The prospects of using the tourism industry to advance community livelihoods in Musina Municipality, Limpopo Province

Abstract

This study sought to examine the nature of tourism activities and their contribution to livelihoods for the local communities’ development and sustainability within the study area. The issue of sustainability and tourism has become a widely studied topic in the last few years. However, little research, such as the ones covered in this study, has examined the synergies among the various components of rural tourism. The current study investigated "the prospects of using the tourism industry to advance community livelihoods in Musina Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa." It sought to supplement academic knowledge in this area of research. Hence, welfare organisations and local societies within their milieus will benefit from the findings of this study. Sustainable tourism and sustainability were the key concepts that guided the current study. The specific objectives of the research were the following: to identify and analyse the nature of tourism-integrated demographic activities within Musina Municipality; to evaluate the impact of tourism development activities on the livelihoods and socio-economic status of the local communities; to review the nature of the tourism development policy employed by the Musina Local Municipality; to evaluate the environmental impacts of tourism in Musina Municipality; and to develop a strategy for the incorporation of tourism as a tool for sustainable local community development (SLCD). The study employed a mixed approach, utilising both qualitative and quantitative survey methods. The researcher, therefore, applied a purposive sampling method to select participants. This ensured a representative sample by using sound judgement, as well as saving time and money. The study was also underpinned by the researcher’s knowledge of the study area. A questionnaire, interviews, focus group discussions, document reviews, and field observations were used to collect the data for the study. MS Office and Excel, as well as cross-tabulation analysis, were used to analyse the data. Statistical inferences were made from the central tendency and frequency distribution patterns. Data were also presented on graphs and tables. The 99.5% return rate of the survey questionnaire and captured data demonstrated the presence of actual tourism activities. From the data, 92.4% of the respondents supported unexplored tourism potential in their environs. Indeed, the main findings of the study demonstrated significant tourism potential. To that end, focus group discussions (FGDs) [in each focus group discussion, up to 5 individuals were sampled per village] reported significant tourism potential in the study area. Furthermore, 93.5% of the respondents in the survey questionnaire showed that tourism is bringing few benefits to the local communities. In addition, 96.7% of survey respondents reported a lack of knowledge about the principles of tourism development policy in the study area. The findings further showed that an overwhelming majority of the respondents in the questionnaire survey were not knowledgeable about the existing development measures. Hence, there was positive environmental potential for tourism, despite the dismal environmental impacts of tourists and locals on tourism and rural land resources within the Musina Municipality and the study area. It is clear from the findings that there is a need for intervention to promote tourism in the communities. This necessitates comprehensive planning of tourism in the study area in general and the entire municipality in particular. The findings also showed that about half (53.5%) of the surveyed respondents believed that there should be cooperation among all stakeholders, namely, local communities, government, and non-governmental organisations, in rural and sustainable tourism to provide an effective strategy through which tourism businesses can improve within their area. The study findings will provide valuable information on tourism strategies for advancing the communities’ livelihoods. The study also provides a significant stimulus for tourism-related endeavours by the National Department of Tourism, the Department of Environmental Affairs, and the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment, and Tourism in advancing the Musina Municipality and the entire Limpopo Province as a preferred tourism destination in South Africa. It was also reported that Musina Municipality is generally rich in natural biodiversity and has abundant tourism potential. To that effect, a lack of tourism development activities could impair the benefits of actual and potential tourism projects in the communities. Hence, there is a need for a more effective strategy, as also reported by the communities.