainly for addressing of basic needs, equity and redistribution of tourism wealth for the benefit of the previously disadvantaged communities. This research investigation is fundamentally about assessing such SDF-related policies and their implementation. The main purpose of this study, therefore, is to advocate for the utilisation of tourism opportunities to their maximum degree for the historically disadvantaged individuals. The thrust of investigation and analysis of the present tourism related SDK and Black economic empowerment in the iLembe. District Municipality, is based on some pertinent objectives. Some of these objectives focus on the identification of tourism business opportunities around the study area. The core objectives of the study are: (a) To establish the extent to which Black people in the study area understand the meaning and importance of tourism and tourism empowerment. (b) To indicate the levels of Black participation in SDF and BEE-related tourism business opportunities in the study area. (c) To ascertain whether the SDF and BEE policies contribute towards tourism economic empowerment within the iLembe District Municipality. (d) To reveal the perceived SDF and tourism management practices that contribute to Black Economic Empowerment in the study area. (e) To determine the extent to which the local community benefits from the SDF and BEE related tourism activities in the study area. The methodology for collecting data comprised a stratified sample size of 138 respondents, which was distributed in the iLembe District Municipality as follows: sample consisting of Black service providers [18], tourism and municipal officials [10], domestic tourists [22], local community [88]. The findings indicated that local people have sufficient understanding of the meaning and importance of tourism and tourism empowerment in the study area. There were revelations that tourism participation levels were low in the area, as well as that tourism policies were not contributing significantly to BEE-related opportunities. Other findings were that stakeholders on average perceived the tourism management practices in the study area to be poor and based on uncertainty. The skills development practice or strategy was seen as the most needed in the area. Finally, the study revealed that tourism and BEE-related community benefits were non-existent for the local communities in the study area. Furthermore, the majority of respondents were very circumspect about the high-level benefits from BEE-related tourism opportunities in the study area. In conclusion the study, based on the negative outcomes established, has proposed and recommended that a management plan be instituted, with the view to facilitate the review, re-planning and restructuring of the BEE-related tourism policy-initiatives, so as to benefit the local communities more effectively. It is anticipated that with the remodelling of policy and practice, the delivery of tourism opportunities would become an attainable reality in the study area.
University of Zululand