Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : The socio-economic effects of tourism development in rural areas : the case of Hlabisa and its local community adjacent to game parks

Auteur : Dlamini, Xolani Welcome

Université de soutenance : Durban University of Technology (DUT)

Grade : Master’s Degree in Management Sciences : Tourism and Hospitality Management, 2021

Résumé partiel
The research is centred on rural tourism and its socio-economic effects on the local community of Hlabisa located adjacent to the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, investigating and disclosing the socio-economic conditions, tourism activities, rural tourism models/ strategies, community participation and challenges faced by the local community and businesses in the area. The socio-economic conditions include employment, income, education, quality of life and other relevant infrastructure contributed by rural tourism to the local economy of Hlabisa. According to Ivanovic et al. (2009) rural tourism can develop rural economies by providing new economic activities and employment. The research was guided by five research objectives : (1) To determine the socio economic well-being of the local community of Hlabisa, i.e. employment, income, skills development, entrepreneurial opportunities ; (2) To determine level of tourism development and the nature of tourism activities taking place in the Hlabisa area ; (3)To determine the level of community participation and representation on tourism activities taking in Hlabisa ; (4) To ascertain rural tourism strategies / rural tourism models in place to empower the local community of Hlabisa socially and economically ? (5) To ascertain the challenges / obstructions faced by the rural community and tourism entrepreneurs of Hlabisa ? The research problem of the study seeks to investigate the extent to which the wellbeing of the local communities of Hlabisa is being empowered or changed for the better socially and economically through the game park and tourism development inter alia. The Rural Tourism Strategy (2012) states that between 10-15 million South Africans live in areas that are characterised by extreme poverty and underdevelopment. “There is limited integration of local communities and previously neglected groups into tourism, inadequate tourism education, training and awareness and lastly lack of infrastructure, particularly in rural areas” (Rural Tourism Strategy 2012). Moreover, what triggers the researcher’s curiosity is that while seeing and knowing that there is quite a number of tourism activities taking place in the study area but the extent to which those activities affect the livelihood of the surrounding rural communities economically and socially is unknown.

Présentation

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