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- The Government of South Africa has declared tourism as one of the six pillars for economic growth in line with the New Growth Path. Furthermore, local economic development in South Africa has galvanised widespread attention from government, non-governmental organisations, scholars, and practitioners. The national government acknowledges that South Africa’s local economic development is the strategic enabler for national economic and development objectives and in particular of South Africa's National Development Plan Vision 2030. In addition, South Africa’s local economic development is viewed as an important potential catalytic instrument to create the necessary broad partnerships and conditions for economic development that can generate better and higher quality service delivery, decent jobs, participation and empowerment of communities, women, youth, and vulnerable groups. This study focuses on local economic development with a specific focus in tourism development) within major tourism hubs of the former Transkei region. These hubs include Coffee Bay, Port’s St John’s and Mthatha situated in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Moreover, the study contends that prioritisation of sustainable tourism development using local economic development by the former Transkei region has a potential to unlock economic sectors for the communities of OR Tambo District Municipality. In this context, local government is considered to be at the forefront of advocating for pro-poor tourism and local economic development policies. Lastly, the study employs a Participatory Action Research in diagnosing some of the bottlenecks Eastern Cape’s tourism hubs are grappling with. In conclusion, the findings of the study underscore that there is a need for a Public-Private Partnership framework that would further enable the growth of tourism using local economic development. This Public-Private Partnership framework could inform policy direction for the entire local government community in Eastern Cape. Such process will assist OR Tambo District Municipality communities in mitigating challenges of triple threat (poverty, inequality, and unemployment) through sustainable tourism and local economic development.
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- The aim of this paper is to assess tourism as a catalyst for rural development and community awareness in a case study of Coffee Bay. Tourism is considered as a viable tool for economic development, specifically in the developing world. It was envisaged and deemed necessary to develop tourism in the local community as it would generate community development, thus supporting its overall development. Apart from this tourist sites enhance community cohesion and promote peace within the host community. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. Questionnaires were distributed to community members of Coffee Bay. Furthermore, a random sampling method was used for the purpose of the study. Data obtained was analysed through the use of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings of the study revealed a high awareness and a high level of community willingness to participate in tourism ventures. Furthermore, findings of the study revealed that some members of the community have already participated in Small Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs). However, the negative aspects raised by the community in the development processes are the issue of government interference and the lack of sponsors together with the poor infrastructure. Therefore, it is recommended that the government must make a concerted effort in providing a sustainable and conducive environment for tourism to thrive in the Coffee Bay community. Funding was also cited as one of the bottlenecks. As such, funding should be provided either by the government or by the private sector to ensure an on-going process of tourism development.
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- The Covid-19 pandemic has had an adverse impact on religious destinations ever since its outbreak was reported from Wuhan, China in 2019. The aim of this paper is to reflect on the negative impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on tourism and religious destinations. Empirical evidence elucidates that the Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on tourism and religious destinations and it disrupted Christianity for some believers. Religious tourism concentrates on visiting significant religious sites. The main motivation for this travel is to meet the spiritual, and religious needs of people. However, another motivation for travel may be to simply explore the culture of other nations and their religions and sacred objects. In Christianity, social beliefs and values of individuals, and pilgrims were threatened, and their faith was sorely tested during the pandemic. The focus will be on Catholic religious destinations in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. This is notwithstanding that some religious destinations have not fully recovered even though they are now operating. A qualitative approach was employed, and indirect unstructured interviews were conducted. Systematic sampling was randomly done at the pilgrimage destination sites visited. The paper reflects on the sufferings endured by pilgrims who annually visit the religious destinations and the impact the pandemic has had on these sites. Significance of these religious destinations are also reflected on, the rituals such as that of the Catholic Church venerating the Virgin Mother Mary every month of October was sadly halted. Religion and social value theory is thus reflected upon in this discussion. The findings adopt a descriptive analysis of how Covid-19 impacted on the religious destinations within the study areas. Lastly, strategies for tourism and religious pilgrimage destinations post Covid-19 pandemic to survive are suggested and briefly discussed.
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