The pursuit of Community-Based Tourism (CBT) is considered a vital strategy for promoting sustainable development, empowering local communities, and preserving cultural and natural heritage in South Africa. A review of the call for proposals in the NDT tender documents on CBT theme indicates that the South African government has, over the years, implemented numerous projects designed to help communities generate income, create employment opportunities, and preserve cultural heritage. However, the transition of these projects into fully community-owned and community-driven enterprises has been limited. Many communities have shown minimal uptake in assuming responsibility for CBT initiatives once government involvement ends, leading to weak ownership structures and a lack of sustained interest. Although CBT holds considerable potential to foster sustainable development, promote local empowerment, and conserve cultural and natural resources, its effectiveness in South Africa remains constrained by a range of systemic challenges. These include manifestations of the ‘tragedy of the commons,’ limited marketing skills and entrepreneurial capacity within communities, and restricted access to both markets and financial resources. Moreover, a lack of genuine community buy-in often reinforces perceptions that they are ineffective or unsustainable. The persistence of these challenges raises critical questions about the structural and operational design of CBT projects in South Africa, the conditions under which they succeed or fail, and the extent to which existing models align with the needs, aspirations, and capabilities of local communities. In alignment with the foregoing context, the study adopted a qualitative research design to collect and analyse data. Two primary data collection methods were employed; first was the multi-stakeholder workshop, which facilitated collective dialogue and knowledge sharing among diverse actors involved in CBT projects; and second, key informant interviews, which complemented the multi-stakeholder workshop and provided in-depth insights from individuals with specialized knowledge and experience in CBT operations. Show less

The pursuit of Community-Based Tourism (CBT) is considered a vital strategy for promoting sustainable development, empowering local communities, and preserving cultural and natural heritage in South Africa. A review of the call for proposals in the NDT tender documents on CBT theme indicates that the South African government Show more

As visa regimes evolve worldwide, South Africa must proactively assess and benchmark its own visa policies to understand their impact on overall tourism demand. This is particularly important considering that visa applications and processing can create an administrative burden and financial costs for potential tourists. To enhance the competitiveness of South Africa as a tourism destination, it is crucial to align with global best practices. This includes being responsive to changes in global immigration policies and leveraging technological advancements to streamline visa processes. Additionally, there is a clear need for tailored visa regimes for individual countries, influenced by public diplomacy and other aspects of international relations. Therefore, data-driven policy decisions are essential. It is essential to further assess the potential impact of South Africa's visa policy on tourism demand, particularly when considering the expansion of tourism source markets through enhanced accessibility to key markets. Show less

As visa regimes evolve worldwide, South Africa must proactively assess and benchmark its own visa policies to understand their impact on overall tourism demand. This is particularly important considering that visa applications and processing can create an administrative burden and financial costs for potential tourists. To Show more

The tourism sector is a vital contributor to South Africa’s economy, driving job creation, foreign exchange earnings, and local development. Niche tourism, encompassing specialised segments such as adventure, cultural, rural, and eco-tourism, is an essential component of this sector, offering unique opportunities for sustainable and inclusive growth. Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) are central to this niche, delivering distinctive products and services that enhance the diversity and competitiveness of the tourism landscape. However, as digitalisation reshapes the global tourism industry, the adoption of digital technologies by niche tourism SMMEs in South Africa remains uneven, with significant barriers hindering their ability to fully leverage its benefits. This research focused on exploring the digital technology adoption landscape of niche tourism SMMEs in South Africa. It aimed to identify the key enablers and barriers influencing digital transformation within this sector. The study also examined the role of digitalisation in fostering innovation, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing market access, ultimately contributing to the growth, resilience, and sustainability of tourism SMMEs. Show less

The tourism sector is a vital contributor to South Africa’s economy, driving job creation, foreign exchange earnings, and local development. Niche tourism, encompassing specialised segments such as adventure, cultural, rural, and eco-tourism, is an essential component of this sector, offering unique opportunities for Show more

This research study set out to consider the state of community-based tourism (CBT) and to propose solutions to optimize it in a sustainable manner within the South African tourism context. Since its inception in the 1970s, CBT has been heralded as a “panacea” for the economic upliftment of marginalised and disadvantaged communities the world over. In most cases it has been heralded as having numerous benefits and opportunities for communities that are open to participating in this form of tourism by empowering and uplifting them as active participants within the tourism domain. Essentially the objective of CBT was to ensure that the benefits of tourism remain within the said communities as participatory role players, but at the same time has the effect of preserving and sustaining their cultural heritages and environs for the next generation. As such, CBT has the potential to comply with two United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 1, “No poverty” and SDG 8 “Decent work and economic growth”. In the context of CBT, both at a global and local level, there is a recognition of the limitations of what has often been regarded as a “cure-all” for poverty within underprivileged communities. Its success has been questioned, as has its changing nature in different contexts. This notion of CBT as a “fix-all” has been revisited, not only within the context of CBT, but more broadly in the tourism domain. The twenty-first century has witnessed an increase in critical academic scrutiny of what tourism entails and what its impacts are (or rather should be). While the positives regarding the impact of tourism are acknowledged, the negatives have been increasingly highlighted. This tendency has spilled over into the public domain where resistance against tourists and tourism is on the rise which has led to a cautionary, if not ambivalent, approach to the touristic space. It is in this current context and within the context of the reevaluation of CBT that this study positions itself. Within the South African context, it also took cognisance of the realization that CBT has not always been practiced or engaged with in an optimal manner – hence the rationale to suggest solutions to “optimize” the CBT domain. Show less

This research study set out to consider the state of community-based tourism (CBT) and to propose solutions to optimize it in a sustainable manner within the South African tourism context. Since its inception in the 1970s, CBT has been heralded as a “panacea” for the economic upliftment of marginalised and disadvantaged Show more

Tourism is widely recognised as a key driver of economic growth, employment, and social development in South Africa. However, the sector’s full potential remains underutilised due to persistent challenges such as fragmentation, weak coordination, infrastructure deficiencies, and limited evidence-based understanding of how the tourism supply value chain functions. This study, led by the CSIR, represents the first comprehensive mapping and systems analysis of South Africa’s tourism supply value chain. It reconceptualises tourism not as a collection of isolated sectors, but as a dynamic, interconnected system of sub-sectors, stakeholders, and contextual factors that collectively generate value. The research addresses a major knowledge gap by identifying the structures, interdependencies, and behavioural dynamics that underpin value creation within the tourism system. Specifically, it identifies the key sub-sectors that comprise the value chain, the products and services within each, the stakeholders involved, and the relationships that link them. In doing so, the study provides a holistic picture of how tourism functions as a complex adaptive system that underpins South Africa’s competitiveness, resilience, and sustainable development. Show less

Tourism is widely recognised as a key driver of economic growth, employment, and social development in South Africa. However, the sector’s full potential remains underutilised due to persistent challenges such as fragmentation, weak coordination, infrastructure deficiencies, and limited evidence-based understanding of how Show more

Technological advancement and digitalisation within the tourism economy have become increasingly important cornerstones for the continued development and growth of the sector. However, despite the growing recognition of the importance of digitisation of SMMEs in the tourism sector, there are still obstacles to effectively implementing and leveraging digital technologies to enhance competitiveness and sustainability. This results in tourism SMMEs not optimally serving the interests of tourists, thereby hindering the overall competitiveness of destinations. This study investigated the tourism SMME digital technology adoption landscape in South Africa and the potential innovation opportunities to enhance their development, growth, and sustainability. The study adopted a quantitative-dominant mixed-methods research design, following a three-stage approach to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the research phenomenon and to provide multiple perspectives on the digital landscapes of tourism SMMEs in South Africa and how to foster the digital transformation of these enterprises for sustained and resilient growth. Firstly, a systematic literature review was conducted to understand the tourism SMMEs’ technology adoption landscape. Secondly, a quantitative approach, using surveys, was used to gather data from registered tourism SMMEs in South Africa, specifically from the owners of tourism SMMEs across the provinces of the Free State, Gauteng, North West, Northern Cape, and Western Cape. These SMMEs were selected from the main tourism subsectors, including accommodation, attractions and activities, travel services, food and beverage services, and meetings, exhibitions, and special events. Lastly, a qualitative approach was employed during which semi-structured interviews were conducted with key personnel at government departments responsible for tourism SMMEs development and support. Multiple sampling techniques (stratified, purposive, and snowballing) were adopted for the quantitative and qualitative approaches. Findings from the systematic literature review revealed a growth in tourism SMMEs studies in terms of articles published and cited from 2005 to 2024, and the evolution of themes centres around digital transformation, innovation, digital marketing, and developing countries from 2015 to 2024. Findings from the surveys reveal that tourism SMMEs are dominated by micro enterprises and SMMEs that have been operating for more than 10 years, indicating long-established businesses. Show less

Technological advancement and digitalisation within the tourism economy have become increasingly important cornerstones for the continued development and growth of the sector. However, despite the growing recognition of the importance of digitisation of SMMEs in the tourism sector, there are still obstacles to Show more

Tourism is a vital economic sector in South Africa, as it has the potential to create job opportunities and offer long-term prospects for accelerating GDP growth and fostering an inclusive economy. Tourism assets can be natural, cultural, or any resource that attracts tourists or is a tourism product in a potential site or existing destination. Tourism assets refer to the existing tourism resources within the knowledge of the community. The country has at its disposal several state-owned assets that play a significant role in the economy. Natural and cultural tourism is based on the management and operation of goods as a form of heritage tourism. The need for positive outcomes has generated a growing emphasis on identifying key success factors. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the management, maintenance, and sustainability of state-owned tourism assets in South Africa. The study employed a mixed-methods approach as a research strategy to combine and integrate both quantitative (numerical) and qualitative (descriptive) data within a single study, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the complex research problem than either approach alone could offer. This methodology is rooted in pragmatism, allowing researchers flexibility to address diverse aspects of a research question by leveraging the strengths of both data types for a broader and deeper perspective. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with stakeholders concerning the management, maintenance and sustainability of state-owned tourism assets. The questionnaires were researcher-administered, targeting tourists to ensure a high return rate. The results show that the management and maintenance of state assets must address the need for continuous improvement as well as an interdisciplinary and strategic business perspective. The research findings indicate that some local governments have a poor track record in directing the use of local assets to support tourism growth. However, most local governments are now striving to manage tourism assets optimally to achieve local economic development. Hence, some are considering various options for investing in Public-Private Partnerships or leasing some parts of these parks to private investors. Maintaining state assets is framed as critical for leveraging them to attract visitors and maximise tourism revenue. Degradation or neglect of facilities undermines perceived quality of the tourism product, potentially deterring visitors and investment. Monitoring and evaluation of the assets entail establishing metrics to track visitor numbers, repeat visitation, 2 dwell times at each site, and the economic impacts achieved in adjacent communities. Some Local Governments face a financial crisis, resulting in inconsistent maintenance of facilities. Show less

Tourism is a vital economic sector in South Africa, as it has the potential to create job opportunities and offer long-term prospects for accelerating GDP growth and fostering an inclusive economy. Tourism assets can be natural, cultural, or any resource that attracts tourists or is a tourism product in a potential site or Show more

Accommodation grading systems officially exist in many countries and globally, including South Africa, there are official star grading systems to classify tourism accommodation based on physical and qualitative criteria. The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) plays a critical role in providing standardised ratings for accommodation establishments. However, in recent years, the tourism landscape has evolved significantly, driven by changing consumer preferences, emerging trends, and advancements in technology. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the grading system remains relevant and effectively serves the needs of both domestic and international tourists. This study examines perceptions of the influence and effectiveness of the tourism accommodation grading system in South Africa to provide insights into the relevance of the grading system and recommendations. A multi-conceptual theoretical framework is used, integrating institutional, quality management, diffusion and stakeholder theories. A mixed methods research design was adopted that includes desktop, quantitative (507 online and face-to-face interviews with consumers who used, were using or planned to use an accommodation establishment) and qualitative (30 purposively selected key informant interviews targeting 10 organisations, 10 graded establishments and 10 non-graded establishments) components. The results indicate support for accommodation grading (emphasis was placed on independence and credibility) and reviews/ ratings more generally. There was also some support that graded establishments are higher priced and higher levels of service quality and provision of amenities/ product offerings are expected. Most respondents did not regard the grading system as being very effective. The criteria used for grading are in alignment with factors deemed to be important by the respondents and key informants, with sustainability and transformational imperatives perceived to require greater attention. Issues were raised in relation to whether the criteria focused on ‘ticking boxes’ (the presence of attributes) rather than quality. Recognising the increased prominence of social media and ratings/ reviews, as well as diversity among accommodation establishments and considering niche/ non-conventional accommodation establishments in terms of type (such as Airbnbs) and location (specifically in townships and rural areas), were underscored. The need to consider multiple systems (including independent grading and reviews/ rating) that are complementary and institutionalising a monitoring and evaluation framework are key recommendations. Show less

Accommodation grading systems officially exist in many countries and globally, including South Africa, there are official star grading systems to classify tourism accommodation based on physical and qualitative criteria. The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) plays a critical role in providing standardised ratings 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

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