South Africa’s Bed & Breakfast (B&B) sector has grown rapidly since 1994 because of inclusive growth measures that seek to correct the tainted legacy of the apartheid era. The sector is widely occupied by small businesses which recruit local people using entry-level qualifications. However, little attention has been given to the training and development needs of employees working in this sector. The main aim of this study is to investigate the training and development needs of employees in the B & B sector in Thohoyandou. The primary objectives of this research are threefold: firstly, to determine the current levels of knowledge and skills possessed by employees concerning operational practices in B&Bs; secondly, to identify and specify the areas necessitating targeted training and development interventions; and thirdly, to analyse the challenges hindering the successful adoption and application of improved practices by employees. A quantitative research approach which followed a survey research design was utilised to achieve the research objectives. A random sampling technique was used to select 50 participants who took part in this study. The results would be useful for crafting appropriate training programs for employees as well as equipping employers with competitive enabling tools of employee management for the betterment of their businesses. On a broader scale, the results of this study would assist policymakers to effectively develop training and development policies targeted at improving the B&Bs in accommodation sector. There are challenges that people face while trying to execute sustainable practices. It is, therefore, recommended that employers consider improving the skills level of the employees through training. Show less

South Africa’s Bed & Breakfast (B&B) sector has grown rapidly since 1994 because of inclusive growth measures that seek to correct the tainted legacy of the apartheid era. The sector is widely occupied by small businesses which recruit local people using entry-level qualifications. However, little attention has been given to Show more

Youth and student tourism is critical to upgrading the tourism market, as the estimate of the youth travel market has changed over the past decade. The World Tourism Association notes that youth visitors make up one-sixth of worldwide entries, with an average of sixty percent. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct research that examines youth involvement and contribution to tourism growth. It is also important to define the terms “youth” and “domestic tourism” and their importance. This study will investigate the barriers to the participation of second-year tourism students at the University of Venda in domestic tourism. The study is descriptive and used a quantitative method with a random sampling technique to select respondents. The study area is at the University of Venda in Thohoyandou. A questionnaire was used as a data collection tool, and SPSS will be used for data analysis. The results of this study will help tourism students identify barriers to participating in domestic tourism and find solutions. Show less

Youth and student tourism is critical to upgrading the tourism market, as the estimate of the youth travel market has changed over the past decade. The World Tourism Association notes that youth visitors make up one-sixth of worldwide entries, with an average of sixty percent. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct research that Show more

The study aimed to explore and understand the key role of community participation in the development of tourism in Phiphidi village. The specific objectives of the study included assessing the significance of community participation, identifying barriers to participation, examining mechanisms to encourage participation, and evaluating the overall impact of community involvement in sustainable tourism development. The importance of this research lay in its potential contributions to both academic scholarship and practical applications in the field of sustainable tourist development. Through a purposive sampling approach, the study engaged with a diverse group of 15 community members, representing various age groups, genders, and roles within the Phiphidi village. This deliberate selection allowed for a comprehensive exploration of different perspectives, ensuring a more nuanced understanding of the complex cultural dynamics and societal structures within the community. The research methodology involved the use of semi-structured interviews as the primary means of data collection. These interviews offered participants the freedom to elaborate on their experiences, thoughts, and feelings, providing rich insights into the role of the Phiphidi Village community in sustainable tourism development initiatives. The interview guide, with core questions focusing on community engagement, challenges, and strategies, was designed to maintain consistency while allowing flexibility for participants to share their unique perspectives. Upon completion of data collection, the study employed a thematic analysis approach to systematically categorize and analyze emerging themes from interview transcriptions and observational data. This analysis aimed to uncover patterns, similarities, and differences in participant responses, providing valuable insights into the community's experiences with sustainable tourism development. The findings of the study revealed a complex picture of drivers, obstacles, and goals within the Phiphidi community's attitudes towards sustainable tourism. Economic incentives, cultural pride, and concerns about transformative impacts all contributed to the multifaceted nature of the community's perspective. The recommendations drawn from the study emphasized the need for customized programs, open decision-making processes, measures to protect cultural heritage, educational initiatives, and comprehensive development strategies. Show less

The study aimed to explore and understand the key role of community participation in the development of tourism in Phiphidi village. The specific objectives of the study included assessing the significance of community participation, identifying barriers to participation, examining mechanisms to encourage participation, and Show more

This research study builds on the concept of the Indigenous Story Teller (IST) created and developed in two previous commissioned UP research reports. The IST was conceived of and considered as a unique opportunity to counter the exclusionist nature of tourist guiding regulations and as potential for the South African tourism market. This current research focuses on the mechanisms to recognise the IST and the ways in which this integration into the tourist guiding landscape can be actualised. The research promulgated three flexible scenarios in order to implement this integration with varying implications for the tourist guiding fraternity. These can be classified as the “Current”, “Viable” and “Ideal” scenarios. Besides the integration of the IST in various propositions, these scenarios will also have a profound impact on the profile and ambit of the tourist guide per se, leading to a more professionalized and enhanced positionality of the guide in the South African tourism domain. Moreover, it is argued that not only will the recognition of the IST enhance the South African tourism offering at so many levels, but ultimately also make the South African tourist guiding sub-sector an international pioneer as well as a world trendsetter in terms of the integration of the IST. Show less

This research study builds on the concept of the Indigenous Story Teller (IST) created and developed in two previous commissioned UP research reports. The IST was conceived of and considered as a unique opportunity to counter the exclusionist nature of tourist guiding regulations and as potential for the South African tourism Show more

Over the past twenty years a group of women from Mogalakwena in the province of Limpopo have been crafting a living heritage by documenting their knowledge and experience of local cultural practices through the medium of embroidery. The women from Mogalakwena started documenting their knowledge of their culture as a way to sustain themselves. The embroidered panels document the traditional lifestyle and practices of the people of Mogalakwena, which range from traditional food recipes to an in-depth explanation of the way bridal processes work in this local community. This Master’s dissertation uses these embroidered panels to analyse the crafting of a living heritage, representing a gendered memorialisation of the culture and traditions of Mogalakwena. This will be achieved by arguing that these embroidered panels are indeed a way of preserving the history of the culture and practices of Mogalakwena through the use of visual and art history. The research shows how these panels contribute to post-1994 eras of South African history and collective memory. Show less

Over the past twenty years a group of women from Mogalakwena in the province of Limpopo have been crafting a living heritage by documenting their knowledge and experience of local cultural practices through the medium of embroidery. The women from Mogalakwena started documenting their knowledge of their culture as a way to Show more

In the fight against the international climate crisis, the opinions of small island nation states echo with a unique resonance. These islands, though small in size, and often marginalised in earth’s oceans, are bearing witness to the massive impacts of climate change first-hand, standing often times alone and vulnerable against the rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and ecological disturbances that threaten their very existence. As the world wrestles with the urgent need for sustainable solutions, it is important to listen to the insights and experiences of these small island nations and how they have gone about preparing to “accommodate” climate change and global warming into their economies and day-to-day lives. The climate crisis in recent years has become an urgent global concern, necessitating creative and sustainable solutions to mitigate its widespread and ever-evolving effects. Amidst this backdrop, the tourism industry it was found holds immense potential to drive positive change in the wake of this contemporary crisis affecting both the global North and South. This dissertation sets forth to consider tourism against this backdrop of climate change crisis, and questions if the former can be adapted or positioned to combat the latter, if at all possible. This dissertation will utilise the Seychelles as the primary case study to this investigation to test this hypothesis. In this context theoretical and practical frameworks for climate change and tourism will be devised and then applied to the indicated island nation state. This study aims to recommend various ways in which the Seychelles can off-set its designation as a “sinking nation” by situating tourism, potentially, at the helm of the island nation’s economy to combat climate change. Show less

In the fight against the international climate crisis, the opinions of small island nation states echo with a unique resonance. These islands, though small in size, and often marginalised in earth’s oceans, are bearing witness to the massive impacts of climate change first-hand, standing often times alone and vulnerable Show more

The primary focus of this chapter-is a community-engaged research project that included 16 students enrolled for the BSocSci Honours Heritage and Cultural Tourism (HCT) programme in the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies (DHHS) at the University of Pretoria (UP), South Africa, as well as four members of the Historical Society of Mamelodi (HSM). The HSM project aimed at capturing the history and heritage of Mamelodi on a platform, ArcGIS StoryMaps, and required the collaboration of community members and students. Although the focus on digital histories was not exclusively the result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the accelerating demand for virtual museum exhibits and online engagement brought by the pandemic contributed to the course design and to the rationale combination within a heritage studies course. Show less

The primary focus of this chapter-is a community-engaged research project that included 16 students enrolled for the BSocSci Honours Heritage and Cultural Tourism (HCT) programme in the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies (DHHS) at the University of Pretoria (UP), South Africa, as well as four members of the Show more

This study explores the impact of electricity cuts on tourism, focusing on micro and small accommodation establishments in South Africa. Engaging with 331 entities—comprising 76% micro and 24% small accommodation enterprises—reveals that an overwhelming 97% encounter significant to moderate operational impacts due to electricity cuts. These impacts are primarily increased operational costs, reduced revenue, compromised safety and security of the establishments, with 27% reporting job cuts—not a desired consequence for a nation grappling with high unemployment rates. Despite adopting various alternative energy sources, including gas appliances, generators, and batteries and inverters (powered by either Eskom or solar energy), only 21% manage to sustain all in-room amenities during power outages. The findings suggest that generators, despite their drawbacks such as noise and pollution, in conjunction with other alternative energy sources, offer a reliable and higher intensity power source sufficient to maintain full operational capabilities during electricity cuts. The survey also discloses a notable turn towards renewable energy, mainly solar systems and inverters, within the last year among 33% of accommodation establishments, motivated by the intensifying frequency and severity of electricity cuts. While the growing inclination towards solar power installations is favorable for long-term energy solutions, the financial requirements to support full-scale operations pose a significant hurdle towards complete independence from the grid or alternate sources such as generators. Interestingly, domestic guests are the ones that demand uninterrupted services from accommodation establishments, no matter the size, with connectivity being their primary concern. The results highlight that over half of the micro and small businesses have self-financed their alternative energy infrastructures, suggesting challenges in accessing loans due to high interest rates and the diminutive scale of their operations. Over 60% of the survey population expressed unawareness of the Green Tourism Incentive Program (GTIP), with a mere 3% benefiting from its grants, indicating an awareness gap among micro establishments compared to their small counterparts. The results also suggest that there are more graded tourism establishments unaware of the GTIP than are aware, even though being graded is a key requirement for the GTIP grant. Another key element from the results is that electricity cuts significantly contribute towards food waste. Accommodation establishments are, however, adjusting reduce this waste by adapting cooking methods and changing menus. The study underscores the critical challenges and opportunities faced by South Africa's tourism small, medium, micro enterprises (SMMEs) amidst the electricity crisis. It advocates for strategic support mechanisms, improved awareness, and access to financial assistance to foster a sustainable and resilient tourism industry capable of navigating the complexities of energy shortages and contributing to the broader goals of sustainable development and environmental conservation. Show less

This study explores the impact of electricity cuts on tourism, focusing on micro and small accommodation establishments in South Africa. Engaging with 331 entities—comprising 76% micro and 24% small accommodation enterprises—reveals that an overwhelming 97% encounter significant to moderate operational impacts due to Show more

Tourist guiding is an important subsector of the tourism sector. In South Africa, tourism forms an important contributor to the economy and accounts for a large portion of employment. Tourist guiding has been seen as a mechanism for upliftment due to the relative ease of entering the sector. Despite this, transformation within the subsector has been relatively slow, particularly for women and the youth. This is concerning as the highest rates of unemployment in South Africa are among the youth. Therefore, the overall aim of this study was to examine the potential opportunities, challenges, and barriers to transformation within the tourist guiding subsector, with an emphasis on previously disadvantaged groups. The study adopted a mixed-method research design, to ensure a holistic and in-depth investigation into the research topic. Given the large population of guides in the country, registered in alignment with the Act (3 of 2014), a quantitative approach using surveys was adopted to gather information from tourist guides. A mix of purposive and snowball sampling was used in disseminating an online survey link to tourist guides. Furthermore, to increase the response rate, data was also collected directly at key tourism attractions in the various provinces. A total of 434 usable surveys were collected. In addition, a qualitative approach was used to gain a deeper understanding of challenges to transformation, as well as, importantly, opportunities for transformation from an administrative and practical perspective. This was carried out in the form of in-depth interviews conducted with the provincial registrars of tourist guiding, as well as representatives of various tourist guiding associations, resulting in a total of 12 interviews. Findings from the surveys indicated that the tourist guiding subsector in South Africa is dominated by Black men between the ages of 35 and 44, highlighting issues of participation among women and the youth as has been previously noted. Most tourist guides operate within the culture-guiding category rather than adventure and nature, while Gauteng was the most represented province in terms of area of operation. These results are supplemented by those from the qualitative aspect of the study, where key findings emphasised the key role that the national and provincial registrars play in the cohesiveness of the subsector; in the achievement of the professionalisation of tourist guiding, given their ability to advance key aspects of transformation, as well as ensure that practical measures can be realised. Furthermore, the findings also point towards significant challenges that are faced by all stakeholders within the subsector, including tourist guides, registrars and associations – all of which act as inhibitors to the achievement of transformation in the subsector. Some of these challenges relate to the qualification of tourist guides, particularly in terms of costs and upkeep, registration and professionalisation of the subsector; administrative burdens; fragmented communication between stakeholders inhibiting transformation of the subsector. Also noted were issues surrounding awareness of the sector and how to become a tourist guide, particularly among the youths. Whilst key stakeholders have faith in the ability of the sector to be transformed and become a platform for career development among previously disadvantaged groups, there are many hurdles that need to be overcome before this can be realised. Additionally, the findings indicate a passion and willingness among all stakeholders to work cohesively to both grow and transform the subsector, thus providing a positive outlook for the future of the tourist guiding. Show less

Tourist guiding is an important subsector of the tourism sector. In South Africa, tourism forms an important contributor to the economy and accounts for a large portion of employment. Tourist guiding has been seen as a mechanism for upliftment due to the relative ease of entering the sector. Despite this, transformation within Show more

Book of Abstracts for masters and PhD Postgraduate Students in Tourism Management at the North West University who were provided with financial support from 2021 to 2024.