This research explores transformative marketing strategies aimed at enhancing the tourism sector in eThekwini, with a focus on adapting to a changing travel and tourism market. The study emphasises the importance of destination image, branding, and competitiveness in attracting and retaining tourists. It assesses the rise and decline of eThekwini’s tourism development, identifying key challenges such as inadequate infrastructure; marketing and communication shortcomings; and socio-economic hurdles, including crime and safety concerns. The research further highlights the critical role of stakeholder management and governance in driving sustainable tourism growth. Drawing on international case studies and local contexts, the study proposes strategic interventions to reposition eThekwini as a competitive and appealing destination, leveraging its cultural heritage, natural attractions, event-based tourism, and modern tourism value chain. The ultimate goal is to foster a resilient tourism sector that can adapt to global trends while benefiting local communities economically and socially. Show less

This research explores transformative marketing strategies aimed at enhancing the tourism sector in eThekwini, with a focus on adapting to a changing travel and tourism market. The study emphasises the importance of destination image, branding, and competitiveness in attracting and retaining tourists. It assesses the rise and Show more

South Africa has the third highest number of recorded serial killers globally, with the United States of America and the United Kingdom having the highest and second highest per capita, respectively. However, while both countries have established a “serial killer tourism niche”, noted in the cases of Jeffrey Dahmer and “Jack-the-Ripper” attractions, South Africa has failed to do so as of yet. This dissertation sets forth to examine the latter industry lacuna, academically, from a uniquely South African context, and theorises a way to establish a globally competitive serial killer tourism attraction that will benefit the country on a local, provincial and national level, both economically and socially. This investigation used a case study-based research methodology within a qualitative research design to conceptualise and contextualise “serial killer tourism” as a sub-segment of the dark tourism phenomena at a hyperlocal level. Furthermore, this dissertation also provides an in-depth historical overview of dark tourism and explores this travel market segment in South Africa. Using this as a point of departure, this inquiry likewise provides detailed appraisals into ten dark tourism attractions globally, followed by discussing ten dark tourism attractions in South Africa. Subsequently, the detailed examination of these twenty dark tourism attractions is used to form the foundation of a unique ethical framework that can be applied to the establishment and operation of a serial killer tourism attraction in South Africa. Moreover, the social and economic feasibility and viability of the envisaged serial killer tourism attraction in question will be expounded upon. This study further provides readers with a glimpse into the largely specialised, yet underexplored, academic world of forensic psychology and the broader field of investigative sciences, including “tourism criminology”. The novel concept of safe fear – a space where tourists can safely interact with their fear of murder and their curiosity around the social phenomenon of serial killers – is also formulated and deployed. In this desktop study paired with critical thematic analysis of archival materials, along with secondary sources, it has been determined that the ethical establishment and operation of a serial killer attraction in South Africa will provide a unique context in which visitors/tourists are provided with an educational opportunity to satisfy their curiosity regarding the social phenomenon of serial killer. It was found that in the long- © University of Pretoria ii term such a touristic sphere would provide a unique environment (“safe space”) of victim commemoration to shift public focus from the serial killer to the victim. The latter which serves as the vocal point to the aforementioned hypothetical tourist attraction that will be unpacked in this dissertation. Show less

South Africa has the third highest number of recorded serial killers globally, with the United States of America and the United Kingdom having the highest and second highest per capita, respectively. However, while both countries have established a “serial killer tourism niche”, noted in the cases of Jeffrey Dahmer and 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 thesis is primarily concerned with the position of women in the Heritage and Cultural Tourism (HCT) industry in southern Africa. It unpacks the extent of exploitation that prevails by focussing on seven southern African countries (South Africa; Namibia; Botswana; Eswatini; Zimbabwe; Lesotho and Mozambique) considering two groups of women employed as service providers in the formal and informal domain. It establishes the key role women play in the sector and considers the nature of HCT endeavours that women are involved in. It also investigates the opportunities and challenges these women encounter as well as the importance of their jobs for their livelihoods. It appraises the tangible policies and regulations as well as organisations and associations available to women in the HCT industry along with the intangible obstacles. Through exploratory research using purposive snowballing it investigates to what extent female labour utilisation in the HCT domain in these seven selected countries is carried out in an exploitative manner. The analysis makes use of an intersectional methodology to consider the complex and nuanced nature of the situation. Key findings yield significant insights into the working conditions within HCT and the industry's impact on women, underscoring the concerning reality that, even in the 21st century, Kafkaesque situations continue to afflict this vulnerable population. Keywords: Women in tourism; Heritage and Cultural tourism; Southern Africa; Labour exploitation; Tourism legislation. Show less

This thesis is primarily concerned with the position of women in the Heritage and Cultural Tourism (HCT) industry in southern Africa. It unpacks the extent of exploitation that prevails by focussing on seven southern African countries (South Africa; Namibia; Botswana; Eswatini; Zimbabwe; Lesotho and Mozambique) considering 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

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

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

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

This study investigates the social impacts of tourism events on communities living in the vicinity of the event venues. It investigates perceptions of host communities on impacts of the events. The findings revealed that tourism events have both positive and negative impacts on host communities. The study uses the qualitative research approach which provides an opportunity to capture the richness and complexity of their experiences, which may not be captured by quantitative research methods. The study therefore, concluded that it is necessary to take necessary precautions when hosting events, especially in rural communities. The study concludes that the event should continue to be hosted because it helps the community to be able to generate income and creates employment for the local people as well as good business opportunities for local businesses. Show less

This study investigates the social impacts of tourism events on communities living in the vicinity of the event venues. It investigates perceptions of host communities on impacts of the events. The findings revealed that tourism events have both positive and negative impacts on host communities. The study uses the qualitative Show more

Guided tours and tourism destinations are inseparable, with such guided tours often being sought after for their power to improve tourist satisfaction and envisioned to enhance visitors' experience and impact tourism growth at destinations. The success of such guided tours is often premised on several factors, which when present, would influence visitors' propensity to recommend, revisit and make future destination choices. Such factors play a critical role in determining whether visitors would consider guided or self-led excursions. Increasingly, South Africa relies on revenue from tourists as a major source of income. Statistics from South Africa show that the tourism industry is dependent on tour operators, tourist guides, and information services and that the travel industry and reservation services are built-in industries. Because of how much they enrich visitors' experiences, guided tours are offered in many different nations. These excursions are in high demand because of the positive effect they have on visitor satisfaction and, by extension, the development of the tourism industry in the places they visit. For a price or for free, tour guides may impart invaluable knowledge to their clients that can shape how visitors could remember their time in a certain location. Several studies have shown evidence of a correlation between tour guides and tourists taking tours. This is particularly true considering that many visitors choose guided tours rather than self-directed ones. Understanding the Critical Success Factors for guided tours is essential as it makes it easier for tourism suppliers to channel efforts toward tourist satisfaction. This research aimed at providing light on the under-researched topic of critical success factors for guided tours in South Africa's Western Cape Province. Understanding what makes for a successful guided tour is crucial for any tourist attraction. When the factors that make a guided tour enjoyable are isolated, tourism providers may better focus their efforts on satisfying their clients. It is worth noting that customers often want the provider and the tourist guide, to go above and beyond to ensure that they are satisfied with what is offered. The research used a mixed methods approach, which included both qualitative and quantitative techniques, to accomplish its goals. The number of interviewees was determined to be 12; all of them tour guides. For the quantitative data (n=451), a non-probability systematic sample comprised visitors taking part in guided tours in the Western Cape Province. Given that studies have shown that tour guides often lack the knowledge necessary to ensure that their clients are satisfied, it was crucial to investigate ways to enhance the quality of guided tours from the perspectives of both clients and tour guides. The study revealed that safety, knowledgeable guides, and pricing remain critical in the success of guided tours. The study highlights the critical factors considered essential for the success of guided excursions and the areas that require improvement. This research is important because it expands our understanding of a topic that has not been studied nearly enough so far especially focusing on how guided tours may be improved, and in the context of South Africa. According to the study findings, keeping an open line of contact with clients is crucial to retaining their loyalty. Those involved in the business tourism sector need to pay attention to new developments and come up with creative solutions if they want to compete with other business destinations over the globe. Those involved in the business tourism ecosystem should also stay abreast of research developments. Ultimately, this could lead to tour guides investing in skills development and knowledge expansion to conduct tours that satisfy visitors. The study further contributes to serving as a guide for further studies that may seek to investigate how guided tours in other provinces of South Africa should be conducted and ultimately improved. Furthermore, the study could provide a basis for tour guides within the Western Cape Province and South Africa more broadly to undertake more successful guided tours by understanding the CSFs required. Following an analysis of the study’s findings, recommendations for effective guided tours for the tourism industry were highlighted while practical and managerial implications were proposed. Show less

Guided tours and tourism destinations are inseparable, with such guided tours often being sought after for their power to improve tourist satisfaction and envisioned to enhance visitors' experience and impact tourism growth at destinations. The success of such guided tours is often premised on several factors, which when Show more