The South African tourism policy with regard to sustainable tourism
Translated title
Den Sydafrikanske turisme politik i relation til bæredygtig turisme
Author
Pedersen, Charnette
Term
4. term
Publication year
2015
Submitted on
2015-12-21
Abstract
This thesis investigates what encourages the South African tourism industry to shift from traditional models toward more socially and environmentally responsible tourism. South Africa is used as a case study because tourism is central to the country’s socio‑economic development and is highlighted in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the study combines a policy review with an assessment of tourists’ preferences. The empirical material draws mainly on South African government policies, strategies and action plans, complemented by reports from international organizations (e.g., UN agencies, the World Travel & Tourism Council and the Center for Responsible Travel) and academic literature. Using Hood and Margetts’ framework of four policy instruments (information, organization, finance and authority), the analysis proceeds in three parts: (1) how policies have influenced the industry, (2) how tourists’ environmental concern and price sensitivity shape firms’ management choices, and (3) how policies and preferences interact. Findings indicate a shift by government from a strong reliance on information and organizational tools to greater use of authority and financial instruments. While tourists express high environmental concern, they are also cost conscious, which makes firms hesitant to invest if costs must be passed on. Recently introduced financial incentives in South Africa are therefore likely to encourage wider adoption of environmentally friendly practices and support a more sustainable transition in the tourism sector.
Dette speciale undersøger, hvilke faktorer der kan fremme omstillingen af den sydafrikanske turismesektor fra traditionel drift til mere socialt og miljømæssigt ansvarlig turisme. Sydafrika er valgt som casestudie, fordi turisme spiller en central rolle i landets socioøkonomiske udvikling og er fremhævet i FN’s Verdensmål, og undersøgelsen kombinerer en politikanalyse med en kortlægning af turisters præferencer. Empirien består primært af sydafrikanske politiske dokumenter (politikker, strategier og handlingsplaner) suppleret af rapporter fra internationale organisationer (fx UN‑organer, World Travel & Tourism Council og Center for Responsible Travel) samt faglitteratur. Med Hood & Margetts’ ramme for fire politiske virkemidler (information, organisation, finans og myndighed) analyseres i tre dele: (1) hvordan politikker har påvirket sektoren, (2) hvordan turisters miljøhensyn og prisfølsomhed præger virksomheders ledelsesvalg, og (3) hvordan politik og præferencer spiller sammen. Resultaterne peger på et skifte fra overvejende brug af information og organisation til øget anvendelse af myndighed og finansielle virkemidler. Samtidig er turister generelt miljøbevidste men prisbevidste, hvilket gør virksomheder tilbageholdende med investeringer, der kan øge omkostninger. Nye finansielle incitamenter i Sydafrika forventes dog at fremme implementeringen af miljøvenlige praksisser og accelerere en mere bæredygtig omstilling i turismesektoren.
[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]