Tourism has recently been acknowledged as South Africa’s foremost money- spinner, job creator, and an effective tool for poverty alleviation. This study, on the basis of this assertion, seeks to determine the socio-economic impacts of rural tourism routes in KwaZulu-Natal on adjacent communities, through case study approaches to the three: the Zululand Heritage Route, the King Shaka Route and the Zululand Birding Route. The fundamental objectives of this study are to identify the nature of tourism routes and their impacts and the benefits accruing to the local communities. It was anticipated that the findings of this research study would help by revealing the extent to which local communities understand and participate in tourism development issues. Furthermore, the results of the research have the potential of benefiting rural tourism and uplifting the socio-economic status of communities adjacent to the routes. Show less

Tourism has recently been acknowledged as South Africa’s foremost money- spinner, job creator, and an effective tool for poverty alleviation. This study, on the basis of this assertion, seeks to determine the socio-economic impacts of rural tourism routes in KwaZulu-Natal on adjacent communities, through case study approaches Show more