Ecotourism

The present paper explores the underpinnings that drive efficiency, efficacy and effectiveness in teaching and learning of tourism in some few township high schools. The variables scrutinized have been elicited through the following tools: principals as management strategists, teachers as knowledge experts and learners as recipients for content knowledge imparted by tourism teachers. These variables were analyzed and interrogated based on principals' inter personal skills and the application of their cognitive thinking reflected in their management styles when interacting with teachers and learners to steadfastly and firmly guaranteeing effective teaching. The paper argues that good principals' personality and their professionalism assist and encourage teachers to produce desired results. Virtually, in planning instruction, effective teachers draw on a growing body of research knowledge about the nature of learning and on crafting knowledge about teaching that is progressive and developmental. The present paper asserts fundamentally that teachers should consider and take note of the specific characteristics of the material to be taught and learned, prior knowledge of learners, the background of their students, and the conditions under which effective teaching and learning should emerge to achieve positive outcomes. Findings of this study revealed that there is an inextricable link between the extent in which principals cooperate with teachers and effort given by them to achieve good result. Learners' version also did not contrast much with their teachers regarding what takes place in their classes to achieve effective teaching and learning. According to learners effective teaching and learning in their schools take place progressively and virtually because principals and teachers pull together and commit themselves fully. The study postulates that effective teaching and learning is enhanced, achieved and realized when there is good relations between principals and teachers, when teachers are enthusiastic and competent and most importantly when a teaching ambience is favorable and auspicious.

Township tourism in South Africa has grown in popularity since 1994 and is considered by some researchers to be an appropriate mechanism for stimulating local economic development. Opportunities for the development of black-owned enterprises in South Africa began for the first time when the country integrated into the global tourism economy after many years of international sanctions. The growth of township tourism thus can provide the context for potential economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs to enter the business, an activity that traditionally has been the domain of established white South African entrepreneurs. The main objective of the study is to present findings on the challenges that face a certain group of small tourism enterprises in townships with more attention being specifically paid to Umlazi as the second biggest township in the Southern hemisphere. The main reason for the choice of the study is due to the fact that there is only a limited literature that ex...

This study contributes to the discourses that critique the underlying retrogressive constraints of tourism entrepreneurship for small, medium and micro enterprises as observed and revealed by scholarly research in the context of the South Africa (SA) townships. Although quite substantial research has been conducted on what limits tourism entrepreneurship to thrive through the operation of the emerging small businesses in South Africa, very little relevant and rigorous research has been conducted with the exact constrictions that retard the success of tourism entrepreneurship in selected townships of South Africa. The findings of this study are presented from a study of a handful of township tourism entrepreneurs where data were obtained using interviews and observations. Although in general, the blurred and often non-existence of economic development of periphery township communities in SA is attributed to fiefdom, axiomatic irresponsibility and the inability of policy implementatio...

The perception of tourists about safety and security before taking a trip is one the fundamental considerations that influences them when deciding to visit urban areas including townships, which precisely implies that the choice of a destination is hell-bent on having enough knowledge about their safety and security. Empirical data indicates that safety and security of a destination has direct impacts on the tourists’ behaviour and an indirect one on its demand. The researcher’s intrinsic inference as being backed by literature is that a consumer’s behaviour is inextricably intertwined with the safety and security conditions of the destination. The high demand for tourism in a destination is synonymous with safety measures put in place and this paper goes further to postulate that the consumer demand drops immediately when the protection of tourists is neither guaranteed nor assured. Township tourism has been perceived as a pivotal and integral part of the urban tourism product in p...

This analytical exploration illustrates how the non-existence of a proper marketing strategy for a tourism destination may have resulted in a radical decline in both financial outputs and visitor arrivals. The marketing strategy is considered the foundation for any tourism destination’s marketing tactics. As such, tourism destinations ought to have dynamic and adaptive marketing strategies that will develop a promotional approach to help the destination gain market share, identify its target markets, stay relevant to its existing clients, attract new visitors, and increase revenue. Accordingly, the Moses Mabhida Stadium [MMS], one of the prominent tourism attractions in KwaZulu-Natal; boasting a world-class architectural design, several international prestigious awards, and vibrant adventurous activities, has in recent years suffered a gradual slump in both visitors and profits. The research advocates that the present complications facing MMS are directly interconnected to the prese...

This thesis is dedicated to the late members of the family; Sesaba (father), Bangelani (father in law), Canukile (mother in law), Mbongwa and Delani (late brothers), and my living family members; Sthe (my wife), Thabsile, Yoliswa, Zakithi, Qophelo and my mother Ngethembi (Intomb'endala).

This study reports on a cross-sectional case study that explores factors hampering and hindering the effective teaching and learning of tourism in the township schools. The variables scrutinized were elicited through the following tools: principals and students' perceptions, teachers' competence and commitment, and principals' experiences about teachers regarding their enthusiasm and willingness to commit themselves and expedite effective teaching. These variables were compared and scrutinized on the basis that principals are always interacting with teachers and learners daily as heads of schools who are entrusted by departmental officials to ensure that their schools are functional and effective. The principals' interaction with teachers and learners is presumed to have endowed and empowered them with enough experiences to contextualize and conceptualize challenges faced by both teachers and learners. As a result principals are expected to be in possession of all the tools and instruments needed to help teachers at harnessing and achieving their goal. The study vehemently asserts that assisting and monitoring of tea chers by principals ought to be done consistently and continuou sly. The paper fer vently believes that the spirit of commitment and selflessness need to be embodied in both principals and t eachers' character. Principals and students seem to have the same views regarding lack of enthusiasm and commitmentas an epidemic and catastrophic problems for teachers. Students avowed that principals need to select tourism teachers according to competency, dedication and specialization. Although some teachers could not refute other consternations claimed against them, however, they pinpoint lack of support from their superiors as one of their main concerns. The data also suggest that the effective teaching and learning of tourism in schools is stifled retrogressively by various factors that are related to unions. Students also illuminated factors such as shift of focus on teaching by teachers, a disregard for contact time spent in class, and virtually lack of ability to impart tourism content effectively. The author argues that unless teaching is made attractive and lucrative, proper training for tourism teachers to become innovative and competent is provided, principals as school authorities are supported and compelled to account at the end of the year for poor results, quality teaching and learning will never be achieved in South Africa.

Tourism industry in the central Drakensberg region has enjoyed a noteworthy growth in visitor influx and earnings as well. Conversely, poverty and poor living conditions in and around villages positioned nearby to major tourist destinations in the country continues to degenerate, which ultimately raised the issue regarding the contribution of host communities in tourism decision making and informative consultation processes. Community consultation and participation in decision making processes constitute a crucial component that offers assurance to the host community that tourism benefits will be shared with the community and that their views will be considered when making tourism decisions. Thus, this paper aims at exploring the existing extent of community consultation and participation in tourism decisions making, using a case study of Umhlwazini, Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal. The study incorporates a qualitative research approach with the use of interviews, focus groups and observat...

The 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...

The participation of the local community is very important in the tourism industry as its members can be considered to be one of the tourism products and their inputs in the decision-making processes of tourism development should be a focal point in tourism development. Tourism is recognised as one of the largest and most lucrative industries globally in terms of employment and it contribution to gross domestic product. Increasing awareness on the idea of community participation in tourism development has been the topic of the decade in many of the developed counties. It has established that the practicality of this notion is facing challenges in many tourism destinations as is the case in Didima Resort in Bergville, South Africa. There is a lack of studies on barriers of community participation in KwaZulu-Natal tourism destinations. This leads to the question: what are the barriers that prohibit the community of Umhlwazini from participating in tourism development? The article demo...

The role and standard of tourism development for the society needs to be sustainable. The government at all levels has the obligation to ensuring that the plight of the poor is addressed and turned around through sustainable tourism development. This paper is conceptual and discusses tourism sustainable development while illuminating a significant role that a local government should play irrespective of difficulties that some governments face when trying to achieve intended objectives. As a result concerns from different circles have been raised about how effective governments have been in integrating sustainability principles and practices within tourism planning policies and processes in order for tourism to achieve sustainable development. Sustainable development of tourism must follow three principles, namely: fairness principle, sustainability principles, and community principle, on which the sustainable development of the local government systems relies on to build and enhance...

The study examines perceptions and attitudes of the community towards the impact of tourism and its sustainability as it is perceived as an alternative developmental philosophy that can serve as a panacea to alleviate poverty from communities. Social exchange theory is used to achieve the aforementioned. Since the role of residents is crucial within the sustainability paradigm, it is therefore important that their perceptions and attitudes on tourism impact towards sustainable development are understood and assessed. The study investigates and examines a range of variables involved in determining township community attitudes and perceptions towards tourism impact on development and sustainability and as a result social exchange theory is used. Literature is comprehensively reviewed on resident attitudes and perceptions towards tourism impact and sustainable development and social exchange theory are used in determining the above regarding variables involved. The findings reveal that...

According to Guttentag (2009) tourism happens when people travel to someone else’s place or attraction to spend a night or more. However, every individual tourist builds up or sometimes destroys human values unintentionally while travelling. This paper argues that there are numerous possible negative impacts of tourism that deserve increased attention from researchers, government stakeholders and entrepreneurs. This assertion has been specifically revealed and proven from this paper. The findings have disclosed that the visitors of a popular attraction do harm and upset the local residents of uMlazi by littering, blocking their driveways when there is no more parking and increased levels of noise due to tourist activities. Previous studies have aimed to identify, in theory, residents’ perceptions of the effects of tourism in their well-being and daily lives of local residents and others focusing on the theoretical relationship between residents and the process of tourism planning. H...

This paper seeks to expose the radical outcomes of tourism development on the natural environment in coastal areas. Although tourism and the environment are intertwined and inextricably linked to one another, it is unfortunately generally the latter that usually suffers the consequences of both natural and anthropogenic effects. Coastal areas and the natural resources are sensitive, fragile and vulnerable therefore the need for conserving and protecting coastal zones is dire and non-negotiable if the principles of sustainability are to be assured. Arguably, the only palpable way of preserving the natural beauty while in consequence ensuring their sustainability, viability and profitability as a tourism destination is through the usage of well-planned strategies. Coastal tourism is a common type of nature-based tourism considered to be highly-strained and degraded as the sector that proves to be the fastest growing industry in the world. Probably coastal degradation is due to the fac...

This study addresses the misunderstanding in the tourism development literature about the role and importance of locals’ leaders in promoting participation of local communityies in tourism activities. It can certainly not be denied that no person knows the affairs of an area better than locals, in particular community leaders, as they are in the forefront of community affairs. This is correspondingly the case in this research as it confirms that community leaders in tourism development are undoubtedly well placed community constituents to access the knowledge and resources of local people for tourism. The question that is on everyone’s mind remains unanswered as to whether community leaders fully understand their role in pushing the agenda of community participation as far as tourism is concerned. This study was conducted to examine the role of community leadership in promoting the idea of active participation by their community members in matters relating to tourism activities. Lac...

The aim of the study was to explore the tour operator’s role in promoting township tourism at Inanda in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Township tourism has enormous potential and ever-growing economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs to enter into the tour operating business. With necessary support this can contribute immensely in overcoming the legacy of social and economic exclusion which for the decades has characterised township life. It is a fact that the growth of township tourism has produced significant social transformation in the ancillary areas of the tourism industry in the tourism destinations, despite the fact that connections between these areas and tour operators are weak. This situation is no longer considered as being a sustainable way to travel and do business. This study takes the view that the tour operator’s business does not only entail picking up and dropping off tourists at their booked accommodation. The objectives of the study were to identify the promotional s...