Potential of ecotourism as a mechanism to buoy community livelihoods: the case of Musina Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
Purpose – This study evaluates prospects of using ecotourism industry to advance community livelihoods in Musina Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa. Design/methodology/approach – Using questionnaire surveys, interviews primarily, supplemented by focus group discussions and interviews, primary data...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Emerald Publishing
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Business and Socio-Economic Development |
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| Online Access: | https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JBSED-02-2021-0020/full/pdf |
| _version_ | 1797786123349524480 |
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| author | Azwindini Isaac Ramaano |
| author_facet | Azwindini Isaac Ramaano |
| author_sort | Azwindini Isaac Ramaano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose – This study evaluates prospects of using ecotourism industry to advance community livelihoods in Musina Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa. Design/methodology/approach – Using questionnaire surveys, interviews primarily, supplemented by focus group discussions and interviews, primary data has been collected reflective of the potentiality of ecotouristic activities in Musina Municipality. To a lesser extent, field observations contribute to these primary sources. Extra insights are obtained through documentary reviews (secondary sources). Data is analyzed using quantitative statistical techniques supplemented by qualitative approaches. Findings – The study confirmed substantial ecotourism potential of the Musina Municipality and that this potential is manifest irrespective of geographic and demographic factors. However, the study reports a low current ecotourism impact in the Musina Municipality with consequential minimal benefits accruing to the enhancement of the standard of living in the local community. An inference is made that the key gap area impeding the realization of ecotourism potential in the Musina Municipality is the absence of a well-articulated tourism strategy linked to the sustainable economic development of the communities involved. Several fruitful initiatives for ecotourism consonant with local factor endowments are proposed. Originality/value – Although, taken in topical isolation, matters of community livelihoods and sustainable development have been increasingly coming to the forefront of research on tourism, few studies have taken a holistic approach predicated on the integration of community livelihood and sustainable development roles of various forms of ecotourism in community development within many rural areas. This study represents the first case study employing an integrated approach to analyze ecotouristic potential of rural Musina Municipality, one of the driest areas in the far North of Limpopo Province, South Africa, characterized by low standard of living juxtaposed with high touristic potential. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:04:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0c602db71042442991bb0374a6e7488a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2635-1374 2635-1692 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:04:33Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Emerald Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Business and Socio-Economic Development |
| spelling | doaj.art-0c602db71042442991bb0374a6e7488a2023-07-06T07:41:48ZengEmerald PublishingJournal of Business and Socio-Economic Development2635-13742635-16922021-06-0111477010.1108/JBSED-02-2021-0020Potential of ecotourism as a mechanism to buoy community livelihoods: the case of Musina Municipality, Limpopo, South AfricaAzwindini Isaac Ramaano0Department of Geography and Geo-Information Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South AfricaPurpose – This study evaluates prospects of using ecotourism industry to advance community livelihoods in Musina Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa. Design/methodology/approach – Using questionnaire surveys, interviews primarily, supplemented by focus group discussions and interviews, primary data has been collected reflective of the potentiality of ecotouristic activities in Musina Municipality. To a lesser extent, field observations contribute to these primary sources. Extra insights are obtained through documentary reviews (secondary sources). Data is analyzed using quantitative statistical techniques supplemented by qualitative approaches. Findings – The study confirmed substantial ecotourism potential of the Musina Municipality and that this potential is manifest irrespective of geographic and demographic factors. However, the study reports a low current ecotourism impact in the Musina Municipality with consequential minimal benefits accruing to the enhancement of the standard of living in the local community. An inference is made that the key gap area impeding the realization of ecotourism potential in the Musina Municipality is the absence of a well-articulated tourism strategy linked to the sustainable economic development of the communities involved. Several fruitful initiatives for ecotourism consonant with local factor endowments are proposed. Originality/value – Although, taken in topical isolation, matters of community livelihoods and sustainable development have been increasingly coming to the forefront of research on tourism, few studies have taken a holistic approach predicated on the integration of community livelihood and sustainable development roles of various forms of ecotourism in community development within many rural areas. This study represents the first case study employing an integrated approach to analyze ecotouristic potential of rural Musina Municipality, one of the driest areas in the far North of Limpopo Province, South Africa, characterized by low standard of living juxtaposed with high touristic potential.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JBSED-02-2021-0020/full/pdfTourismSocioeconomic developmentSustainable tourism developmentEcotourismAgro-tourismHeritage tourism |
| spellingShingle | Azwindini Isaac Ramaano Potential of ecotourism as a mechanism to buoy community livelihoods: the case of Musina Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa Journal of Business and Socio-Economic Development Tourism Socioeconomic development Sustainable tourism development Ecotourism Agro-tourism Heritage tourism |
| title | Potential of ecotourism as a mechanism to buoy community livelihoods: the case of Musina Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa |
| title_full | Potential of ecotourism as a mechanism to buoy community livelihoods: the case of Musina Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Potential of ecotourism as a mechanism to buoy community livelihoods: the case of Musina Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potential of ecotourism as a mechanism to buoy community livelihoods: the case of Musina Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa |
| title_short | Potential of ecotourism as a mechanism to buoy community livelihoods: the case of Musina Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa |
| title_sort | potential of ecotourism as a mechanism to buoy community livelihoods the case of musina municipality limpopo south africa |
| topic | Tourism Socioeconomic development Sustainable tourism development Ecotourism Agro-tourism Heritage tourism |
| url | https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JBSED-02-2021-0020/full/pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT azwindiniisaacramaano potentialofecotourismasamechanismtobuoycommunitylivelihoodsthecaseofmusinamunicipalitylimpoposouthafrica |