Tourism and local economic development: The case of the Highlands Meander

Local economic development (LED) planning is of major policy importance in post-apartheid South Africa. Although issues surrounding LED have attracted considerable policy attention, one neglected theme has been the role of tourism as a lead sector for LED. The aim of this article is to examine the planning and workings of one tourism-led LED initiative in South Africa. The case study is that of the Highlands Meander in Mpumalanga province, where five towns are collaborating in their LED initiatives in order to promote the area's tourism products. A key finding is that this growing tourism initiative is currently not benefiting local black communities. Recommendations are offered for developing a pro-poor tourism initiative.     

Tourism and regional development: The case of South Africa's distressed areas

Uneven development is a long-established feature of South Africa's space economy. Recent policy initiatives have been launched for tourism to be a vehicle for regional development. Against the background of international debates about tourism and regional development, this article examines the tourism economy of South Africa's 23 priority development districts or distressed areas that are the current focus of national policy to redress uneven development. The nature and growth of tourism occurring in these areas is shown to be primarily domestic tourism and concentrated upon visiting friends and relatives travel. The prospects for regional development ultimately hinge upon leveraging potential assets for leisure tourism. Key challenges for incipient tourism-led regional development in South Africa are identified.     

基于利益主体理论的苏南五市旅游合作系统研究

区域旅游合作是发展旅游业的重要手段,旅游合作发展涉及到多方面利益,如何协调各方的利益,让合作各方都能主动参与和有效配合,确保区域旅游合作的有效性和稳定性,仍是亟待解决的难题。本文从利益主体理论出发对苏南五市区域旅游合作系统进行了研究,提出了该系统简化为地方政府、旅游产业部门、非营利组织和个人等4个子系统,每个子系统都包括若干个具体利益主体,分析了每个子系统中的利益主体不同的关注点;最后就加强苏南区域旅游合作提出了相关的政策建议。     

Problems and prospects for the development of urban tourism in Gaborone and Maun,Botswana

This paper draws on the tourism system framework to examine the problems and prospects of urban tourism in Gaborone and Maun, Botswana. These are young centres that have a growing number of tourist attractions, facilities and services that could promote urban tourism. The findings of this study, based on both secondary and primary data sources, indicate that urban tourism in Botswana is relatively undeveloped because there is no substantial domestic market, tourist attractions in urban centres are poorly developed and marketed, and city development plans and the national tourism policy are not integrated. The study concludes that, for tourism to become a viable economic sector in the country, urban tourism should be integrated into Botswana's tourism policy and city planning.     

Unpacking tourism SMMEs in South Africa: structure,support needs and policy response

Small enterprise (SMME) support policy in post-apartheid South Africa has traditionally involved support initiatives in the form of ‘generic’ packages that overlook the specificities of particular sectors. In this article the specific issues concerning SMME development in tourism are investigated. Against a backcloth of a review of international scholarship on tourism small firms, the article presents findings from recent empirical investigations into the progress and problems of tourism SMME development in South Africa. Within the international scholarship and policy debates on tourism, it is argued that the South African experience is particularly distinctive in two respects: (1) the support of particular groups of tourism SMMEs linked to objectives of transformation and (2) the introduction of dedicated tourism-specific support programmes for SMME development.     

The impacts of tourism investment on rural communities: Three case studies in South Africa

Significant research, both locally and internationally, has been undertaken on tourism development and its impacts on the empowerment of rural communities. This article analyses the extent to which three tourism projects in South Africa, namely the Makuleke tourism initiative, Umngazi River Bungalows and the commercialisation of Manyeleti Game Reserve, have improved the livelihoods of rural communities and contributed to rural economic development. The projects are analysed in terms of both their economic and non-economic benefits, as well as their contribution towards the attainment of certain key policy objectives of the South African government.     

Rethinking township tourism: Towards responsible tourism development in South African townships

Township tourism in South Africa has grown in popularity since 1994 and is considered by some to be an appropriate mechanism for stimulating local economic development. This paper suggests, however, that it is not necessarily a viable or responsible development option, since it does not automatically ensure pro-poor benefits or enhance community development. Primary research conducted in Soweto to understand visitor demand and tourism stakeholder perspectives suggests there is a demand for responsible tourism in townships. The paper contributes to South African debates about the developmental role of tourism, township tourism and local economic development, responsible tourism, and the related policy implications. It calls for responsible township tourism development in which local authorities play a vital role and recommends the development of township tourism attractions, with a focus on culture and heritage, to create unique visitor experiences.     

Tourism industry reaction to climate change in Kgalagadi South District,Botswana

Climate change and adaptation have become major issues in contemporary tourism development and policy discussions, especially in southern Africa where the tourism industry is largely based on the natural environment and wildlife. Previous studies on tourism and climate change have mainly focused on the global north and snow-based winter tourism activities. This study aimed to fill the gap by examining tourism operators' perceptions of climate change in Kgalagadi South District, southwest Botswana, and looking at their adaptation strategies, if any. It was found that these operators were aware of the general impacts of climate change but most saw no impacts on the tourism industry and none recognised any impacts on their own operations. Most did, however, envisage challenges to future business growth and Botswana's tourism competitiveness. The perception that climate change did not currently have any impacts may explain why there were almost no adaptation strategies in place.     

上海与苏南旅游资源整合开发的战略思考

推动苏南与上海旅游资源的整合开发,有利于苏南和上海共享2010年世博会的重大机遇,发展现代服务经济,推动产业结构升级。为此,苏南和上海要确立资源整合,同城开发;旅游拉动、效益共享的指导思想,采取联手开发旅游项目、打造旅游联动服务平台等举措,进一步提升旅游产业的能级和活力。     

咸宁城市旅游品牌发展策略研究

本文基于咸宁城市旅游品牌的现状,提出旅游资源开发、政策规划引导、旅游设施与交通建设、旅游产业结构升级等是咸宁城市旅游品牌发展的动力要素。探讨了各动力要素的运行关系,提出了强化"香城泉都"形象建设、加强旅游品牌整合和系统建设、树立"顾客满意"理念,提升旅游品牌忠诚度等优化措施。以期根据咸宁城市旅游品牌发展的特殊性,开发具有特色的咸宁旅游产品。     

生态旅游存在的问题与对策探讨——以珠三角为例

在旅游业成为许多国家或地区的重要经济产业部门乃至经济支柱产业的今天,生态旅游作为一种理想的形式,已在我国取得了一些进展,并成为许多地方和部门规划中不可缺少的项目。开发一种"可持续发展"的旅游业形式,将经济效益、生态保护和社会效益三者结合起来,对于避免急功近利的发展模式具有重要意义。本文以珠三角地区为例,研究了该地区生态旅游存在的问题,并提出相应的对策。     

District development and closer settlement economy in Gazankulu

Development planning in the South African homelands has been part of the policy of separate development. This policy implied that the homeland inhabitants should make a living there or only leave these areas to be migrant labourers. Agricultural and industrial projects have been developed since the sixties to provide labour opportunities for this population, but these have had little impact on the large need for employment. This study shows how little the local economy of a settlement in Gazankulu is linked to the development projects which are directed at the aggregate, homeland or district level. Their history of underdevelopment has not equipped the local population to escape the constraints of a poor rural existence. Some suggestions are made to move towards a more democratic relationship in development planning and distribution of resources.     

Domestic tourist spending and economic development: The case of the North West Province

Globally, tourism is the largest and fastest growing industry, outpacing all other industries. In South Africa, tourism is widely regarded as a growth catalyst, able to generate much-needed income and employment opportunities. The market potential of domestic tourism has, however, been downplayed in favour of international tourism. This research argues that tourism – especially domestic tourism – can contribute significantly to regional growth and development in South Africa. A survey was carried out among domestic tourists in the North West Province, one of the poorest provinces in South Africa. This survey was used to draw up a demographic and spending profile of the average domestic tourist in the province, and to determine the possible implications of this spending on different macroeconomic variables in the province.     

The structural and economic implications of urbanization

"This study surveys the policy issues associated with urbanization following the abolition of the pass laws [in South Africa]. The demographic background is briefly sketched. Using neo-classical analysis as a starting point, particular attention is paid to the present inefficiencies of city form associated with segregation. It is argued that current planning procedures are in danger of perpetuating or even worsening the situation. Obstacles to employment generation are considered and transport, local government and housing issues are discussed. On every front, urbanization policy is unstable and, even in the short term, there will be pressures to change it."     

乡村旅游在新农村建设中的负面影响及对策

文章就乡村旅游带来的负面效应进行了分析，发现其存在的原因是保护意识不强，规划缺乏科学性，法律制度不全，管理水平不高。并提出了强化可持续旅游理念、统筹安排、科学规划、健全法律法规、完善政策体系、提高管理者素质等相应对策。     

基于功能组团和板块设计的农业旅游规划

农业旅游的功能涵盖了休闲、生态、景观、教育、保护等内容,但由于普遍缺乏整体规划,导致我国农业旅游目前存在许多问题,功能难以充分发挥,基于此,本文结合广东梅州的案例提出了基于功能组团和板块设计的农业旅游规划的构想,以期促进现代农业旅游业的可持续发展。     

A Third World perspective on industrial decentralization: The World Bank Study on Seoul

Over the past five years the World Bank has been engaged in an extensive investigation of the implementation of policies designed to recast the urban system of South Korea and, more especially, to constrain the expansion of the capital city, Seoul. The South Korean situation furnishes an example of an active employment decentralization policy pursued in a middle‐income developing country. The task of the paper is to synthesize the extant research material on Seoul, chronicling the unfolding nature of policy intervention, the directions of industrial policy in South Korea and suggesting the broader implications for decentralization planning in South Africa.     

构建海南养老休闲旅游服务体系研究

随着中国社会老龄化进程的逐步加快,老年群体的养老问题日益成为当前急需解决的问题。养老休闲旅游将是极具前景的市场,海南具有发展养老休闲旅游的优势,要利用这一机遇,构建起养老休闲旅游服务体系,做好海南养老休闲旅游的规划、宣传、产品研发,并充分与当地社区、乡村发展相结合,开拓一条具有海南特色的养老休闲旅游之路。     

Tourism,business linkages and small enterprise development in South Africa

Although considerable attention is given to the prospects for developing small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa's tourism economy, very little relevant research has been undertaken in this regard. In this article, the findings are presented from over 60 detailed interviews conducted with key enterprises and entrepreneurs involved in tourism, outsourcing and small enterprise development in South Africa. The aim is to examine opportunities for outsourcing and business linkage development in South Africa's tourism economy, and to investigate the difficulties that confront the tourism SMME economy through examining the status of business linkages between large tourism enterprises and SMMEs in South Africa. The South African research is located within the context of existing works on tourism and small enterprise development in developing countries.     

中、韩国际旅游政策比较分析与启示

自改革开放以来,中国旅游业取得了惊人成绩,但距离真正旅游强国,仍有很长的路要走。中、韩两国文化相似,地理相邻,自1992年建交以来,两国旅游交流十分密切。通过中、韩两国国际旅游政策比较分析与思考,旨在为促进中国旅游业快速发展提供建议和对策。