Community-based ecotourism, social exclusion and the changing political economy of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Abstract

This chapter examines tourism in South Africa, more specifically in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Interviews conducted with the major stakeholders between 1994 and 1999 set out to consider whether, within the context of the province's political economy, ecotourism allowed the authors to identify a cluster of historical, political and social factors that contributed to ecotourism's evolution in KwaZulu Natal. It is concluded that despite enthusiasm for ecotourism in the province, this research over 5 years has found disparities between rhetoric and the and actual opportunities, and between the desirable and the affordable. Factors such as poverty, illiteracy, poor health, inadequate public resources, low employment prospects, land hunger, fear of violence, a resurgence of traditional politics and a shared memory of apartheid have been key determinants in whether or not the local communities have benefited from the development of ecotourism in the province.

The changing geography of wildlife conservation: Perspectives on private game farming in contemporary KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

“…136 This is despite efforts to shift the approach from exclusion of African communities, sometimes driven by elites, to the promotion of their active participation in issues relating to their interests such as tourism. 137 Hence, questions regarding attachment to a place and a sense of belonging by African communities keep coming up when such tourism developments are initiated in southern Africa and further deepening for example, "resistance to the creation of a biological reserve" 138 as witnessed in the Gongolo case.…”

Community Ventures and Access to Markets: The Role of Intermediaries in Marketing Rural Tourism Products

“…The latter laid strong emphasis on principles such as democracy and participation, but failed to tackle more practical constraints and to ensure the quality of the tourism product. The project eventually faltered due to poor management, internal rivalries and a lack of secure land tenure (Brennan and Allen, 2001).…”

NGOs in Tourism and Preservation Democratic Accountability and Sustainability in Question

“…Indeed, in the implementation of more sustainable practices in tourism and environmental preservation efforts in lesser developed countries the role of NGOs stands largely unquestioned. On the other hand, rather than promoting radical, deep-rooted changes NGOs are accused of preserving status quo by setting up systems of patronage that not only undermines but also depoliticizes social movements and other grassroots organizations (Farrington et al 1993;Tvedt 1995;Gardner and Lewis 1996;Brennan and Allen 2001). Undeniably, NGOs have become part of the national and international equation in tourism development but their involvement is not unequivocal in scope.…”