The challenges of developing backpacker tourism in South Africa: an enterprise perspective

Abstract

Since the democratic transition, South Africa has become an increasingly popular destination for backpacker tourism. This article analyses the challenges facing the development of backpacker tourism in South Africa by presenting the findings of a national survey of suppliers of backpacker accommodation. It argues that the industry confronts several challenges, inter alia lack of recognition, poor international marketing, inadequate support and understanding from provincial and local governments, difficulty in accessing finance, and a weak national industry association.

Shared Growth and Tourism Small Firm Development in South Africa

“…Based upon existing scholarship, key issues relate, inter alia to market access and marketing; business management skills; access to ICT and infrastructure; skills and training; finance; regulation; and, inadequate institutional support (Bourgouin 2002;Kaplan 2004;Elliott and Boshoff 2005;Ndabeni and Rogerson 2005;Rogerson 2005a, b;Bresler and Popova 2006;HSRC 2006b;Lourens 2007a;Anderson 2007;Rogerson 2007b, c). Nevertheless, it is apparent that tourism SMMEs in South Africa are not a homogeneous group and that distinctions must be drawn between the challenges and support needs of different categories of tourism SMMEs (Rogerson 2005b ).…”

“…As the national importance of promoting and upgrading SMMEs in tourism was raised, further, more detailed research has been pursued on many different aspects ofSMME development in tourism (Rogerson and Sithole 2001;Bourgouin 2002;Kirsten and Rogerson 2002;Rogerson 2003;Nuntsu et al 2004;Rogerson 2004a, b, c, d;Thomas 2005;EO Africa 2006;Rogerson 2007bRogerson , 2007c. This body of sectorspecific research on tourism SMMEs serves to complement other work which analyses opportunities and challenges that confront the tourism sector as a whole (Monitor 2004;DTI 2005b;SBP 2006;South African Tourism 2005a).…”

The evolution and consolidation of the timeshare industry in a developing economy: The South African experience

“…At the opposite end of the accommodation spectrum there has been a burst of research around second homes tourism and of the local development implications of recreational second home development particularly for South African small towns (Hoogendoorn et al, 2005(Hoogendoorn et al, , 2009Hoogendoorn & Visser, 2010a, 2010bBaker & Mearns, 2011;. Other accommodation focussed research in South Africa has included works on backpacker accommodation, homestays, guest houses, the conventional bed and breakfast sector and the distinctive bed and breakfast economy of South African townships (Visser & Van Huyssteen, 1997, 1999Visser, 2003b;Nuntsu et al 2004;Rogerson, 2004Rogerson, , 2007. Within a comparative context, the timeshare industry has been a relatively undocumented component of the S164 dynamic changes occurring within the South African accommodation sector particularly since the country's re-insertion into the global tourism economy Rogerson & Visser, 2011;.…”

Change, Choice, and Commercialization: Backpacker Routes in Southeast Asia

“…Although researchers understand the term "backpacker" at some levels, there remains no internationally accepted definition. Later work refers to "backpackers" (Government of Australia 1995;Hampton 1998;Murphy 2000;Noy 2006;Pearce 1990;Richards and Wilson 2004;Rogerson 2007;Scheyvens 2002;Teo and Leong 2006). Early terms in the literature, such as "drifter" (Cohen 1973), are more relevant to "hippy" tourists in the 1960s and 1970s.…”

“…Government funding of such a study was significant given that, with the exception of South Africa (Rogerson 2007(Rogerson , 2011Visser 2004;Visser and Rogerson 2004), most tourism departments in Less Developed Countries (LDCs) are disinterested in backpackers and many discourage them. Government funding of such a study was significant given that, with the exception of South Africa (Rogerson 2007(Rogerson , 2011Visser 2004;Visser and Rogerson 2004), most tourism departments in Less Developed Countries (LDCs) are disinterested in backpackers and many discourage them.…”