Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Tourism industry – South Africa'

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
The objective of this specific research report is to analyse the internet marketing function within the South African tourism industry. Furthermore, the hotel industry is analysed to establish how the introduction of the internet changed the playing field in terms of marketing and how customer behaviour has changed over the past 13 years with the introduction of the internet to the already established global distribution systems (GOS) and computer reservation systems (CRS). An in-depth literature review is conducted to analyse the marketing function in general, after which an analysis in terms of production and services organisation is discussed. Here, the focus is on the 4 P and 7 P marketing mix theories of Michael Porter. The influence of the internet on the service marketing mix is discussed with specific reference to the luxury hotel industry. The specific research and interviews conducted in this study are focused on the luxury hotel industry in the Cape Town city area. Focus areas of the interviews with the specialist in the industry are on the following: • Influence of the internet on customer relationship management • Influence of the internet on the relationship between the luxury hotels and intermediaries • Influence of the internet on marketing functions such as cost and service. The findings of the primary research in the interviews are then compared to the findings in the literature review and recommendations and managerial implications are drawn in the final chapter of the research report.

Although much research has been conducted on sustainable tourism and the education thereof internationally, a limited number of studies have focussed on education of sustainable tourism in South African secondary schools. A literature overview identified various approaches to the education of sustainability on the international front. Despite South Africa’s reliance on the tourism industry, the concept of sustainability has received little focus in classrooms where this pertinent issue should be receiving attention in order to ensure that future sustainability is ensured in the South African tourism industry. From the literature overview it was possible to identify topics pertaining to sustainability in the Tourism Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement implemented in the Further Education and Training Phase (FET) in South African secondary schools. These assisted in the development of the research tool for this study. The New Ecological Paradigm (NEP), an instrument used to establish the level of environmental concerns of groups of people, also provided guidance in the development of the research tool. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the perceptions of Tourism educators in secondary schools towards sustainability. A framework to investigate this was developed and three hypotheses formulated. To give effect to this, an empirical investigation was conducted. Tourism educators who were successful in their application to mark 2014 National Senior Certificate Tourism examinations were included in the sample of this study. The result of the descriptive statistics performed on the data showed that the level of education of the respondents was the main contributing demographic that impacted on their perceptions of sustainable tourism. It is, however, of concern to note that a very low percentage of the respondents (6.2%) have received formal training in Tourism. This situation should be cause for concern for Tourism education in the Eastern Cape. Two of the three hypotheses were accepted. The researcher believes that specialised subject relevant training is required to empower educators to teach sustainable tourism in the South African secondary school classrooms in order to ensure future sustainability in the tourism industry of South Africa.

Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.
The 2011 National Tourism Sector Strategy (NTSS) adopted the concept of sustainable development towards decent work as a strategic objective of priority in the South African tourism industry (South African National Department of Tourism (SA.NDT), 2011a). The objective operates to address unfavourable aspects associated with work in tourism, and is relevant to tourism graduates as their susceptibility to decent work deficits contributes to a shortage of professionals with industry-related skills in the tourism industry. Over four years have passed since the SA.NDT declared priority interest on the decent work objective in 2011. Yet no noticeable progress has yet been made. This has raised a need to expand the knowledge base on decent work in tourism so as to retain skilled tourism professionals and sustainably develop the industry, as it is a priority sector for the country’s sustainable growth. The focus of this study was to establish tourism graduates’ perceptions (and experiences) of decent work in the tourism industry, as they are susceptible to decent work deficits and are abandoning the labour sector for which they created expectations and were highly trained. Due to the exploratory nature of the study, a qualitative research approach was adopted using a structured interview guide to collect primary data. The target population was limited to the 135 tourism graduates of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s BTech in Tourism Management programme, who completed their studies between the years 2010 and 2014. Stratified sampling and snowball sampling techniques were used to obtain a representative sample of 40 tourism graduates. Primary data were analysed using Leximancer software. The key findings of the study reveal the majority of the respondents surveyed to be mainly single females which reflect the population of the local tourism industry, of an average age of 27 years, and earning an average monthly salary of R7 007.35. In relation to historical race categories, Africans were the most noticeable compared to other races. The working career of the majority of these tourism graduates was on average four to five years before exiting the industry to pursue a different career. This was attributed to a predominance of precarious tourism work conditions and inaccessibility of decent work as tourism qualifications are apparently not valued in the tourism labour market. The findings underlined that work in tourism covers present financial needs and does not protect employees against possible future unemployment, illness, or old age. Tourism role players should collaborate to establish decent work focus areas as a step towards addressing unfavourable work conditions in the tourism industry. This should mitigate shortages of skilled tourism human resources. The study suggested eight decent work focus areas for addressing poor working conditions and sustainable development towards decent work in the South African tourism industry.

Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Technikon, Cape Town, 2004
The research is aimed at achieving a conceptual analysis of tourism training. Training initiatives in the Western Cape province are frequently mentioned by way of example, while the respective roles of tertiary institutions, the future Cape Peninsula University of Technology and the Sector Education and Training Authority for the Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Education and Training Authority (THETA) are extensively explored in the research. An investigation is undertaken to determine the gaps between the output of the tourism education and training system and the real demand of tourism employers. The research report will delineate the issues that need to be covered in the research study to determine the gaps between the output of the tourism education and training system and the real demand of tourism employers. A pilot study, commissioned by the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), reveal gaps in tourism training worldwide, especially in the occupational category of front-line workers. In this category, the most common gaps relate to interpersonal communication skills, languages, computing and elementary knowledge of business techniques. The conclusions of the pilot study are noted and explained by pointing out the need to incorporate the changes in education regarding learnerships, skills programmes and work-based qualifications, as set out by the Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Education and Training Authority (THETA) for the tourism industry. The research proceed to highlight the role of other major stakeholders, for example, that of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) with the view that tourism must be understood in a global, national and provincial context.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The tourism sector in the province is regarded as one of the major economic sectors that have been found to have significant growth prospects. Indeed it’s revitalising and captivating to see the provincial tourism industry organizing itself to adapt to the new challenges of the knowledge economy, while also retorting to the new demands emerging from the needs and the expectations of the customers. The Western Cape tourism industry is currently preparing itself for the knowledge intensive marketing of its products and services and is also faced with challenges arising from the need to exploit electronic business systems for the benefits of the entire industry and its role players. In a nutshell, this requires the Western Cape tourism industry to understand the operation of global economic systems and strive towards locating itself strategically within them, and also develop strategic alliances with developing countries in order to reshape the system of global governance to achieve more equitable outcomes. Simultaneously, it requires that it equip the provincial economy as a whole, its sectors and enterprises to meet the challenges facing it in becoming sustainable competitive environment. This is an exploratory study of which the research problem is whether the selected tourism institutions are ready to implement electronic business systems. The proposed research study findings indicate the readiness level of the selected institutions in implementing electronic business systems. The research methodology instruments of the study were twofold. Both a modified questionnaire designed by Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to evaluate companies’ readiness in electronic business systems application was used, as well as a structured interview to acquire qualitative data was also used. The paper is not only a result of my personal interest in electronic business field, most importantly, it is of necessity to understand the concepts and principles of ‘electronic business’ and ‘Destination Marketing Organisation’ as they apply to the Western Cape tourism industry.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die toerismesektor in die provinsie word beskou as een van die vernaamste ekonomiese sektore wat beduidende groeivooruitsigte toon. Dit is inderdaad opwindend en fassinerend om te sien hoe die provinsiale toerismebedryf homself organiseer om by die nuwe uitdagings van die kennisekonomie aan te pas, terwyl daar ook voldoen word aan die nuwe eise wat uit die behoeftes en die verwagtinge van die klante voortspruit. Die Wes-Kaapse toerismebedryf berei homself tans voor vir die kennis-intensiewe bemarking van sy produkte en dienste en kom ook te staan voor uitdagings wat spruit uit die behoefte om elektroniese besigheidstelsels tot voordeel van die hele bedryf en sy rolspelers te ontgin. Kortom vereis dit van die Wes-Kaapse toerismebedryf om die bedrywighede van wereldwye ekonomiese stelsels te verstaan en daarna te streef om homself strategies daarin te plaas, en ook om strategiese alliansies met ontwikkelende lande te vorm ten einde die stelsel van wereldwye bestuur te hervorm om billiker uitkomste te lewer. Terselfdertyd moet die provinsiale ekonomie as geheel, sy sektore en ondernemings toegerus word om te voldoen aan die uitdagings waarvoor dit te staan kom terwyl dit ’n volhoubare mededingende omgewing word. Hierdie is ’n verkennende studie waarvan die navorsingvraagstuk is, of die geselekteerde instellings gereed is vir die implementering van elektroniese besigheidstelsels. Die bevindings van die beoogde navorsingsondersoek sal die gereedheidsvlak aandui van die geselekteerde instellings om elektroniese besigheidstelsels te benut. Die navorsingsmetodologie het tweeledig van instrumente gebruik gemaak. Een daarvan was ‘n spesiaal aangepaste vraelys wat deur BDC ontwerp is om maatskappye se gereedheid vir die toepassing van elektroniese besigheidstelsels te evalueer, en die ander ‘n gestruktureerde onderhoud. Die studie is nie bloot ’n gevolg van my persoonlike belangstelling in die veld van elektroniese besigheid nie, maar die belangrikste is om die konsepte en beginsels van ‘elektroniese besigheid’ en ‘Destination Marketing Organisation’ te begryp soos dit op die Wes-Kaapse toerismebedryf betrekking het.

Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.
The study was planned to investigate the relevance of the National Certificate Vocational tourism programme for the South African tourism industry in terms of the employability and skills required by tourism students to work in the tourism industry, once they graduated. The main objective of this study was to identify the challenges facing the National Certificate Vocational tourism programme, with sub-objectives focussing on the level of graduates’ employability, articulation from the National Certificate Vocational programme to higher education, as well as on the skills and abilities needed by National Certificate Vocational lecturers to teach in their specific field. The research was conducted in the form of an empirical survey to gather information using research questionnaires. A mixed methods approach, using both a quantitative and qualitative methodology, was employed to gather relevant data for the study. Qualitative questionnaires were distributed to a target population comprising conveniently selected National Certificate Vocational Tourism graduates (a total sample of 100), and National Certificate Vocational lecturers (a sample of 50 suitably qualified persons), at four Technical Vocational Education and Training colleges in the Western Cape. Personal interviews were conducted with ten conveniently selected tourism industry employers and role-players. Ten specifically identified representatives of tourism and government education departments and other government organisations were also part of the target population. The first part of the study looked at the history of Vocational Education and how it is practised in other countries. The history of the National Certificate Vocational programmes within South Africa is explained, as well as the challenges facing the National Certificate Vocational tourism qualification and its relevance to the tourism industry in South Africa. Results from the research suggested that National Certificate Vocational tourism students are only employable in small to medium micro enterprises (SMMEs) once they graduate. It was concluded that graduates would need more experience and practical knowledge to be employable in the wider tourism labour market. The results confirm that the updated National Certificate Vocational tourism curriculum is critically important to make the qualification more relevant to the South African tourism industry.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Western Cape tourism industry offers a variety of attractions and has the potential to grow further in the next couple of years. According to the statistics provided by Cape Town Routes Unlimited (CTRU) the province is among the three provinces that received the highest number of tourists in the last few years. The critical challenge that the province now needs to look at, is the participation of previously disadvantaged individuals in the mainstream tourism industry. Tourism stakeholders see Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) as an important vehicle for transformation. Although little progress has been made so far, there is a will among all stakeholders to transform the tourism industry. Some of the key challenges raised by the study on the efforts towards greater BEE were lack of finance for BEE businesses, access to the market and lack of skills. Professionalism and good quality service of international standards was also seen to be very important by respondents. The report also looks at two successful deals that were brokered in the tourism industry, namely one by Sun International and the other, the merger between Grass Route Tours and African Eagle Day Tours. In the fieldwork twenty businesses were interviewed, ranging from accommodation and tour operator to restaurants. This was not a random sample, but rather an attempt to target those that were part of the database of Cape Town Routes Unlimited (CTRU). The research tool used by the author of this report was a qualitative and quantitative structured questionnaire. The responses shed further light on some of the Black Economic Empowerment challenges faced by the Western Cape tourism industry. These results will supplement information already available to Cape Town Routes Unlimited. Eventually the findings will be tabled and recommended to relevant stakeholders for action.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Weskaapse toerismebedryf bied ‘n verskeidenheid aantreklikhede en het die potensiaal om te groei oor die volgende paar jaar. Cape Town Routes Unlimited (CTRU) statistieke toon dat die Weskaap een van die drie provinsies landwyd is wat die meeste toeriste groei oor die laaste paar jaar getoon het. Die Weskaap se grootste uitdaging is nou om meer geleenthede in die hoofstroom van die bedryf te bied aan die voorheen onderdrukte individuë. Oor die algemeen beskou belangegrope in die bedryf die BEE as ‘n belangrike middel tot transformasie. Die vordering is tot dusver egter nog maar min, alhoewel daar eenstemmigheid bestaan om die toerismebedryf te omskep en te transformeer. Die studie toon die grootste struikelblokke tot vinniger BEE as die volgende: ‘n tekort aan finansiering vir BEE besighede asook ‘n tekort aan ondervinding en bekwaamheid. Professionalisme sowel as dienskwaliteit (vergeleke met internasionale standaarde) word ook as belangrik beskou. Twee suksesvolle BEE–onderhandelinge word in die studie in besonderhede bespreek, naamlik Sun International en die samesmelting van Grass Route Tours and African Eagle Day Tours. Die studie verwerk onderhoude wat gevoer is met twintig besighede wat akkommodasie, toeroperateurs sowel as restaurante ingesluit het. Dit omvat nie ‘n steekproef nie, maar is gebaseer op die CTRU databasis. Die onderhoude is gevoer met ‘n gestruktureerde kwalitatiewe en ‘n kwantitatiewe vraelys. Uit die terugvoerings het verdere BEE stuikelblokke vorendag gekom. Dit is aanvullend tot informasie verkry vanaf CTRU. Al hierdie resultate sal in verwerkte vorm aan belanghebbende groepe beskikbaar gestel word.

M-Tech Tourism Management
Residents’ attitudes towards and opinions about tourism is important as they are the ones dealing directly or indirectly with tourists and the development of the industry. As one of the key stakeholders their support is needed to grow the industry in a sustainable manner. For South Africa as a developing country tourism is one of the focus areas of development. This growth is supported by a number of initiatives to create more (but also more sustainable) tourism destinations especially for small towns such as Parys (Free State; South Africa). The primary objective was to analyse the social effects of tourism and determine the factors influencing these effects on the local community of Parys, located in the province of the Free State. This was done by conducting an empirical study among residents in Parys. The questionnaire was developed based on similar research done in other communities. The questionnaires were captured in Microsoft Excel and analysed in the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS v 23.0). From a negative point of view residents highlighted the increase in prices of goods and services due to tourism development. From a positive perspective residents felt that the development of tourism lead to more opportunities for people to have fun, more tourists visit the area and the image of Parys has improved. From the factor analysis for social effects the following factors were evident: Business and community effects, Negative social effects, Opportunities for residents, Environmental effects and Cost of living effects. The latter two factors were rated the highest and thus residents felt that tourism lead to an effect on the environment and an effect on their cost of living. This should be monitored so that residents remain positive and do not start to blame tourists for negativities happening in Parys. When analysing the image of Parys from the perspective of the residents the factor analyses revealed three factors namely Infra- and suprastructure, Nature and cultural attractions and Hospitality of which they felt the strongest about the first and the last factor. Clearly from the results these residents enjoy staying in Parys, do not consider tourists to be a threat and welcomes visitors to the area. The social effects of tourism development is, to a certain extent, influenced by gender, language, level of education, age and number of years living in Parys. Overall it can be concluded that residents are fairly happy with tourists visiting Parys and the development taking place due to tourism. They are aware of the negative impacts but the positive impacts currently outweigh the negative impacts. It is recommended to include residents in the development process or at least keep them aware of what is happening, why it is happening and what opportunities it might bring to them. The results of this study differ from that of others indicating that communities are unique and there are unique aspects influencing their opinions regarding the social effects of tourism. The researcher recommended that the private and public sectors of Parys should continue their current practices to uphold the positive attitudes but also consider options where residents can become more involved in the development of the industry.

Includes bibliographical references.
There is consensus that wine tourism summarily offers a strong competitive advantage for wine regions, and can generate profitable business for wineries, other wine-related products and for visitor services. And in the four decades since the first manifestation of South African wine tourism was established in the Stellenbosch wine route, there has been general agreement that South African wine tourism has grown significantly in both local and international reputation and recognition. As a result of the widely identified potential of wine tourism, the South African industry has presented a continuing expectation of sustained industrial growth and tangible developmental manifestations and contributions. However, the industry successes since democracy have more recently been shadowed by an increasingly evident developmental frustration and dissatisfaction on the part of stakeholders, academics and observers.There has been considerable discussion and argument over the growing evidence of non-existent or insufficiently developed industry associative networks, the wide spread and overbearing prevalence of a production mind set and the mounting agreement that there are tremendous amounts of further research and investment still required if South African wine tourism is to realize the true value of its assets. This study identifies and clarifies this prevalent practical problem and research concern of slow and disparate development in the South African wine tourism industry in cognizance of the increasingly evident dissatisfaction and unrealized expectation of South African wine tourism industry stakeholders.

Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012.
The reason for conducting this research was to evaluate the impact of information technology in the tourism industry, focusing mainly on tourism intermediaries, which include selected travel agencies and tour operators in Cape Town, and their awareness levels of the negative and positive impacts, as well as disintermediation that occurs owing to information technology developments. The research methodology for this thesis comprised a literature search and an empirical survey, which evaluated the impacts of information technology on tourism intermediaries in Cape Town. This research sought to establish whether disintermediation has occurred amongst travel agents and tour operators, whilst recognising strategies, which these tourism intermediaries can use to ensure survival in the competitive tourism industry. Relevant sources were referred to in the literature search. A number of appropriate normative measures were taken from the literature, followed by an empirical survey where randomly selected tourism intermediaries in Cape Town, namely small, medium to large companies were chosen to participate in the research questionnaire. The questionnaire responses were captured by the registered CPUT statistician in the form of frequency distribution analyses, and these were statistically analysed by the researcher and the registered statistician. The interpretations and findings of the statistical analyses were presented in tables and charts and were explained individually according to the statements' similarities, differences and verifications, as per the research questionnaire. A number of recommendations emanated from the literature sources and empirical survey, followed by concluding remarks in the form of conclusions.

Thesis (MTech (Marketing))-- Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2006
With a population of 1.3 billion and a rapidly growing economy, China has the potential to exert a greater influence on the development of tourism worldwide. In particular, the China outbound tourism market is expanding at a fast rate. Along with the Approved Destination Status, which was granted to South Africa in 2001, South African Tourism has already set its sights on targeting this emerging market. The purpose ofthis research was to establish the perspectives oftravel agencies in China with regard to promoting South Africa as a leisure tourist destination. The study attempted to survey travel agencies in China, in order to understand Chinese travel agents and their clients' dislikes and preferences, which assisted the researcher to identify the attractive points and drawbacks ofSouth African tours, as viewed by travel agencies. In this study, 90 international travel agencies were surveyed with the use of self-completion questionnaires, while 6 in-depth interviews were conducted. The research results provided the perceptions and attitudes of South Africa, as viewed by Chinese travel agencies and revealed that shopping and entertainment, scenic beauty, different people and their lifestyles, cultural experiences and wildlife experiences were the top five of the attractions of South Africa as a tourist destination. The main factors, which prevent Chinese tourists from visiting South Africa, were unfamiliarity, affordability and negative perceptions with regard to crime and HIV/AIDS.

The aim of this study was to explore and describe HIV and AIDS workplace programmes and policies (WPPs) in the tourism industry of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) in South Africa. This study adopted a quantitative and qualitative approach, in other words, a mixed approach. The reason for using more than one method of inquiry was to obtain a deeper understanding of the tourism industry of NMBM in terms of examined behaviour, and of the meaning of occurrences in the industry. To gather qualitative data concerning HIV and AIDS programmes, key informant stakeholders in the tourism industry at global, national, provincial, and local levels were identified to conduct in-depth interviews. These respondents were selected using the non-probability sampling method of quota sampling. This is a type of stratified sampling in which the selection of the strata within the sample is not random, but rather is typically left to the discretion of the interviewer (Wienclaw, 2015). One respondent for each level of the industry was selected, resulting in four key informant stakeholders participating in the qualitative research component of this study. The initial criterion for participation in the quantitative portion for this study was that tourism businesses based in NMBM must be able to produce robust evidence of HIV and AIDS WPPs. The researcher selected the probability sampling method of stratified random sampling with proportional allocation. This technique considers the known characteristics of the population (Wienclaw, 2015). A database of tourism businesses was obtained from the local tourism organisation, who are members of the governing body for local tourism. This database was cleaned, to eliminate any data that did not meet the participation criterion for the study. Ten per cent of the total number of businesses in the cleaned database were sampled. The simplest approach to sampling is to merely randomly select from the population by, for example, having a computer choose names at random from a list, or by selecting names from a hat (Wienclaw, 2015). Therefore, every fifth business listed on the sampled database was selected to participate. Unfortunately, surveys tend to have notoriously low return rates, and people are frequently reluctant to give out information over the phone. This was also the case for most of the tourism businesses in the sample. When emailed or telephoned, they refused to participate for various reasons. Some stated that HIV does not affect their business; others reported that their businesses were too small and therefore they could not afford to implement these programmes. Some businesses were hearing about the WPP for the very first time, while several others responded with simple disinterest in participating. The findings of the study are that although tourism is viewed as an important industry that contributes to the economy, tourism businesses do not include any intervention programmes with which to respond to the threat of HIV and AIDS to their businesses. Additionally, there is neither leadership nor support from any level of the tourism industry, to create a conducive environment for the adoption of HIV and AIDS WPPs by tourism businesses. The primary reason for the lack of uptake of these programmes is ignorance across cascading levels of the tourism industry, which includes tourism businesses. Additionally, a number of perceived barriers, such as size of business, are cited as the reasons why tourism workplaces in the NMBM fail to participate in HIV and AIDS WPPs. It is anticipated that this study will create further awareness of HIV and AIDS WPPs, in an industry that seems to have limited knowledge about such programmes. This study will also provide guidance regarding the requirements to implement effective HIV and AIDS WPPs.

In this research paper a database of accommodation establishments was compiled, and certain supply and demand aspects of the tourism industry in the George / Wilderness area were measured with a view to determine whether planning by the private sector and local authorities could benefit therefrom. Attention was given to the peculiar nature of tourism demand and tourism supply and how selected components thereof could be measured. The research methodology followed included: a literature survey to facilitate an understanding of the nature of tourism supply and tourism demand; the construction of a database of accommodation establishments in order to identify all participants in the George / Wilderness tourism industry; a telephone survey to determine the supply of bed nights in the area; and a questionnaire survey to determine the demand by tourists for bed nights in the area. The following recommendations and conclusions were made: The database compiled during this study should be kept up to date and be expanded to include visitor profiles such as country of origin, length of stay, and primary reason for travel in order that private and public sector concerns may draw statistics / data to be used in the planning and / or marketing of the tourism industry to tourists. Greater co-operation and co-ordination between private and public sectors of the tourism industry are needed to obtain data concerning the tourism market required for planning purposes as well as a concerted marketing effort. Failing this, legislation should be introduced, compelling accommodation establishments to make available supply and demand data to the regional services council for statistical purposes. The study should be extended to cover the entire Southern Cape region in order to obtain statistics applicable to the region as a whole. This will then facilitate both local and regional planning as well as a coordinated marketing effort.

The tourism industry is critically important for the economic well-being of South Africa. This realisation elicited a greater focus on the industry, including greater government regulation thereof. Although the concept of a tourist (consumer of tourism services) will not readily conjure up someone in need of protection, tourists are often exposed to exploitation through unfair business practices. Tourists, by definition, are outside their normal places of residence and often strangers to the environment within which they find themselves. For the important tourism industry to achieve its economic potential the protection of the tourist must be paramount. The introduction of the Consumer Protection Act, 2008 in 2010 was heralded as a new dawn for consumers. The CPA provides consumers, including domestic and foreign tourists, with extensive consumer rights. As the CPA is the first comprehensive legislation aimed at consumer protection the impact of the Act is far from known. The CPA caused considerable uncertainty in the tourism industry establishing a clear need to determine its impact on the segments of the industry. This study focuses on the accommodation segment. The aim of the study therefore is to ascertain the impact of selected consumer rights on the accommodation segment of the tourism industry. An overview of the tourism industry reveals that tourists are becoming more experienced, demanding and discerning. The regulation of the industry is explained. Particularly relevant are latest developments in South Africa, particularly the Draft Tourism Bill, 2011 and the National Tourism Sector Strategy. The consumer protection regime applicable prior to the coming into effect of the CPA was characterised more by ad hoc legislative arrangements than any systematic programme of consumer protection. Consumers were reliant on the common law. However, as part of a larger scheme to improve the socio-economic well-being of the people of South Africa, the government introduced a number of statutes including the CPA. The CPA introduced wide-ranging rights for the protection of consumers and mechanisms to provide effective redress. Selected consumer rights are critically analysed to assess the impact of these rights on the accommodation segment. These include the consumer’s right to equality in the market place; the right to privacy; the right to cancel advance bookings; the right to documentation in plain language; the right to quality service; and the right that a supplier having possession of the property of guest must account for such property. Another important aspect relates to the use of exemption provisions. The use of exemption provisions by suppliers is severely curtailed by the CPA. The use of prepaid vouchers, trade coupons and similar promotions, and customer loyalty programmes are also considered and the rights and obligations for consumers and suppliers respectively are elucidated. Many of the rights considered will have a significant impact on accommodation establishments. Elsewhere the impact may not appear to be as significant as the CPA is merely codifying an existing right or remedy. However, codifying the right, providing examples of the conduct prohibited and providing enforcement mechanisms will increase the efficacy of these rights.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Students graduate from Boland College after obtaining the National Certificates N4 – N6 in Tourism. I have been working at Boland College Stellenbosch Campus as a tourism lecturer for 12 years and over the past few years I have found that students have been struggling to find employment in the tourism industry on completion of their studies. The national tourism curriculum offered at FET colleges was implemented in 1995 with the last renewal in 2001 for selected subjects. The tourism industry, however, is a vibrant, ever-changing industry which stands in direct contrast with a static, needs-insensitive and unchanging curriculum. The aim of this study was to establish in which respects the current national tourism curriculum corresponds, or does not correspond, with what the tourism industry in Stellenbosch requires from entry-level employees in terms of expected skills, knowledge and attitudes. Qualitative methods were used to generate data from employers representing the tourism industry in Stellenbosch, graduates and lecturers from Boland College. Research participants were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. The data was analysed by doing verbatim transcriptions of the interviews, using coding and an Excel spread sheet analysis. The results revealed specific areas where the current national tourism curriculum does not correspond with the expectations and needs that the tourism industry in Stellenbosch has from entry-level employees in terms of expected skills, knowledge and attitudes.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Studente ontvang ‘n kwalifikasie in Toerisme nadat hulle die Nasionale Sertifikate N4 – N6 in Toerisme voltooi het. Ek werk die afgelope 12 jaar as toerismedosent by Boland Kollege Stellenbosch Kampus. Gedurende die afgelope paar jaar het ek gevind dat studente sukkel om werk te kry in die toerismebedryf nadat hulle hul studies voltooi het. Die nasionale toerisme-kurrikulum wat by VOO Kolleges aangebied word, is in 1995 geïmplementeer en die laaste keer in 2001 hernu en boonop slegs in sekere vakke. Die toerismebedryf is egter ‘n lewendige, vinnig-veranderende industrie in direkte teenstelling met die statiese, onveranderde kurrikulum wat oënskynlik nie sensitief genoeg is vir die behoeftes van die toerismebedryf nie. Die doel van hierdie studie was om vas te stel in watter mate die huidige nasionale toerisme-kurrikulum ooreenstem, of nie ooreenstem nie, met wat die toerismebedryf in Stellenbosch verwag van intreevlak-werknemers in terme van verwagte vaardighede, kennis en houdings. Kwalitatiewe metodes is gebruik om data te genereer en onderhoude is gevoer met werkgewers wat die toerismebedryf in Stellenbosch verteenwoordig asook gegradueerdes en dosente van Boland Kollege. Daar is hoofsaaklik gebruik gemaak van semi-gestruktueerde onderhoude. Die data-analise het bestaan uit verbatim getranskribeerde onderhoude, die kodering daarvan asook ‘n genoteerde Excel-ontledingstaat. Die resultate van die studie dui op spesifieke aspekte van die nasionale toerisme kurrikulum wat nie ooreenstem met die verwagtinge en behoeftes wat die toerisme-industrie in Stellenbosch het van intreevlak werknemers in terme van vaardighede, kennis en houdings nie.

Thesis (MTech (Marketing))--Peninsula Technikon, 2001
Companies operating in the service industry must take note of three important marketing tasks. The first of these tasks is that companies should realise that they must provide the market with a variety of products. Businesses should therefore furnish the market with a diversified product range. Secondly, customers expect from the business sector to provide them with a quality service that even exceeds their own expectations. Thirdly, to ensure its survival in a competitive environment, the company should improve the productivity of its employees e.g. by improving the level of customer service provided to customers. Kotler (1997: 488) argues that such an improvement in productivity levels of employees can be achieved through employees working more skillfully, increasing the quantity of service by surrendering some quality, industrialising the service, inventing new-product solutions, designing more effective services, presenting customers with the incentive to substitute their own labour for company labour, or using technology to save time and money. Keeping these facts in mind and taking into consideration that tourists have been arriving in South Africa from all over the world for decades, it is of great importance for visitors to South Africa to receive customer service of the highest quality. A tourist travelling in the Republic of South Africa will most probably make use of a local travel agency if they should be in need of any further travel related services. A travel agent representing a particular travel agency, will not be engaged in the sale of travel related services only to tourists, but also to any other consumer interested in making use of the Travel Agencies' services. The Association of Travel Agents' (ASATA) code of conduct stresses that "ach travel agent engaged in the sale of travel-related services direct to consumers shall maintain the highest standard of service possible, complying with all statutory requirements, including those applicable to travel agents and with all provisions of this code" (Business Practices Committee Consumer Code For Travel Agencies, 1994: 5). This thesis is an analysis of the "marketing concept", with specific reference to customer service. It focuses on the top management in the travel agency industry and will be concerned with the degree to which top management is marketing orientated and the influence their marketing-orientated outlook will have on the performance of the travel agency. With marketing being defined as: "the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of ideas, goods and services to create exchanges that satisfy individual and organisational goals", it must be emphasized that marketing can be seen as, amongst others, the anticipation and satisfaction of customer needs (Boshoff & Terblanche, 2000: 4). This research study would also include a study of the travel agency's level of customer service, which will have a direct reflection on top management's marketing outlook as well as the travel agency's level of performance.

Thesis (PhD (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African tourism industry has undergone transformation with numerous “windows of opportunity” having been opened for tourism entrepreneurs. The South African small, micro and medium tourism enterprises (SMMTE) sector, however, faces numerous challenges. To ensure long-term sustainability, according to Whittle (2000: 8), the owners of SMMTEs need to make efficient and effective business decisions about the internal and external threats and challenges their businesses face. This will ensure that they have sufficient strategic information on which to base decisions in order to maintain their competitive advantage in the tourism industry. Motivation/problem statement: Small business planning behaviour is described as unstructured, irregular and incomprehensive. This characterises SMMTE strategising as incremental, sporadic and reactive. A clear need for strategic planning and management coordination of SMMTEs is identified in the light of increasing competition in the tourism industry and the dominance of large international companies in most sectors of the tourism industry (Cooper & Buhalis, 1996: 101). This study examines determinants of strategic behaviour through a sample frame of formally registered SMMTEs in South Africa. Because of the importance of the issue for a developing economy such as South Africa, the study contributes toward an improved understanding of strategic determinants of sustainable business performance at SMMTE level. It is against this background that the study examines the extent to which linkages or relationships can be established between the characteristics or attributes that are unique to SMMTE owners and manifestations of strategic behaviour. The overall research question in this study is: Do relationships exist between the attributes of SMMTE owners and strategic behaviour? Methods/procedure/approach: The research design for the proposed study primarily involves descriptive and explanatory research. The purpose of using this methodology is to determine predictors of strategic behaviour of SMMTEs in South Africa. Primary and secondary data gathering methods are used in this study. The target-sampling frame is the formally registered SMMTEs in South Africa, and the research sample is determined through using a systematic random sampling method, stratified by province. The study focuses on two elements, namely profile attributes of the SMMTE owner and preferred strategic behaviour that has manifested within the SMMTE. The possible preferred relationship between these two elements is addressed from a theoretical perspective with the basic premise that some of the manifestations of the SMMTE owners’ strategic behaviour have a better likelihood of success. On the basis of this conceptual framework, the development of a suitable data-gathering instrument is discussed and developed to determine the degree of SMMTE strategic behaviour in the ventures. Results/findings/product: The descriptive statistical aspect of the research is discussed in detail. The business characteristics, profiles of the typical attributes or traits of the SMMTE owners, as well as their demographic profiles are discussed in detail. This study further investigates a possible relationship between strategic behaviour (the dependent variable) and entrepreneurial attributes (independent variables) using inferential statistics. The relationships and constructs, as depicted in the a priori model, are empirically tested by means of various statistical techniques: • Reliability testing of the data set is conducted (ref. Section 7.5); • The validity of the research instrument is determined (ref. Section 7.6); • The reliability of the new constructs after exploratory factor analysis is determined (ref. Section 7.6.2); • The relationships between the selected variables are investigated through Spearman’s rho and ANOVA (ref. Section 7.7); and • The relationships between the selected variables of the hypothesis are further investigated (ref. Section 7.7.2) through regression analysis. The research results support an overall statistically significant association between the independent and dependent variables, and the acceptance of the alternative hypothesis (and the rejection of the null hypothesis), namely that there is an association between certain attributes of the owners of the SMMTEs (which is characterised by locus of control, reasons for starting a business, holistic capabilities, formal management education and prior experience) and preferred strategic behaviour. However, the research findings do not support an overall statistically significant association between the risk propensity independent variable and strategic behaviour dependent variables. Consequently the following null sub-hypothesis (ref. Section 7.2.2) is accepted: There is no relationship between risk propensity and strategic behaviour. Conclusion/implications: The study makes various recommendations for further research (ref. Section 8.5.1) and explains the practical implications (ref. Section 8.5.2) thereof. The findings of this study have identified entrepreneurial attributes that have a significant association with strategic behaviour and have made a contribution toward the largely underresearched subject of the role of strategy in entrepreneurship. The study has further applied this to a largely under-researched economic sector in South Africa, namely tourism. The results in this study have produced a foundation for further analysis of the attributes of SMMTE entrepreneurs and the manifestation of strategic behaviour in SMMTEs.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse toerismebedryf is getransformeer en dit het talle geleenthede vir toerisme-entrepreneurs in dié bedryf laat ontstaan. Die sektor vir klein, mikro- en middelgrootte toerismeondernemings (KMMTO’s) in Suid-Afrika staan egter voor talle uitdagings. Om volhoubaarheid op lang termyn te verseker, moet die eienaars van KMMTO’s volgens Whittle (2000: 8) doeltreffende en doelmatige sakebesluite neem oor die interne en eksterne bedreigings en uitdagings waarvoor hul ondernemings te staan kom. Dit sal verseker dat hulle oor voldoende strategiese inligting beskik waarop hulle besluite kan grond sodat hulle 'n mededingende voordeel in die toerismebedryf kan volhou. Motivering/probleemstelling: Die beplanningsgedrag van klein ondernemings word as ongestruktureerd, onreëlmatig en onvolledig beskryf. Dit tipeer die strategiese beplanning van KMMTO’s as inkrementeel, sporadies en reaktief. 'n Duidelike behoefte aan strategiese beplanning en bestuurskoördinering word by KMMTO’s geïdentifiseer in die lig van groter mededinging in die toerismebedryf en die oorheersing van groot internasionale maatskappye in die meeste sektore van die toerismebedryf (Cooper & Buhalis, 1996: 101). Hierdie studie ondersoek die bepalers van strategiese gedrag deur middel van 'n steekproefraamwerk van formeel geregistreerde KMMTO’s in Suid-Afrika. Omdat hierdie kwessie vir 'n ontwikkelende ekonomie soos dié van Suid-Afrika belangrik is, dra die studie by tot 'n beter begrip van die strategiese bepalers van volhoubare sakeprestasie op KMMTO-vlak. Dit is die agtergrond wat die studie gebruik om vas te stel tot watter mate daar verwantskappe of verhoudings bestaan tussen die kenmerke of eienskappe wat uniek aan KMMTO-eienaars is en die manifestering van strategiese gedrag. Die oorkoepelende navorsingsvraag in hierdie studie is: Bestaan daar verwantskappe tussen die kenmerke van KMMTO-eienaars en strategiese gedrag? Metodes/prosedure/benadering: Die navorsingsontwerp vir die voorgestelde studie behels hoofsaaklik beskrywende en verduidelikende navorsing. Die doel van die gebruik van hierdie metodologie is om die voorspellers van strategiese gedrag van KMMTO’s in Suid-Afrika te bepaal. Primêre en sekondêre metodes van datainsameling is in die studie gebruik. Die steekproefraamwerk bestaan uit formeel geregistreerde KMMTO’s in Suid- Afrika en die navorsingsteekproef is bepaal deur 'n sistematies ewekansige steekproefmetode te gebruik wat volgens provinsie gestratifiseer is. Die studie lê klem op twee elemente, naamlik die profielkenmerke van KMMTO-eienaars en die voorkeur strategiese gedrag wat in die KMMTO manifesteer. Die moontlike voorkeurverhouding tussen hierdie twee elemente word vanuit 'n teoretiese perspektief beskou met die basiese uitgangspunt dat sommige manifestasies van die KMMTO-eienaars se strategiese gedrag 'n beter kans op sukses het. Die ontwikkeling van 'n toepaslike datainsamelingsinstrument word op grond van hierdie konseptuele raamwerk bespreek en ontwikkel om die graad van strategiese gedrag in die ondernemings te bepaal. Resultate/bevindings/produk: Die beskrywende statistiese aspek van die navorsing word breedvoerig bespreek. Die besigheidskenmerke, profiele van die tipiese kenmerke of eienskappe van die KMMTO-eienaars sowel as die demografiese profiele van die KMMTO eienaars word ook breedvoerig bespreek. Hierdie studie ondersoek ook 'n moontlike verwantskap tussen strategiese gedrag (die afhanklike veranderlike) en entrepreneurskenmerke (onafhanklike veranderlikes) met behulp van inferensiële statistiek. Die verhoudings en konstrukte, soos in die a priori-model uitgebeeld, word empiries deur middel van verskeie statistiese tegnieke getoets: • Betroubaarheidstoetsing van die datastel word uitgevoer (verw. Afdeling 7.5); • Die geldigheid van die navorsingsinstrument word bepaal (verw. Afdeling 7.6); • Die betroubaarheid van die nuwe konstrukte word ná verkennende faktorontleding bepaal (verw. Afdeling 7.6.2); • Die verhoudings tussen die geselekteerde veranderlikes van die hipotese word met Spearman se rho en ANOVA (verw. Afdeling 7.7) getoets; en • Die verhoudings tussen die geselekteerde veranderlikes van die hipotese word verder (verw. Afdeling 7.7.2) deur regressieontleding getoets. Die navorsingsresultate ondersteun 'n oorkoepelende en statisties beduidende verband tussen die onafhanklike en afhanklike veranderlikes, en die aanvaarding van die alternatiewe hipotese (en die verwerping van die nulhipotese), naamlik dat daar 'n verband is tussen sekere van die eienskappe van die KMMTO-eienaars (wat gekenmerk word deur lokus van beheer, redes vir die vestiging van 'n besigheid, konseptuele/perseptuele vermoëns, formele bestuursopleiding en vorige ondervinding) en voorkeur strategiese gedrag. Die navorsingsbevindinge ondersteun egter nie 'n oorkoepelende statisties beduidende verband tussen risikogeneigdheid as onafhanklike veranderlike en strategiese gedrag as afhanklike veranderlikes nie. Die volgende nulsubhipotese (verw. Afdeling 7.2.2) word dus aanvaar: Daar is geen verwantskap tussen risikogeneigdheid en strategiese gedrag nie. Gevolgtrekking/implikasies: Die studie maak verskeie aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing (verw. Afdeling 8.5.1) en verduidelik die praktiese implikasies hiervan (verw. Afdeling 8.5.2). Die bevindinge van hierdie studie identifiseer die entrepreneurskenmerke wat 'n beduidende verband met strategiese gedrag toon en wat 'n bydrae lewer tot die rol van strategie in entrepreneurskap – 'n onderwerp wat nie voldoende nagevors is nie. Die studie pas dit ook toe op toerisme – 'n ekonomiese sektor in Suid-Afrika wat ook nie voldoende nagevors is nie. Die resultate van hierdie studie vorm 'n grondslag vir die verdere ontleding van die eienskappe van KMMTO-entrepreneurs en die manifestering van strategiese gedrag in KMMTO’s.

Thesis (DTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Technikon, 2003.
Many scholars in the social sciences, especially in the Hospitality industry have seen many changes over the years, based on research conducted in the workplace. Skills seem to be a popular research agenda. The literature is rich on how changes have occurred overtime in the hospitality industry workplace. With such a competitive environment this industry is functioning, it is important that entry level employees or current employees in the workplace possess a variety of non-technical skills. Once attained, these employees, will benefit the Hospitality industry, as happy clients / guests, will return, which will create a profitable workplace. It is vitally important that tertiary institutions pay specific attention to students and graduates, that they obtain non-technical skills, via co-operative education programmes, with a focus on the real employment world outside of education. This will equip them to find a job that could be satisfying and rewarding. Industry on the other hand should identify important non-technical skills and conduct on the job training, inducing such skills. The researcher found that the need for willingness to adapt and eagerness to learn was a consistent theme. The non-technical skills of communication, teamwork, initiative, problem solving and decision making were also highly valued. Respondents were dissatisfied with the quality of entry-level employees beginning their careers, especially graduates who lack non-technical skills. A need was seen for a long-term view of preparation of young people for work, beginning with parents and guardians, who should lay the foundations. Alongside them, educators should be fostering good attitudes and a love for learning, as well as lecturing verbal, numerical and other specific skills. Successful co-operative education programmes often could involve three key role-players, that of employers (managers / supervisors), students / graduates in this context and the tertiary institution they are studying at Technikon’s providing vocationally orientated co-operative education programmes, therefore need to continually examine what skills employers (managers / supervisors) consider to be important with regard to the skills required by students, entering the workplace. This research study revealed that there is a gap between the skills that students acquire in their formal studies and what employers (managers / supervisors) require. If this need is not recognised, the programmes, institution and students will suffer. The study is aimed at making a contribution towards co-operative education programmes in Hospitality and Tourism at technikons by identifying what non-technical skills the Border Technikon is not addressing. It was found that the skills not being adequately addressed fall in the non-technical skills category. The study identifies the non-technical skills required by employers (managers / supervisors) of Border Technikon Hospitality and Tourism students undertaking experiential learning.

Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009.
The potential for the sex tourism industry to become legalised in South Africa with the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup is an issue which has raised much controversy and is now at the top of the agenda for debate within government, the business sector and civil society. The study investigates perceptions of students at a Further Education & Training College towards the sex tourism industry, together with selected components of that industry. The study is undertaken to better understand student's perceptions of the sex tourism industry. In order to achieve this, the researcher set out to better understand the sex tourism industry as a whole; as well as to investigate selected socio-cultural impacts that the sex tourism industry can have upon society in order to explore the positive and negative impacts that sex tourism can have upon the youth. In terms of South African legislation, prostitution is illegal under the Sexual Offences Act 23 of 1957, and the study examines current calls for the sex tourism industry to be legalised or decriminalised in light ofthe forthcoming 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup. The study further examines life orientation for learners and sex education for sex workers. Life orientation is examined as it may have an effect on students' perceptions towards the sex tourism industry. The training of tourism and hospitality staff is seen as a vehicle for combating one of the components ofthe sex tourism industry, namely, child sex tourism and, thus, it is necessary to examine a number ofits other components. The study briefly touches on life orientation, as a key element in ensuring that learners become competent members of society, and as a tool which assists in providing them with essential life skills. Sex education is seen as necessary for both learners and sex workers in order to enable them to comprehend their rights and choices in life. For the purposes ofthe empirical study, the researcher makes use of first year tourism students at an FET College to gain insight into a student's perspective of the sex tourism industry. The iv researcher makes use of students in order to obtain a varied perspective as the students hail from different walks oflife and have diverse views and opinions. Entry into prostitution comes as a result of one or more of a number of contributing factors such as poverty and human trafficking. The contributing factors are researched and are explained in the literature review. The need to conduct the study emanates from the fact that the sex industry forms a large part of the tourism industry and it is a growing industry in South Africa. The research focuses on two areas: the students' perceptions of the sex tourism industry and the social impacts that the sex tourism industry can have upon society. The research methodology includes a literature search followed by the data collection for the empirical survey. The data collection procedure is explained in detail in the relevant chapter. A combination of the qualitative and quantitative approaches are followed for the· empirical survey. Such an approach is also known as a ''triangulative approach". The empirical survey together with the ensuing statistical analysis are conducted in collaboration with the CPUT registered statistician. The responses to the questionnaire are statistically analysed by the statistician, after which the results are described and interpreted by the researcher. The study finds that the majority of students do not want the sex tourism industry to become legalised and perceive the sex industry as immoral. The social impacts of the sex tourism industry can be harmful to society and the study found that the majority ofstudents understood the impact the industry can have and the role that education plays in reducing a few ofthese selected impacts. Finally, a set ofrecommendations and a number ofconcluding remarks are made. A comprehensive bibliography is included.

Mini-thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF TECHNOLOGY: MARKETING MANAGEMENT in the Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2010
This study examines the validity of the mystery shopper research method, which was applied in the context of wine tourism. In the process of achieving this objective, the service quality of selected wine estates along the Stellenbosch Wine Route (SWR) was also established. Furthermore, the findings reveal whether this research method is beneficial to facilitate customer relationships. Wine tourism is considered a special interest tourism that has received heightened global attention in the past decade, both practically and academically. This growth is also mirrored domestically, as wine tourism is one of the major attractions in the Western Cape. Since 2006, the number of wine estates in the Stellenbosch region rose by 12.3%, resulting in more than 140 wine estates that are currently available. This ultimately means that there are more wine estates, which all compete for the same customer base, and this increases competitiveness. Moreover, being a relatively homogenous product offering, with the key differential point being the actual winescape, it is important that wine estates focus on delivering superior service quality in order to achieve competitive advantage. This also calls for a need to systematically test service quality and procedures to ensure that desired levels are maintained. The research methodology that was used is exploratory in nature, comprising of two in-depth interviews and sixteen mystery visits via judgmental sampling. The mystery visits were conducted at the Stellenbosch Hills and Bottelary Hills sub-routes. One popular and one less recognised wine estate per sub-route were observed. Findings showed that service quality at these estates are generally high, yet experiences at all estates were vastly different. The most important discovery is that the concept of mystery visitors is, in fact, an appropriate vehicle to assess service quality and to facilitate customer relationships. This method was successful in identifying the source of problems that led to sub-optimal performance, which allowed for corrective action to be taken. As a result, the service quality of the estates can be further increased to ensure a perfect experience on each occasion, which, over time, builds the reputati~n of the wine estate. Ultimately, this research has demonstrated that mystery visitors can be applied in the context of tourism on both an individual and collective scale. Key words: wine tourism, special interest tourism, wine tourists, Western Cape, Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch Wine Route, service quality, research method, mystery shopper and mystery visitor.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores the role of thermal mineral springs in South Africa in the development of the early tourism sector. Their healing qualities enhanced the country’s reputation as a health resort, and therefore they became a national asset and tourist attraction. The ancient history of thermal mineral springs and the belief in their curative abilities are discussed in order to familiarise one with the rich history of thermal springs and to help determine their role in the tourism sector. By looking at the role of thermal mineral springs in the European and especially British contexts provides a foundation for understanding how the thermal water culture was passed on to South Africa through colonialism. With the colonisation of South Africa, thermal mineral springs became host to British invalids who visited the country since they suffered from consumption, and was hoping to be cured by the country’s health giving natural assets. The influx of invalids and tourists ultimately spawned wide tourism and the modernisation of the springs. The three thermal mineral spring resorts near present day Caledon, Montagu and Citrusdal are used as case studies of how thermal springs in the Cape Colony and later the Western Cape developed from primitive sites to splendid resorts and world famous sanatoriums. Their history is traced from their formation to their modernisation, a time period ranging from the 1700s to 2011. This clearly illustrates the phases of development of each of the thermal mineral water establishments. The curative aspects of the thermal mineral spring water are emphasised, concentrating on how the South African thermal water cure culture was used and developed. This study concludes with discussing how the three thermal mineral spring resorts had to navigate the changing tourism sector in South Africa, as well as looking at their development from the 1980s to 2011.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie verken die rol wat warmwaterbronne in die ontwikkeling van die vroëe toerisme sektor in Suid-Afrika gespeel het. Die genesende kragte van hierdie warm water bronne het die land se reputasie as ‘n gesondheidsoord versterk en van hul ‘n nasionale bate asook ‘n toeriste aantreklikheid gemaak. Die antieke geskiedenis van warmwaterbronne en die geloof in hul genesende kragte word bespreek om bekend te raak met hul ryk geskiedenis en om hul rol in die toerisme sektor te bepaal. Deur te kyk na die rol wat warm water bronne in die Europeuse sowel as die Britse konteks gehad het, dien as ‘n platform om te verstaan hoe die gebruik van die warm water kultuur na Suid-Afrika deur middel van kolonialisme oorgedra is. Met die kolonialisasie van Suid-Afrika het die warmwaterbronne gasheer gespeel vir Britse invalides wat aan tuberkulose gelei het en daarom die land besoek het om deur die land se helende natuurlike bates geneesing te word. Die instroming van invalides en toeriste het wyd verspreide toersime tot gevolg gehad asook die vermoderniseering van die warmwaterbronne. Die drie warm waterbronoorde naby die hedendaagse Caledon, Montagu en Citrusdal is gebruik as gevallestudies om die ontwikkeling van warmwaterbronne in die destydse Kaap Kolonie asook die hedendaagse Wes-Kaap, vanaf primatiewe bronne na pragtige oorde en wêreld bekende sanatoriums te illustreer. Die geskiedenis van die warmwaterbron oorde word bespreek in die tydperk van die 1700’s tot 2011 om so hul ontstaan tot hul vermoderniseering te illustreer. As gevolg van hierdie verlengde tydperk kan die verskillende ontwikkelings fases van die warmwaterbron oorde waargeneem word. Daar word ook gefokus op die genesende aspekte van die warmwaterbron water en hoe die Suid-Afrikaanse warmwaterbron kultuur ontwikkel en gebruik is. Die studie sluit af met ‘n bespreking van hoe die driewarm waterwaterbron oorde by die veranderende toerisme sektor in Suid-Afrika moes aanpas en dek ook hul ontwikkeling vanaf die 1980’s tot 2011.

Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Magister Technologiae: Marketing in the Faculty of Business at the: CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, 2009
Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) aims to enable Black people in South Africa (SA), as legislatively classified, to make a noteworthy contribution to the local economy by irreversibly altering the racial profile of ownership, management echelons and all employment levels of existing and new organisations. This ambitious strategy hopes to encourage economic transformation by eliminating unfair discrimination; applying affirmative action (AA) policies; empowering Black women and facilitating access to land, infrastructure, economic activities, ownership, as well as training and skills development (SA. DTI, 2004a:4-5). The transformation process in SA has been a lengthy and complex one, with the government slowly enacting enabling legislation. The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Codes of Good Practice was gazetted on 9 February 2007 and this significant piece of legislation has provided a framework to guide and measure transformation activities. The advertising industry has been criticised for its slow empowerment advancement, which led to two parliamentary hearings in the early 2000s to investigate allegations of racism and poor transformation progress. The Association for Communication and Advertising (ACA) gave full cooperation during the parliamentary hearings and has been a main driving force of transformation within the advertising industry. The ACA’s dedication resulted in the Marketing, Advertising and Communication (MAC) sector charter being gazetted on 29 August 2008 (Jones, 2008). There are few studies that have effectively investigated transformation and BEE progress within the South African advertising industry over recent years. Of these, none has yielded rich qualitative BEE data. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to explore progress made by advertising agencies towards transformation in the Cape Peninsula, as well as the challenges and benefits that result from implementing BEE measures in terms of BBBEE ownership and Employment Equity (EE). These elements have been thoroughly examined by utilising a multiple case study approach and by interviewing the top twelve traditional full-service advertising agencies through use of a semi-structured interview guide, which primarily generated in-depth qualitative data. Cape Town based advertising agencies readily provided a wealth of data, which illuminated numerous previously unexplored positive and negative BEE issues. Recent BEE internal advertising agency documents, literature, surveys and other research studies were used to corroborate and verify the findings in order to reach a consensus, compromise or disagreement in the subsequent discussion. The advertising industry has employed a multitude of innovative BEE strategies to facilitate transformation progress and to address a number of inherent problems. This has resulted in several success stories and numerous benefits as Cape Town based advertising agencies have embarked on their varied transformation journeys. The recommendations of this study would be useful to the national advertising industry, other sectors and government to assist in streamlining the transformation process in SA.

The primary objective of this research was to develop "A Risk Management Model for the Tourism Industry in South Africa", when viewed from a business perspective. To achieve this objective, a number of secondary objectives were established, these being: 1 To explore relevant existing theories and models related to risk and risk management within tourism businesses and the tourism industry in general 2 To analyse domestic and international risks associated with the domestic tourism industry 3 To conduct a survey to determine those risks that should, from a manager's (supply side) perspective, form part of the model 4 To draw conclusions from the empirical analysis for the inclusion of risks in the risk management model and to make recommendations as to how the risk management model can be implemented by role players of the tourism industry Risk is inherent in every sphere of life and, no matter the size of the risk, it will have a detrimental effect and cause damage in some way. This study examines the steps that the industry has taken regarding actions necessary to prevent or limit risks. Since the advent of universal suffrage in 1994, South Africa has attracted significantly more visitors to the country's shores. With an increase in tourism traffic, there is always an increase in risk. Additionally, the literature review indicated not only an increase in the frequency of risks, but that no well-accepted risk management model exists within the industry. The study investigated both domestic and international risks and their effects on the industry from a business perspective. The categories of risk include, but were not limited to, natural risks, crime, health and safety, political factors, economic risks, technological risks and socio-demographic risks. A literature study into the existence of a suitable risk management model for the tourism industry (Chapter 2) revealed that, although a number of models existed, there were none specifically for the tourism industry. This emphasised a need in the tourism industry, which was subsequently confirmed by further literature study into the risks that can be associated with the tourism industry (Chapters 3, 4 and 5). To assist with the construction of an appropriate risk management model, a number of risk management models from other industries and disciplines were examined to obtain a structure that could be useful to the tourism industry. Further literature study revealed that, even though mentioned by a number of authors, these authors did not recognise risks that were prevalent and specifically associated with tourism. No literature source was found that provided either complete or detailed discussion of risk and risk management aimed specifically at the tourism industry worldwide. This supports the view that there is also no specific risk management model for use by the tourism industry. The in-depth literature study looked into potential risks associated with the tourism industry from a domestic and international perspective. With reference to the South African tourism industry, domestic risks include those risks that are internal and external to businesses operating within the industry (Chapters 2 & 3). A structured questionnaire was sent out to 800 operators and owners of businesses in the industry, to tour operators, travel agents, guesthouses, bed and breakfast establishments and lodges registered with the Association of Travel Agents (ASATA) and with the South African Travel Services Association (SATSA). The results obtained from the 212 valid questionnaires returned were used as input to the model. The study, through empirical research, was able to establish which risk factors had the greatest effect on the industry and which factors had little or no effect on the industry. The analysis of risk, taken from the questionnaires, did not provide evidence that tourism businesses are equally affected by most factors (categories of risk). The analysis does, however, indicate that infrastructure, particularly in the areas of both domestic and international marketing, has the greatest perceived risk followed by safety (safety of the business) and thereafter by finance. The lowest perceived risk was in the area of organisational risk, which includes internal and external business risks, largely involving staff and their ability to manage the business. The analysis, however, did show that there is a need for training. The topic of safety highlighted that tour operators and travel agents, due to the nature of their business, saw this as important whereas guesthouses and bed and breakfast establishments were less likely to attract international guests and were therefore not strongly influenced by aspects such as airline safety, exchange rates and currency fluctuations. The study highlighted the fact that some categories of risks significant to one business sector may not have the same affect on another sector. However, this did not adversely influence the development of the model. This research has identified two significant deficiencies in respect of risk management in the (South African) tourism industry - that there is no literature source that provides an in-depth discussion of risks and risk management in the tourism industry, and that there is no generally accepted risk management model and process for use by the industry. In view of this, this research has made a valuable contribution to the existing body of knowledge related to the tourism industry by: * Highlighting the importance of identifying risks as well as a more formal approach to risk management for the Tourism Industry * Identifying various risks that could have an impact on the industry * Showing that risks differ from sector to sector within the Tourism Industry * Developing a risk management process and model, which has not existed before, in the tourism literature * Providing a user-friendly tool for use by tourism industry operators to manage risks specific to their business, thereby reducing the negative impact of domestic risk on the business and industry and also maximising the benefit that may be obtained by exploiting the external risks * Highlighting the complexity of managing risks from a destination point of view A final contribution is that this is the first research of its kind in the South African tourism literature. Based on the study of both local and international literature sources, the above contribution is not only of value to the South African tourism industry, but worldwide.
Thesis (Ph.D. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Bibliography: pages 111-113.
The continued growth of the South African tourist industry was assumed and projections up to year 2020 were made to establish the corresponding growth in employment opportunities in the hotel industry. Overseas tourism is sensitive to and dependent on many factors. These were identified and the performance over the past two decades for bona fide overseas visitors, excluding mere border crossings, were extrapolated, accepting that oscillations about the suggested trend line will become greater in the future. In order to predict the growth of domestic tourism, cognisance had to be taken of the demographic development of the various population groups. The distribution of wealth among the various groups was estimated in the short, medium and long terms. On it depends the choice of accommodation when going on holiday. An evaluation was made of the employment pattern in the South African hotel industry. Published data from the Central Statistical Services and the Bureau of Financial Analysis (BFA) of the University of Pretoria were used. The 1982 Manpower Survey of the BFA proved particularly useful in establishing the present distribution of skilled staff in the industry by hotel grading and by geographical area. Performance ratios were calculated relative to capital invested and to revenue earned. The lowest staff to room ratios were used as criterion for optimal and most efficient usage of staff. The model thus developed with the aid of the Hewlett Packard STATP computer program, was based on actual present performance of a certain category of hotels. Unlike other approaches reported in the literature, a clear distinction was here made between skilled and unskilled labour. This distinction is considered to be of prime importance to any developing country where a shortage of skilled staff generally prevails, in contrast to a vast supply of untrained labour.

Thesis (MTech (Teacher Education ))--Cape Technikon, Cape Town,1997
This study is aimed at instructional design for training tourist guides in order to specifically enable them to accommodate the requirements and expectations of "new" South African tourists wishing to join a package tour. The latter refers to those citizens who have previously been excluded from tourism destinations and/or attractions because ofracial regulations ofthe past.. The traditional role ofthe tourist guide and the present-day modus within which it has realised, have been examined reaching the conclusion that the designation "tourist guide" means far more, now focusing on being an educator and culture broker. This new role requires a new and innovative training. Although training courses for tourist guides do exist, these courses do not equip guides to act as culture brokers, mediating between tourists and hosts or host destinations, nor between foreign tourists and all facets ofthe diverse South African culture. Tourist guides occupy key positions in the tourism industry. They make the work of tourism planners, marketers, developers, travel agents and tour operators accessible to tourists. This implies unfolding reality to tourists, setting professional standards and interacting with local communities. This comprehensive role is often not attained as desired because those accepting the responsibility for it are not sufficiently trained, indeed not when the needs and expectations of "new" domestic tourists are considered. The abovementioned curriculum design was launched with a needs assessment to determine the needs of"new" domestic tourists, as only the needs and expectations ofwhite, traditional, indeed.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This document contains a Situation Analysis of tourism in the Greater Hermanus region, which is part of the Overberg region in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. It forms an essential component of the process to develop a Tourism Policy and Strategy for the local tourism bureau. As such it is important to note that the objectives of the document are threefold. Firstly, it provides overall background information and an analysis of the current tourism situation of Hermanus, the various role-players and the different festivals. Secondly, it provides a broad framework of the positive and negative impacts tourism and festivals could have on the economic, social and environmental fields of a tourist destination like Hermanus. Lastly, the document offers guidelines for future study areas under which the tourist, various role-players and festivals/events can be evaluated in order to calculate their impacts in the Hermanus tourism industry. These goals were to be established in subsequent interactive workshops, discussions, interviews and other inputs from the various community representatives and other tourism role-players in Greater Hermanus. The scope of this report is limited to an overall framework and broad guidelines to put festival and role-player evaluation, and impact management for the Greater Hermanus region on a firm platform and continuous footing. At this phase of the project specific recommendations and proposals for development of the tourism industry in the region are excluded, as this will form part of the further phases of the project of developing the Tourism Policy and Strategy. Based on the findings it is recommended that the local tourism bureau must focus on developing a sustainable tourism strategy, identify a single spokesperson that is recognised as the leading force for unifying the industry towards one goal, and lastly to develop and maintain a knowledge base system to ensure proper planning and support decisionmaking. The document concludes by summarising the recommendations along with a list of the key issues and strategic challenges that needs to be addressed.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie dokument bevat 'n situasie analise van die toerismebedryf in die Groter Hermanus, 'n gebied wat deel is van die Overberg in die provinsie Wes- Kaap, Suid-Afrika. Dit is 'n onmisbare komponent van die proses om in Toerisme Beleid en Stategie vir die plaaslike toerismeburo te ontwikkel. Die einddoel van die dokument is drievoudig. Eerstens word oorsigtelike agtergrond inligting en 'n analise van die huidige stand van die toerismebedryf in Hermanus, die verskillende rolspelers en die feeste daarin vervat. Tweedens verskaf dit 'n breë raamwerk oor die positiewe en negatiewe impak wat toerisme en feeste kan hê op ekonomiese-, sosiale- en ontwikkelingsgebied op 'n toeriste-attraksie soos Hermanus. Laastens bevat die dokument riglyne aan die hand waarvan verdere studies onderneem kan word, soos dié waarin toeriste, die verskillende rolspelers en feeste geevalueer word. Hierdie doelwitte is daargestel tydens werksessies, besprekings, onderhoude en ander insette deur verskeie verteenwoordigers van die plaaslike gemeenskap en ander rolspelers in die toerismebedryf van Hermanus. Die omvang van hierdie studie is egter beperk tot 'n oorsigtelike raamwerk en breë riglyne om die assesering van die feeste en die rolspelers sowel as die impakbestuur van die Groter Hermanus op 'n stewige voetstuk te plaas. Op hierdie tydstip van die projek word spesifieke aanbevelings en voorstelle vir die ontwikkeling van die toerisme-industrie in die gebied uitgesluit. Dit sal gevolglik ingesluit word in die verdere fases van die projek wanneer die ontwikkeling van 'n toerisme beleid en strategie in diepte bestudeer word. Aanbevelings wat spruit uit die bevindings van hierdie studie is dat die plaaslike toerismeburo 'n volhoubare toerisme strategie moet ontwikkel. Verder moet daar ook 'n persoon aangewys word om die industrie aan te voer tot 'n gesamentlike einddoel. Laastens moet die toerismeburo 'n kennis basis sisteem ontwikkel en onderhou wat voldoende beplanning sal verseker en besluitneming kan ondersteun. Ter afsluiting word daar volstaan deur die aanbevelings op te som en die sleutelfaktore en strategiese uitdagings wat aandag moet geniet, kortliks aan te spreek.

Thesis (M. Tech.(Tourism and Hospitality Management)) -- Central university of Technology, Free State, 2010
Globally, tourism is increasingly referred to as the world's biggest industry. As tourism increases so the consumer’s demand for quality in all its related products and services increase. Superior customer service can therefore be viewed as one of the most effective strategies to create a sustainable competitive advantage. The delivery of excellent service is crucial if a tourism destination such as the Sol Plaatje Municipal Area in the Northern Cape, South Africa, is to enhance its visitors’ experience and ensure their extended stay. One of the key constraints to tourism growth that has been identified is the lack of product and service quality. The primary goal of the study therefore was to investigate the perceptions of tourists on the quality of tourism service in the Sol Plaatje Area. Another primary goal was to determine the quality of service by conducting unstructured interviews with role-players in the local tourism industry. Secondary objectives were set, namely to determine the service needs of foreign and domestic tourists, and to make recommendations and suggestions to increase service quality in the Sol Plaatje Area. A questionnaire was used as a measuring instrument and distributed to domestic and foreign tourists. Three sampling points were selected to conduct the survey (250 questionnaires), namely the departure hall of Kimberley Airport, the Big Hole and the McGregor Museum. Results indicated that although the majority of tourists (83.4% of domestic and 93.8% of foreign respondents) were generally satisfied with the service they received and would promote the Sol Plaatje Municipal Area as a tourist destination, a large number of respondents (32.1%) rated their satisfaction with service delivery as average to poor. This is an indication that improvement is needed in the delivery of quality service. Unstructured interviews (conducted by the researcher) with 20 major role-players in the local tourism industry indicated that the majority (60%) perceived the service delivery in the Sol Plaatje Municipal Area as average to poor and not exceeding the expectations of tourists. Overall, the results indicated the need for the Sol Plaatje Municipal Area to improve its tourism service delivery in order to exceed tourist expectations and compete with other destinations locally and abroad. The findings of this study contribute valuable information and insights into the quality of service delivery in the Sol Plaatje Municipal Area. It will therefore be beneficial to all tourism stakeholders to provide visitors with the best service experience in the Sol Plaatje Municipal Area.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
This study investigated the implementation of broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) policy in the hotel industry of South Africa. BBBEE aims to accelerate the inclusion of black people into the economy through company ownership, human resource, and enterprise and community development. Although black people represent 91 per cent of South Africa’s population, the economy is controlled by a small white population. Studies have shown slow adoption and resistance to the BBBEE policy by the private sector, including in the hotel industry. Therefore, the research problem was the nature of compliance with, and the implementation of, black empowerment policy in the hotel industry. The main objective of the study was to investigate whether a framework for the effective implementation of black empowerment policy could be developed, given the centrality of hotels in the tourism value chain. The specific objectives were to determine the nature of the disconnect on BBBEE, to identify factors which facilitated or inhibited implementation, and to explore solutions for enhancing BBBEE implementation in the hotels. A quantitative investigation of 611 hotel general managers constituted the core of the dissertation’s content and contribution. Data from 178 respondents was analysed using descriptive and correlational statistical methods. The development of the quantitative research instrument was substantiated by the preliminary qualitative study of five hotel group executives. The mixed methods approach was appropriate for investigating the dual structure (group and unit) of the hotel industry. The results indicated that hotels were recording progress on human resource development although compliance levels did not meet the required BBBEE targets. On enterprise development, the hotels’ engagement with small black enterprises was low both quantitatively and qualitatively. Furthermore, hotel group leaders indicated that the tourism-specific BBBEE charter presented bureaucratic challenges, as tourism straddles several industries which required different BBBEE certification. The study has developed an empowerment framework of solutions for achieving success in BBBEE in hotels. The primary factors determining success are the provision of performance targets and incentives for general managers, and if the hotel manager supports BBBEE policy. Furthermore, exogenous factors such as the star rating and location of a hotel also impact on BBBEE implementation. A quantitative investigation of 611 hotel general managers constituted the core of the dissertation’s content and contribution. Data from 178 respondents was analysed using descriptive and correlational statistical methods. The development of the quantitative research instrument was substantiated by the preliminary qualitative study of five hotel group executives. The mixed methods approach was appropriate for investigating the dual structure (group and unit) of the hotel industry. The results indicated that hotels were recording progress on human resource development although compliance levels did not meet the required BBBEE targets. On enterprise development, the hotels’ engagement with small black enterprises was low both quantitatively and qualitatively. Furthermore, hotel group leaders indicated that the tourism-specific BBBEE charter presented bureaucratic challenges, as tourism straddles several industries which required different BBBEE certification. The study has developed an empowerment framework of solutions for achieving success in BBBEE in hotels. The primary factors determining success are the provision of performance targets and incentives for general managers, and if the hotel manager supports BBBEE policy. Furthermore, exogenous factors such as the star rating and location of a hotel also impact on BBBEE implementation. This study builds on, and adds value to previous studies by moving beyond the investigative mode to identifying practical policy options for successful transformation of the hotel industry. The proposed framework acknowledges the diverse nature of the tourism product, and provides potential solutions to enhance the hotel managers’ ability to anticipate and incorporate factors impacting on BBBEE implementation. The framework adds theoretical value to affirmative action discourse by suggesting a conceptual shift from a race-based approach to an alternative one which would incorporate sustainable tourism and ethical governance concerns. Such an approach would maximise BBBEE potential in the hotel industry of South Africa for beneficiaries and communities. Additional research is recommended to substantiate the hypothesis with a broader sample as the study was limited to hotel managers.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Wine tourism is emerging as an increasingly significant phenomenon in wine-producing regions throughout the world. The Stellenbosch Wine Region (SWR) is no exception and has experienced dramatic changes in the last decade. However, despite the documented industry development and rapid participant expansion, there has been insufficient systematic study of the extent, development, management and marketing of the wine tourism product provided by wine farms. This study investigates the SWR in terms of the commercial efforts, initiatives, services, facilities and the commodification of resources that occur on wine farms to form the wine tourism product. The aim of the study is to establish the degree of commercialisation and commodification in the SWR. This is achieved through realising three research objectives, namely 􀂾���������� compiling a thorough and complete list of manifestations and indicators that describe commercialisation and commodification in the wine tourism product on wine farms; 􀂾���������� establishing the degree of commercialisation and commodification at each individual wine farm in the research area; and 􀂾���������� portraying and analysing the spatial distribution of the degrees of commercialisation and commodification. A focus group of twelve individuals involved with wine tourism allocated relative importance weightings for each of the 81 identified manifestations and indicators of commercialisation and commodification compiled in the questionnaire that was distributed to the wine farms in the study area. The questionnaire required respondents to indicate the presence or absence of the listed manifestations or indicators on their respective farms. This data, used in conjunction with the importance weightings, facilitated the calculation of a value representing the degree of commercialisation and commodification for each farm, and so too for the SWR. The study results confirmed the importance of commercialisation and commodification with every wine farm having some form of these phenomena and the SWR having a 38 percent average degree of commercialisation and commodification. Of the five wine routes in the SWR, the Stellenbosch Hills route has the highest degree of commercialisation and commodification with 42 percent.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die opkoms van wyntoerisme is ‘n toenemend betekenisvolle verskynsel in wynstreke dwarsoor die wêreld. Die Stellenbosch Wynstreek (SWS) is geen uitsondering nie en het dramatiese veranderinge oor die laaste dekade ervaar. Ten spyte van die gedokumenteerde ontwikkeling in die bedryf en die vinnige deelnemer uitbreiding, is daar nie genoegsame sistematiese studie van die omvang, ontwikkeling, bestuur en bemarking van die wyntoerismeproduk, gelewer deur die wynplase, nie. Hierdie studie ondersoek die SWS in terme van die kommersiële pogings, inisiatiewe, dienste, fasiliteite en die kommodifikasie van hulpbronne wat op wynplase gevind word om die wyntoerismeproduk te vorm. Die doel van die studie is om die graad van kommersialisering en kommodifikasie in die SWS vas te stel. Dit word bereik deur die realisering van drie navorsingsdoelwitte, naamlik 􀂾��������� die definiëring van ‘n volledige en deeglike lys van manifestasies en indikatore wat die kommersialisering en kommodifikasie van die wyntoerismeproduk op wynplase beskryf; 􀂾��������� die bepaling van die graad van kommersialisering en kommodifikasie by elke wynplaas in die navorsingsgebied; en 􀂾��������� die uitbeelding en analisering van die ruimtelike verspreiding van die grade van kommersialisering en kommodifikasie. ‘n Fokusgroep, bestaande uit twaalf individue betrokke in wyntoerisme, het relatiewe belangrikheidsgewigte toegeken aan elk van die geїdentifiseerde manifestasies en indikatore van kommersialisering en kommodifikasie, wat saamgevoeg is in die vraelyste wat versprei is na die onderskeie wynplase in die studiegebied. Die respondente moes die teenwoordigheid of afwesigheid van die gelyste manifestasies aandui. Hierdie data, saam met die belangrikheidsgewigte, is aangewend om waardes te bereken wat die graad van kommersialisering en kommodifikasie van elke wynplaas, asook die SWS, verteenwoordig. Die navorsing bevestig die belangrikheid van kommersialisering en kommodifikasie en elke plaas is gekenmerk deur vorme van hierdie verskynsels met die SWS wat ‘n 38 persent gemiddelde graad van kommersialisering en kommodifikasie behaal. Van die vyf wynroetes in die SWS, het die Stellenbosch Hills-roete die hoogste graad van kommersialisering en kommodifikasie vertoon, naamlik 42 persent.

The Internet has made a considerable impact on how business is conducted. Empowered by technology consumers are using the Internet as a tool to communicate and transact online. E-commerce (electronic commerce) presents opportunities for business to gain a competitive advantage, however it also posses certain challenges. Small and Medium Hospitality Enterprises (SMHEs) sector within the tourism industry, is one of the sectors which stands to benefit from using the Internet for business. Researchers agree that the contribution made by the tourism sector in developing economies is substantial. However, SMHEs are noted for their failure to derive optimal benefits from using the Internet for business to improve their competitiveness. This study which seeks to develop a model for use by SMHEs as a guide when making the decision to adopt technology was necessitated by the importance of SMHE’s contribution in the economy of developing countries. This model is based on the examination of existing theories and models such as; the Delone and McLean IS success model (2004), and the ITGI’s (2007) IT governance focus areas model. To elicit the desired outcomes, additional data was collected using questionnaires, interviews, and observations. The collected data was analysed and resulted in the development of a model that can be used by SMHEs in order to derive value from IT and to gain a competitive advantage.

Includes abstract.
includes biblioraphical references.
This thesis examines the intellectual property (IP) protection of the functional aspects of e-commerce business methods, which are embedded in the methods' underlying computer programs. It considers how South Africa can achieve an equitable balance between creators' interests in securing remuneration and attribution for, and users' interests in securing affordable access to, these methods. The thesis' primary perspective is that of users, and its arguments centre on the position of small and medium sized enterprises that provide accommodation in the tourism sector (accommodation SMEs).

Magister Commercii - MCom
The South African government has earmarked the Travel and Tourism industry as a key sector for economic growth as it plays an important role in stimulating the South African economy. Over the last few years the industry has placed greater emphasis on tour packages being offered to tourists, with one key group, Inbound Tour Operators, emerging to fulfil this important role. However, there have been limited studies conducted in the South African context which aim to isolate generalizable key success factors (KSFs) in the Travel and Tourism sector. By focusing on two important research streams, competitive advantage and international entrepreneurship, this study identified nine main KSFs. These KSFs were developed using Thomas and Long's KSF model (Thomas and Long, 2000). The general research approach was a qualitative, multiple-case study whereby six firms were selected from the inbound tour operator sub-sector of the SA tourism industry. The research methodology used in-depth interviews which were conducted with an industry expert and owner-managers of small, mediumand large inbound tour operators, serving and operating in international markets. This helped to gain an understanding of the complex and intricate ways that these firms comprehend KSFs and build their international strategy. As a result of this research approach, it was possible to identify how these KSF variables are influenced through management's decisions and how they essentially affect the overall competitive positions of the various firms in the industry. It also led to novel findings which challenged conventional international entrepreneurship thinking, such as the Uppsala approach, on the basis that firms do not only follow sequential steps when internationalising their businesses. It was found that entrepreneurial firms internationalise their businesses from the outset and extensively leverage off of internet-based technology and utilise export-based activities to engage international markets. The implications of the findings show that existing and new tour operators entering the tourism industry have clear KSFs which they can target in order to achieve success. These factors are variables which management can influence through their decision-making and affect the overall competitive positions of their firm in the industry. Nonetheless, further studies are required to identify KSFs in the other sectors within the tourism industry to provide valuable insights regarding how the international competitiveness of the local tourism industry as a whole may be improved.

The application of internet marketing techniques has been widespread in the hospitality sector worldwide, with many hotels crafting websites for marketing purposes. However, there is still a debate and speculation on the impact of internet marketing on business performance and profitability. Given the well-recognised value of internet marketing in the hospitality and tourism industry, this study sought to examine the impact of internet marketing on the profitability of the hospitality sector in South Africa and to establish factors which influence internet marketing usage. In order to achieve these objectives, a perceptual survey was conducted in graded hotels and lodges in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Multiple linear regression analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were used to determine the relationship between internet marketing and business profitability as well as the relationship between organisational and environmental factors and internet marketing usage. Based on the findings of this study, it is concluded that the use of internet marketing can positively influence business profitability. It is also concluded that internet marketing experience moderates the relationship between internet marketing usage and business profitability. The results also indicate that factors such as technological competence, managerial support, level of star grading and alliances significantly influence internet marketing usage. Thus, from the findings of this study, it was concluded that hotels and lodges can enhance their profitability through internet marketing usage.

Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2015.
The Breede Valley region is located in the Cape Winelands District near Cape Town and has been identified as a wine region with vast diversity and distinctiveness. The lack of research in the field of wine and events in the area gave rise to this study. The event industry in this region is relatively unexploited but in recent years has been revealed to be a major catalyst for tourism and economic development. However, for events to act as a catalyst for tourism and economic development, it is important to have an understanding of stakeholders‟ perceptions of the impacts of these events. The research therefore focuses on stakeholders‟ perceptions of the impacts of the Breedekloof Outdoor and Wine Festival (BOWF) hosted in the Breedekloof region in the Breede Valley of the Western Cape Province. Underpinning this study was the understanding that the perceived impacts of the event are pivotal for the future planning, management and sustainability of the event as well as to minimise negative and maximise positive impacts of the BOWF. The study applied a mixed-methods approach, compiling data through survey questionnaires targeting 341 event attendees, 374 residents, 28 established businesses, 8 sponsors and 15 venue owners. Key informant interviews with the event organiser and direct observations with event attendees and residents were used as methods to collect data, using several sampling methods. A spatially based systematic sampling approach was used for the event attendees and residents‟ surveys, purposive sampling for the event organiser, venue owners and sponsors, while census sampling was used for the established businesses. For the purpose of the study, 767 respondents were targeted; only 730 responded. The results demonstrate support of the event among residents from Rawsonville as they perceive the event as beneficial to local businesses in the region. It displays the town and its beauty and does not cause any inconvenience to local lifestyles. However, there were mixed views on inequalities relating to employment opportunities and involvement in the planning and management of the event. Most established businesses, on the other hand, were also not directly involved in the Festival; even though there were opportunities for businesses to optimise profits and engender publicity, most did not use this opportunity to their advantage. The event attendees at the Festival were mostly from the Western Cape, attending the Festival in groups of friends with the large majority spending/planning to spend money at the Festival.
South African Department of Tourism

This research article is an overview of the traditional and current cuisine of the Mbila community. The Mbila community lives in the area of Sodwana Bay, Maputaland situated on the north eastern coast of South Africa. The community has a high unemployment rate which leads to poverty. The promotion of the Mbila cuisine as a sustainable tourism product could be used to uplift the community. The tourism industry of Sodwana Bay was also investigated and discussed according to sustainable tourism principles. The focus was on the three aspects of sustainable tourism, namely: the economy, the environment and the host community. The main goal is to investigate and describe the traditional and current cuisine of the Mbila community and the place thereof in the tourism industry of Sodwana Bay. Guidelines for the implementation of the research project are provided. The implementation of the research project can play a positive role in the community. It could result in employment, entrepreneurial activities, improvement of infrastructure, development of secondary trades and the expansion of food production. There are other similar communities in South Africa that could benefit from the implementation of this research project. Copyright
Dissertation (M Consumer Science (Food Management))--University of Pretoria, 2007.
Consumer Science
unrestricted

Thesis (MTech (Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2005
This study illustrates the practical value of incorporating the assessment of data obtained from surveys conducted on tourists' views of current service offerings at eating establishments. The findings from such surveys can assist tourism and the hospitality industry managers to identify priorities for product and service improvements. In essence, the research report examines how tourists (both domestic and foreign) make the choice of an eating establishment. It also examines how greater understanding of user-satisfaction (tourists) with the hospitality products or services may improve planning for the development of these service offerings. In order to conceptualise the research problem, a review of literature is provided of selected aspects of visitors perceptions in the Cape Metropolitan region. Moreover, these aspects (facilities for children, persons with disability, special attention for pensioners, African dishes on offer) are also considered based on the argument that the views of visitors on current service offerings should be given far more prominence than generally occurs at present. The survey of two hundred tourists was conducted during the peak holiday season of December 2004 to January 2005 in the Cape Metropolitan region of South Africa. The survey examined views and perceptions of visitors about a range of services at eating establishments. Survey results reported selected aspects of satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the services of eating establishment in the Cape Town city centre, Waterfront and Camps Bay. The researcher concludes that current service offerings at eating establishments in the Cape Metropolitan region do little to accommodate visitors whose primary reasons for visiting are to experience the South African food and wine, especially cultural-specific foods, as well as accommodating the needs of disabled visitors, children and old age pensioners. The implications of the findings will assist relevant authorities to help enhance service offerings.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: The study looks at the different elements of a business strategy developed for a cultural tourism project in the township of Langa, located in the city of Cape Town. Its unique nature lies in the fact that the operators of the enterprise are volunteering young residents of the area, who will benefit through support provided by the community-based organisation in their subsequent training. Thus, the venture is at the same time a tourism enterprise, a generator of development funds and a community organisation. In line with a systematic approach to business strategising the study consists of four major sections. The first section (chapter 2) provides a broad background to the cultural-tourism industry, incorporating lessons to be learned from Cyprus, Papua New Guinea and Botswana as well as other parts of South Africa. It also reviews tools available to segment the cultural tourism market and estimate its size. With the focus on skills shortages in township environments, the third chapter outlines some of the challenges likely to confront the project. It also indicates the skills-development needs and expectations which are likely to motivate the project participants. As a further background for the preparation of the business strategy, chapter 4 summarises the relevant core elements of the business environment around cultural tourism in township areas. It also covers critical elements of the tourism industry’s competitive environment and relevant stakeholders. The fourth key chapter covers (with respect to the particular Langa-focused community-based cultural-tourism venture) all conventional topics, including vision, mission and goal statements, envisaged product offerings and marketing plans, value-chain characteristics and an assessment of the (expected) competitive situation. The final chapter briefly touches on the appropriateness of this township project or business as a tool for the social and economic transformation of the township youth.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie ondersoek die verskillende elemente van 'n besigheidsstrategie vir ‘n projek binne die gebied van kulturele toerisme, met besondere klem op die Langa woongebied in Kaapstad. Die besondere karakter van die projek word bepaal deur die feit dat die projekdeelnemers vrywillige jeugdiges is, wat hoop om deur hul samewerking hul verdere opleidingsgeleenthede te verbeter. Die projek is dus terselfdertyd ‘n toerisme onderneming, ‘n skepper van ontwikkelingsfondse en ‘n gemeenskapsorganisasie. In ooreenstemming met ‘n gestruktureerde sakestrategie bestaan die studie uit vier hoofdele. Die eerste afdeling (hoofstuk 2) verskaf ‘n breë agtergrond tot kulturele toerisme, met besondere verwysings tot Ciprus, Papoea-Nieu Guinee en Botswana asook ander dele van Suid-Afrika. Dit behandel ook konsepte wat gebruik kan word om die mark van kulturele toerisme in segmente op te breek en sy grootte te beraam. Met die klem op vaardigheidstekorte in townships gee die derde hoofstuk ‘n oorsig van enkele uitdagings wat die projek sal tref. Terselfdertyd gee dit ‘n aanduiding van die opleidingsbehoeftes en verwagtings wat die jeugdiges betrokke by die projek mag koester. As ‘n verdere agtergrond vir die voorbereiding van ‘n sakestrategie skets hoofstuk 4 sekere van die kernelemente van die sakeomgewing rondom kulturele toerisme in gebiede soos Langa. Dit dek ook kritiese aspekte van mededinging in die toerismebedryf asook van die betrokke belangegroepe. Met die fokus op Langa en gemeenskapstoerisme behandel die vierde deel alle relevante aspekte van ‘n sakemodel: Dit sluit in doelstellings en mikpunte, die beoogde dienstespektrum en bemarkingsplanne asook die mededingingsdinamiek. Die laaste hoofstuk besin oor die toepaslikheid van hierdie projek of sakemodel as ‘n instrument vir die sosiale en ekonomiese transformasie van die “township”-jeugdiges.

This thesis explores the opportunities, challenges, and initiatives for coffee tourism in the context of Ethiopia. My research addresses five themes to achieve its research aims, which are as follows: arriving at prospective coffee tourism frameworks; addressing the reasons behind the underdevelopment of coffee tourism in Ethiopia; highlighting coffee tourism’s opportunities and challenges in Ethiopia; identifying potential coffee tourists, and; initiating coffee tourism through local collaborations. The core research methodologies are: fieldwork in Ethiopia involving a series of interviews with key stakeholders and a detailed case study of one potential coffee tourism region; digital ethnography, and; knowledge transfer activities enabled by several conceptual approaches such as development in Africa, power relations, reformed orientalism, situated knowledge, self-other, emotional geographies, and participatory geographies. Through this research, I found that coffee tourism cannot simply be a combination of coffee and tourism; coffee tourism needs to be understood through various contexts in addition to that of tourism; coffee tourism can be a more practical tourism form and a new coffee marketing vehicle in Ethiopia, and; coffee tourism potentially brings more advantages to the coffee industry in coffee bean exporting countries with current sustainable coffee initiatives such as fair trade or other coffee certification projects. Coffee tourism is not widely discussed in academia, and I argue that this research addresses several gaps in the literature: suggestions for coffee tourism frameworks, coffee tourism research in the context of Ethiopia, coffee tourism research beyond simple analysis in terms of the tourism or coffee industries, and a new illumination on Ethiopian culture, tourism, and coffee culture. Raising the topic of South Korea’s impact in Ethiopia as well as the East Asian role in coffee tourism is also an important contribution to academia. During my PhD tenure, I found a potential global partnership between coffee bean exporting countries and coffee bean importing countries through coffee. Ethiopia is an ideal place for coffee tourism, and it is my hope that coffee tourism could present an approach that brings to light Ethiopia's cultural wealth.

Child sex tourism is tourism organised with the primary purpose of facilitating a commercial sexual relationship with a child. It involves a segment of the local child sex industry that is directly connected to both an international and domestic tourist market. The increase of tourism has brought with it complications in that tourism is being used as a means for sex tourists to initiate contact with children. Aside from child sex tourists who are paedophiles, there are those who engage in the opportunistic exploitation of children while travelling on business or for other reasons. There are a number of social and economic factors leading to child sex tourism and the effect is that child victims are exposed to immediate harm, irreversible damage and even death. As South Africa's tourism industry expands into one of the country’s top earners of foreign currency, it is unfortunate to note that its child sex tourist trade is also on the increase. Reports show that sex tours are as easily organised as wine route tours in Cape Town. Commercial sexual exploitation of children is prevalent in South Africa and has become more organised in recent years. A comprehensive response to the problem is essential to ensure that South Africa does not become a “safe haven” for child sex tourists. Effective laws at home and the extraterritorial application of these laws to prosecute South African nationals for crimes committed abroad are imperative. Significant steps are being taken both nationally and internationally to target child sex tourism. South Africa has ratified several international instruments on children’s rights, trafficking in persons, child labour, and discrimination against women and young girls, all of which relate to child sex tourism. In doing so, South Africa has made an international commitment to uphold the provisions of these instruments and give effect to them. South Africa is therefore under an international obligation to create the necessary structures and apply mechanisms and resources to combat child sex tourism.

Tourism is currently the third largest industry within South Africa. Many African countries, including South Africa, have the potential to achieve increased economic growth and development with the aid of the tourism sector. As tourism is a great earner of foreign exchange and also creates employment opportunities, especially low–skilled employment, it is identified as a sector that can aid developing countries to increase economic growth and development. Accurate forecasting of tourism demand is important due to the perishable nature of tourism products and services. Little research on forecasting tourism demand in South Africa can be found. The aim of this study is to forecast tourism demand (international tourist arrivals) to South Africa by making use of different causal models and to compare the forecasting accuracy of the causal models used. Accurate forecasts of tourism demand may assist policy–makers and business concerns with decisions regarding future investment and employment. An overview of South African tourism trends indicates that although domestic arrivals surpass foreign arrivals in terms of volume, foreign arrivals spend more in South Africa than domestic tourists. It was also established that tourist arrivals from Africa (including the Middle East), form the largest market of international tourist arrivals to South Africa. Africa is, however, not included in the empirical analysis mainly due to data limitations. All the other markets namely Asia, Australasia, Europe, North America, South America and the United Kingdom are included as origin markets for the empirical analysis and this study therefore focuses on intercontinental tourism demand for South Africa. A review of the literature identified several determinants of tourist arrivals, including income, relative prices, transport cost, climate, supply–side factors, health risks, political stability as well as terrorism and crime. Most researchers used tourist arrivals/departures or tourist spending/receipts as dependent variables in empirical tourism demand studies. The first approach used to forecast tourism demand is a single equation approach, more specifically an Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model. This relationship between the explanatory variables and the dependent variable was then used to ex post forecast tourism demand for South Africa from the six markets identified earlier. Secondly, a system of equation approach, more specifically a Vector Autoregressive Model and Vector Error Correction Model were estimated for each of the identified six markets. An impulse response analysis was undertaken to determine the effect of shocks in the explanatory variables on tourism demand using the Vector Error Correction Model. It was established that it takes on average three years for the effect on tourism demand to disappear. A variance decomposition analysis was also done using the Vector Error Correction Model to determine how each variable affects the percentage forecast variance of a certain variable. It was found that income plays an important role in explaining the percentage forecast variance of almost every variable. The Vector Autoregressive Model was used to estimate the short–run relationship between the variables and to ex post forecast tourism demand to South Africa from the six identified markets. The results showed that enhanced marketing can be done in origin markets with a growing GDP in order to attract more arrivals from those areas due to the high elasticity of the real GDP per capita in the long run and its positive impact on tourist arrivals. It is mainly up to the origin countries to increase their income per capita. Focussing on infrastructure development and maintenance could contribute to an increase in future tourist arrivals. It is evident that arrivals from Europe might have a negative relationship with the number of hotel rooms available since tourists from this region might prefer accommodation with a safari atmosphere such as bush lodges. Investment in such accommodation facilities and the marketing of such facilities to Europeans may contribute to an increase in arrivals from Europe. The real exchange rate also plays a role in the price competitiveness of the destination country. Therefore, in order for South Africa to be more price competitive, inflation rate control can be a way to increase price competitiveness rather than to have a fixed exchange rate. Forecasting accuracy was tested by estimating the Mean Absolute Percentage Error, Root Mean Square Error and Theil’s U of each model. A Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) model was estimated for each origin market as a benchmark model to determine forecasting accuracy against this univariate time series approach. The results showed that the Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average model achieved more accurate predictions whereas the Vector Autoregressive model forecasts were more accurate than the Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model forecasts. Policy–makers can use both the SARIMA and VAR model, which may generate more accurate forecast results in order to provide better policy recommendations.
Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Thesis (MTech (Information Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2005.
The main objective of this research project was to explore organisational electronic commerce (e-commerce) adoption barriers experienced by SMMEs (Small Medium Micro Enterprises). In order for an SMME to become an e-business model. An SMME may start-up as an e-business without any transformation. Barriers to e-commerce adoption in htis research need to be identified. The research study should provide guidlines for SMMEs to use and pro-actively avoid possible barriers before and during the adoption process of e-business.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Illinois State University, 2001.
Title from title page screen, viewed March 14, 2006. Dissertation Committee: Dent M. Rhodes (chair), Adel Al-Bataineh, Ken F.Jerrich, Douglas M. Turco. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 146-154) and abstract. Also available in print.

Film tourism is fast becoming a recognised and lucrative sector within the tourism industry. Film tourism combines knowledge from the tourism industry with that of the film industry in such a manner that it offers an attractive opportunity that can be included when marketing South Africa as a destination. The purpose of the study is to explore the attractiveness of the film tourism market for destinations, identify the unique aspects involved when marketing a destination though film tourism, explore the marketing strategies used by the local South African DMOs and local and foreign film commissions/offices in attracting international film producers, determine what local South African DMOs and local and foreign film commissions/offices perceive as important factors in attracting international film producers, determine and describe the factors influencing international film producers’ selection of a location, determine international film producers’ perceptions of South Africa as a film location in terms of these factors, develop a model for promoting South Africa as an ideal film location to international film producers and then relate the developed model to guidelines in accordance with the services marketing mix (7 Ps). The results obtained identified a number of factors that influence international film producers’ selection of a location and the model can be used to assist DMOs in developing effective marketing strategies in order to attract international film producers to South Africa. This was a qualitative study where three data collection instruments were used on four participant groups; secondary data was also analysed. It was found that South African DMOs do not yet have a working relationship with the relevant film industry leaders; that local film commissions’/offices’ current marketing activities are in line with foreign film commissions’/offices’ marketing strategies; that local DMOs and local and foreign film commissions/offices are more often than not aware of the factors influencing international film producers’ selection of a location and that South Africa has a positive image as a film destination. This research contributes to tourism literature by developing a model and suggesting guidelines that could be used by South African DMOs to attract more international film producers to the country and thus ultimately increase the number of film tourists who visit. All South African DMOs should consider the suggested guidelines when developing a marketing strategy for promoting South Africa as a preferred film destination to international film producers.
Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2014.
tm2015
Tourism Management
MCom
Unrestricted

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-53).
Tourism as an industry has taken on a key role in the South African economy over the past ten years. With an average growth rate of 8% between 1994 and 2000, much hope is placed in the industry to help reach economic growth goals and boost employment, especially in the previously disadvantaged groups of the population. Nonetheless, no detailed study on the employment effects of tourism to South Africa has been published. This thesis aims to calculate in detail not only how much employment tourism is creating in the economy but what kind of employment and which sectors.

The primary goal of this study was to determine the factors that have an influence on the development and expansion of domestic tourism in South Africa. Three objectives were derived from the primary research goal. In the first instance, domestic tourism and the role it plays was analysed by conducting a literature study on all the available constructs as well as the concept of domestic tourism. The second objective was to analyse domestic tourism in the different provinces (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, since after all, it is the function of the provinces to promote domestic tourism). The third objective focused on the results of an empirical study. In July 2003 two hundred questionnaires were e-mailed and faxed. 108 replies were received. Aspects covered by the questionnaire included obstacles to tourism, opportunities, tendencies, trends, growth and the key success factors of domestic tourism. The survey was directed at all involved in tourism planning and management: in the public and private sector, as well as specialists from the national, provincial and local authorities. As far as the private sector is concerned, specialists from hotel groups, like Sun International and Southern Sun, as well as tour operators, such as Springbok, Atlas and Welcome Tours, and organisations, like The South African Tourism Service Association (SATSA), Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (FEDHASA) and Association of South African Travels Agents (ASATA), were approached. The purpose of the research was to shed light on what South Africa can do to advance domestic tourism. It also attempted to elucidate the role the government and product owners should play on various levels. From responses to the questionnaire it became clear that domestic products are offered at competitive prices. Product owners, however, have to guard against too high prices. Product owners are to know their markets and understand current industry needs to market products more effectively.
Thesis (M.A. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup toumament could provide valuable opportunities for the tourism entrepreneur in Cape Town. This study focuses on the factors that affect the entrepreneurwho chooses to make tourism a career in Cape Town. The aim of the study is to examine the tourism entrepreneurs' ability to be sustainable and is focused on the single tourism owner operating a service business in the Cape Town CBO such as small tour operators, tour guides and accommodation agents. Using the quantitative research method, a questionnaire as well as individual interviews, the data collection techniques have helped to provide valuable information as to the influencing factors on entrepreneurship, operational challenges and the extemal environment affecting tourism business in Cape Town. The results which could be useful to an aspirant entrepreneur indicate that the survey participants were generally positive about the FIFA event and that success for them is the ability to understand the market and plan strategically in order to operate a business effectively that will meet specific market requirements.

For attainment sustainable tourism requires the growth of tourism‟s contribution to the economy and society as well as the sustainable use of resources and the environment. The achievement of both relies on dependable and sound understanding, appropriate development and management of the tourism demand. As demand patterns and economic structures change, no industry, and in particular no industry at the national or regional level, could or should assume that there is a constant or increasing flow of demand for its outputs and thus focus solely on resource issues (Butler, 1996). According to Elliot (1997:19) local government plays an important role in tourism, as it is only governments that have the authority to provide political stability, security and the legal and financial framework which tourism requires. Connell et al (2009) argue that one of the more important roles of local government is the development and implementation of community planning, legislation and policy. However, while tourism-related developments are usually integrated with economic development or official community plans, often there is no guiding policy framework or identified area of responsibility for tourism, which can be problematic for effective and sustainable tourism development. The effectiveness of local tourism governance in achieving the goals of sustainable tourism depends on the effectiveness of institutional structures and processes, and the rational resources and skill sets available (Healy, 2006). This study examines the arrangements of selected municipalities and the effectiveness of their local tourism governance and its relevance to sustainable tourism.