UJ School of Tourism and Hospitality

Martha Mosha Position: Lecturer School of Humanities, Society and Development, University of Namibia, Namibia Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Digital public engagement considers ways in which businesses, governments, non-profit organisation, and the citizens rally to solve a common issue. Employing sustainable tourism practices has been on the tourism industry’s agenda, being emphasised by the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals. Eco Awards Namibia certifies sustainable tourism businesses and has been championing sustainability. The businesses listed under Eco Awards Namibia are acknowledged for implementing environmental protection and conservation and embedding sustainable business practices in their operations, however, they need the public, as tourists, to increase their awareness, and build market access through digital public engagement. A few of the listed businesses have taken advantage of the Eco Awards Namibia website to share their digital engagements with the public. The aim of the research was to unearth the different digital platforms, used for public engagement. A quantitative approach of coding of web based- data from 85 businesses was employed, and SPSS and Orange software was used in the analysis. Findings indicate that most businesses use on average three different platforms for public engagement: website (100%), email (88%), and Facebook (94%). However, some move beyond these and use other platforms, such as Trip Advisor (86%), Holiday Check (66%) and YouTube (66%). The study recommends that Eco Awards Namibia encourage digital public engagement by the businesses to inform the public of the available options to undertake in contributing to a sustainable holiday in Namibia. Key words: Sustainable tourism, digital public engagement, tourism businesses, Eco Awards Namibia. Digitalisation and Technological Integration for Sustainable Tourism: Exploring Perceptions within South African Enterprises Emmanuel Ndhlovu Postdoctoral researcher Department of Tourism and Integrated Communication, Vaal University of Technology, South Africa Email: [email protected] Kaitano Dube Professor Department of Tourism and Integrated Communication, Vaal University of Technology, South Africa Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Tourism is sustainable when operators are able to make sufficient profits, when customer satisfaction in terms of experience is met, when the involvement of host community is supportive, and when tourism activities have minimal negative impact on the environment. One method widely proposed strategies to boost sustainability is the adoption and integration of digital technologies. However, studies that provide a detailed picture of digitalisation and technology integration in the tourism industry are either scant or in their embryonic stages. The aim of this study is to close this gap in knowledge. The study explores the perceptions of employees of enterprises on the impact of digitalisation and technology integration tourism sustainability in South Africa. The study utilises in-depth interviews (n=20) conducted with employees of tourism enterprises, mainly hotels and restaurants in South Africa. The study found that participants acknowledge that digitalisation and technology integration ensures efficient energy and water usage, and thus, reduce greenhouse gas emissions that come from excessive energy and water use. The study proposes government intervention through rolling digital infrastructure, such as the Internet to enhance affordable technology integration by enterprises. Keywords: Digitalisation, hotels, restaurants sustainable tourism, South Africa 49

The future of sustainable tourism education in the digital transformation age beyond Covid-19 in Namibia. Gerald Cloete DBA - Candidate Binary University of Management and Entrepreneurship, Graduate Business School, Malaysia. E-mail: [email protected] Joram Ndlovu Professor University of Kwazulu-Natal, School of Social Sciences, Howard College, Durban, 400, South Africa [email protected] ABSTRACT Sustainability has become a relentless theme in tourism literature post-Covid-19. Tourism educational institutions have been pushed towards implementing virtual learning due to the changing educational landscape and the teaching environment. Covid-19 has changed homes to become the new classrooms, online teaching has become the new norm, which has influenced Tourism education tremendously. This paper seeks to discuss the future of tourism education in the digital transformation age in Namibia post-Covid-19. A qualitative approach was used to collect data using a key informant technique. Interviews were conducted till a saturation level was reached at 20 and the data was then analysed and categorized using themes. The results show that sustainable tourism education should focus on increasing the natural environment, ecological and cultural sustainability. The development of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology will enable students to engage in realistic simulations of sustainable tourism practices and learn about their effects on local communities and ecosystems. Tourism education should find ways in which tourism-led economic development can lead to regional regeneration. With this practical approach, learning outcomes should be improved and aspiring professionals be better equipped to handle problems in the real world. Beyond Covid-19, tourism education will take a hybrid approach whereby online educational materials will be combined with traditional classroom methods. Additionally, data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) should be included in curricula for sustainable tourism to assist students in analysing tourist patterns, monitoring environmental consequences and developing ethical tourism strategies. However, the successful implementation of digitalisation in tourism education is dependent on the institution’s ability to develop its people and provide opportunities for learning to occur. In Namibia, the data-driven strategy could lead to more sustainable tourist practices. Inclusiveness and diversity in the industry could ensure that students from remote locations could be encouraged to acquire high-quality sustainable tourism learning experiences that are globally connected. Online forums and international collaborations could foster cooperation and knowledge-sharing, allowing Namibian educators and students to absorb global best practices and add their perspectives to the conversation around sustainable tourism. Tourism education is complex and cannot be fully digital considering the nature of the required skills in the industry. Technology will be extremely important in determining the direction of tourist education in the future as the globe gets more linked. The future of tourism education in the digital transformational age will require stable internet connectivity, increased government support and the ability of academics to deal with new students’ demands. Thus, online learning environments and virtual classrooms will probably be adopted by institutions and organisations in Namibia, opening up education to a wider audience. Beyond the Covid-19 epidemic, Namibia’s sustainable tourism education is prepared to see substantial breakthroughs and transformations in the age of digital transformation. The utilisation of digital technology to develop a more inclusive, immersive, data-driven and globally linked learning experience is crucial for the future of sustainable tourism education in Namibia. The article concludes that sustainable tourism education will require academics to acquire new knowledge and expertise to cope with the new developments in the use of artificial intelligence and expand their area of scholarship. The technological advancements will equip the next generation of tourism professionals to apply the necessary tools to make informed decisions that balance economic growth with environmental protection and cultural appreciation. Keywords: Sustainable tourism education, digital transformation, knowledge production, sustainability, technology 50

Theme: Food, tourism and sustainability Restaurant Chefs’ Perceptions of Sustainable Healthy Food Practices More Bridget Ramoshaba Honours student School of Tourism & Hospitality, University of Johannesburg, South Africa Email: [email protected] Daryl Hewson Lecturer School of Tourism & Hospitality, University of Johannesburg, South Africa Email: [email protected] Cynthia Mabaso Lecturer School of Tourism & Hospitality, University of Johannesburg, South Africa Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT The link between sustainability and health is often apparent in our food choices. Given that environment and our food choices are inseparable, integrating sustainability and health goals into menu planning in the hospitality industry has become a key issue in policy development to encourage consumers to adopt healthier and more sustainable diets. In this regard, chefs are considered potential influencers through their decision-making in menu planning. The study aimed to analyse chefs’ perceptions of healthy and sustainable food practices occurring within restaurants in South Africa. We surveyed hotel chefs (n=100) using a conveniently administered questionnaire. The findings revealed overall positive behavioural patterns by chefs and highlighted critical perceptions of sustainable healthy food practices in hotel kitchens. Moreover, chefs showed an awareness of the relevance of nutrition and sustainability as key factors in sustaining the current food systems and public health in general. The research proposed a conceptual framework that could be useful and applicable in providing insights into a sustainable and healthy eating policy design and implementation through menu planning. Food Waste Management Strategies in Township Restaurants Cynthia Mabaso Lecturer School of Tourism & Hospitality, University of Johannesburg, South Africa Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Rising food waste levels have been an issue for quite some time, nationally and globally. The need to reduce the food waste levels in restaurants to ensure business profitability and sustainability, in general, has led to the evolution of food waste management strategies. As a developing country, South African restaurants have not been equipped with adequate policies and procedures to tackle food waste to the same level as Western countries. The study mainly explores the food waste management strategies used in township restaurants. The study takes a qualitative methodology, and the semi-structured interview design is used to answer the research questions on the extent of food waste levels, strategies used and the management’s perceptions of the strategies. The results show that managers/owners relate differently to food waste issues hence estimated productions were given. However, strategies used to reduce food waste were identified on a positive note. 51

The Evolution and Pandemic Recovery of Africa’s First Creative City of Gastronomy Jayne Rogerson Research Professor School of Tourism and Hospitality, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa, Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Since its popular promotion and increasing adoption by city and international agencies the concept of ‘the creative city’ has galvanized the attention of many scholars. It is contended that “the creative city is seen to draw on a city’s cultural assets, ‘offer’ and ‘creative essence’. Many cities across the world recently have positioned themselves as ‘creative’ and that “the creative city has become a UNESCO designation”. The objective in this paper is to examine the emergence of an African creative city, its accession to membership of the UNESCO Network of Creative Cities of Gastronomy and COVID-19 impacts and pandemic recovery. On 30 October 2019 it was announced by the DirectorGeneral of UNESCO that a total of 66 new cities had been given Creative City status. They were recognised as laboratories of ideas and innovative practices and offering a tangible contribution to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Among the ten cities which were designated as a Creative City of Gastronomy was Overstrand in South Africa. The Overstrand became the fifteenth African creative city and the first to be granted the title of Creative City of Gastronomy. The paper interrogates the emergence of Africa’s first ‘city’ to be awarded the UNESCO designation of Creative City of Gastronomy. Attention is upon Overstrand which is situated in South Africa’s Western Cape province. The analysis is structured with a review of work and debates specifically concerning UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy. An examination is undertaken of the evolution and diversification of the local tourism economy and the rise of Overstrand with Hermanus as its hub as a tourist destination to become the first African ‘city’ to join the UNESCO network as a Creative City of Gastronomy. Following this discussion there is an analysis of COVID-19 impacts and pandemic recovery for the destination. Embracing social media platforms in promoting indigenous foods: A pathway to sustainable gastronomic tourism Hema Kesa Senior Lecturer and Director Food Evolution Research Laboratory (FERL) School of Tourism and Hospitality, University of Johannesburg [email protected] Mandla Sibisi Lecturer School of Tourism and Hospitality, University of Johannesburg [email protected] Vongani Ntimane Lecturer School of Tourism and Hospitality, University of Johannesburg [email protected] 52

ABSTRACT Existing literature acknowledges indigenous foods crops as an essential tool to advance Sustainable Development Goals one and two, this being eradication of poverty and hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture. These food products are deemed to have an edge over exotic species due to their adaptability to marginal agricultural production areas and their ability to provide dietary diversity. Indigenous South African food crops are those crops that have their origin in South Africa and that were introduced into the country and are now considered to be traditional crops. Indigenous South African food crops have an important advantage over exotic species, because of their adaptability to marginal agricultural production areas and their ability to provide dietary diversity in communities. Nonetheless, utilizing indigenous foods as a vehicle to accomplishing the said SDGs seem to be a challenging prospect due to the relative limited adoption of these products as part of daily diet. That being said, some studies have argued that creative promotional strategies such as adopting social media for marketing purposes present an opportunity to overcome barriers for accepting certain diets. As a result, this study adopted a quantitative research approach, with a sample size of 357 respondents to examine the role of social media platforms in promoting South African indigenous foods. Several key findings were identified, there is an increase in social media users who rely on these platforms to learn about nutrition-related factors gained from indigenous foods. Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok are the most preferred social media platforms to learn more pertaining indigenous foods. In addition, the study reveals that instead of sharing written information, videos and pictures seem to be more effective when promoting indigenous foods. This research provides important insights regarding the usage of social media in promoting indigenous foods for gastronomic tourism, food influencers, indigenous food retail stores, and the society at large. Keywords: South African indigenous foods, Promoting Tourism, Dietary Diversity, social media Food Tourism as a Strategy for local economic development in Durban beyond Covid-19 Joram Ndlovu Professor University of KwaZulu-Natal, School of Social Sciences, Howard College Campus, 4001, Durban, South Africa. E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT Globalization has accelerated competition and exposed regions, localities, and firms and forced them to adapt to changing economic circumstances and conditions. More recently, researchers have become more interested in food as an essential element of Local Economic Development (LED). Even though LED has previously been focused on increasing production in industries such as mining, agriculture, manufacturing, etc., food tourism has been identified as a niche economic driver. A sample of 149 respondents made up of 82 women and 67 men were randomly selected for the study. Frequency analyses were used to present the sample and dimensions in focus. Differences of significance were tested by employing independent sample t-tests and ANOVA. The results show that eating food is not just what we enjoy but it is a medium of cultural exchange and experience. Food tourism generates increased demand for local produce and products, stimulating the agriculture and food industries. The use of food tourism LED is based on its role in driving the destinations’ competitiveness. This, in turn, creates opportunities for farmers, food producers, and artisans, boosting their income and supporting local businesses. For domestic and international tourists, the presence and availability of food fulfil a cultural and emotional gap. Food tourism creates employment opportunities. As the number of tourists increases, more jobs are created in restaurants, food markets, culinary tours, and related services, reducing unemployment and enhancing living standards within the community. Food builds stronger bonds between people and countries and offers an important setting to enhance investment and trade ties. Local cuisine is often deeply rooted in a region’s traditions and history. By promoting traditional dishes and culinary practices, food tourism helps preserve cultural heritage and encourages cultural exchange between tourists and locals, fostering mutual understanding. Food has a multiplier effect, which adds value to the local economy by rejuvenating the economic fortunes of the local economy. Food as a tool for economic development 53

presents a fascinating idea about identity, everyday life, and pleasure since it bears a symbolic meaning which determines the destination’s attributes and the overall distinct attractiveness. As the destination gains popularity, investors may be drawn to the area, leading to the establishment of new businesses, infrastructure development, and further economic growth. Therefore, certain spaces and assets for tourism development are required as preconditions for successful tourism-led development. However, to effectively utilize food tourism as an economic development strategy, collaboration among local stakeholders, governments, businesses, and communities is crucial. Food tourism enhances the overall image and reputation of the destination, encouraging repeat visits and positive word-of-mouth recommendations, creating a sustainable cycle of economic benefits. The paper concludes that food tourism has accelerated the growth of investment in events, conferences, and meetings in Durban. Efforts should be made to maintain the authenticity, quality, and sustainability of the food experiences, ensuring long-term benefits for the local economy and the preservation of the destination’s unique culinary identity. However, more scholarly and rigorous research is needed to untangle questions about local economic development and the consumption of local food. Keywords: Food tourism, local economic development, multiplier effect, economy, destination attractiveness Theme: Climate and environmental change impacts and resilience A multi-index approach to quantifying climate suitability for tourism in Réunion Island Ariel Prinsloo PhD Candidate School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa Email: [email protected] Jennifer Fitchett Professor of Physical Geography School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Climate change is projected to impact tourism globally. Small island states are the most vulnerable tourism destinations to climate change threats. Réunion Island, located in the southwest Indian Ocean, is particularly unique as a department of France located in proximity to southern Africa. This study presents the first analysis of the climatic suitability of the island for tourism through time. Adopting a model inter-comparison approach, the results from the Tourism Climate Index (TCI), Holiday Climate Index Urban (HCIUrban), Holiday Climate Index Beach (HCIBeach) and the Camping Climate Index (CCI) will be presented. An applicability and suitability assessment is applied followed by the computed index for the data from meteorological weather stations on Réunion Island for the period 1991-2020. Preliminary assessment has highlighted that one station, Roland Garros Airport exhibits a relatively complete set for the entire time period. While neither camping nor beach activities take place directly at the airport, given the size of the island this station is representative of the climate influencing this full range of touristic activities. Preliminary results indicate that for much of the year, for three indices at this station, Réunion Island is classified as good but not ideal for tourism due to the high temperatures, wind speeds and relative humidity which compromise thermal comfort. Although, investigations into data limitations are being examined, based on initial results, the primary attraction of the region is the hot climate and time on the beach, and this raises questions regarding the suitability of the classification thresholds in a tropical island context. Keywords: tourism climate indices, tropical island tourism, Réunion Island. 54

Assessing the Validity of the Exclusion of Night-time Thermal Comfort in Tourism Climate Indices Zandizoloyiso Mnguni Student School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa Email: [email protected] Jennifer Fitchett Professor of Physical Geography School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Indices are instruments that can be used to streamline complex climatic information for use in economic and other decision-making situations. An index is only as reliable and valuable as the inherent assumptions. The Holiday Climate Index (HCI) is presented as the improved version of the TCI with the key difference being the removal of night-time thermal comfort due to the assumption that air conditioning is ubiquitous throughout Europe. This index neglects the potential impact of night-time thermal conditions on tourists’ comfort. However, this study aims to investigate the validity of the exclusion of night-time thermal comfort in Tourism Climate Indices (TCIs), particularly for the HCI, by testing the assumption of ubiquitous air-conditioning alongside the prevalence of night-time activities that take place outside of hotel establishments and whether tourists complain of adverse thermal comfort in the night. The methodology for this study will be grounded in netnographic tourism research. Keywords: Biometeorological index, climate change, urban tourism Ten Years of Tourism and climate change a global view Kaitano Dube Snr. Lecturer Department of Tourism and Integrated Communication, Vaal University of Technology, South Africa Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Climate change has dominated the social, economic, environmental, and political discussions and has been flagged as one of the key global economic threats worldwide in the past decade. Such dominance has resulted in increased research focused on the same. Understanding the trends and thematic areas of such research is critical to the tourism sector and its stakeholders. While there have been attempts to review the literature at a regional level, global review of such studies has been scant. This has deprived scholars of an opportunity to track trends. This study tracks global tourism and climate change developments of Scopus Indexed publications between 2012 and the first half of 2023. The study makes use of the new Scopus term analyzer tool and VOSviewer. In a study that involved 3741 documents published from across the world, the study found that there has been a significant increase in tourism and climate change studies since 2013, although there were deeps in 2015 and 2017. In the period after 2015, there has been a growth in tourism climate change studies. The COVID-19 pandemic did not slow the growth of tourism climate change, literature which grew from 183 studies to 569 studies in 2022. Most of the published 55

work was in the form of journal articles (68.1%), with most studies published in the Sustainability Journal (MDPI). Most climate change studies focused on tourism vulnerability, risk assessment, sustainability, tourism and water supply, climate change, and ecosystems (Figure 1). Several studies also used models and the nexus between tourism and carbon emissions. There is a general interest in climate change tourism and human health, with several studies focussing on China, Australia, Africa, Antarctica, Switzerland, and island states. This study is crucial as it identifies research concentration areas, gaps, and progress in this field. Keywords: research, extreme weather events, carbon emissions, climate risk, tourism destinations, vulnerability Theme: Eco, adventure and nature-based tourism Conservation based tourism in the Okavango Delta: A case study of Mokoro Polers at Boro, Maun, Northern Botswana Naomi Moswete Senior Lecturer Department of Environmental Science, University of Botswana Email: [email protected] & [email protected] Kenosi Nkape Senior Lecturer Botswana Wildlife Training Institute, Maun, Email: [email protected] Kagiso Keitumele Wildlife Warden Botswana Wildlife Training Institute, Maun, Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Conservation-based tourism (CBT) is a relatively new socio-economic phenomenon in remote and marginalised regions of the Okavango Delta, yet limited research has been conducted on their significance specifically on native peoples. There has been increasing concerns that the Okavango region is endowed with natural resources (fish, wild foods, wildlife, and heritage) with a high tourism appeal though only a few locals derive benefits. With reference to sustainable development goals of no poverty, sustainable communities and responsible consumption and protection, the purpose of the paper is to assess cost and benefits of conservation-based tourism of the dugout canoe polers community project at Boro in the Okavango region. The study is guided by Indigenous knowledge and livelihoods principles. Data were collected through in-depth face - to - face interviews with registered mokoro polers at Boro community. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to capture quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Results of this study showed that most of the mokoro polers were males, comprised of head and assistant polers. Positive benefits included cash income, material benefits and social benefits (loyalty, cultural exchange) from tourism. Active involvement of the local people in conservation-related activities at Boro has heightened since they began to benefit financially and gained in-kind support from mokoro poling tourism activities. Relationship between Boro community and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks anti-poaching Unit has been enhanced, and there are less sightings of illegal activities by villagers (e.g., overcutting of poles) and wildlife poaching. On the negative, the polers highlighted long wait in queue to acquire clients for poling was discouraging as too many of them were registered for same activities. They also decried of how covid-19 pandemic forced the community’s dugout canoe poling tourism business to a halt with no tourists, job and income. Overall, the local community contribute to sustainable management of natural resources in the area though they decry lack of recognition and low pay. Recommendations are that the operations of the CBT, the tourists’ fees for mokoro 56

polers should be revised and working conditions improved as this could lead to pro-conservation behaviours and sustainable tourism on communities along the Boro River in the Okavango area. The need for the community at Boro to reduce full dependence on foreign tourism. We also propose that female polers be recruited and equally trained to promote gender equality in employment and promote responsible consumption of natural resources and involvement in conservation-based tourism. Keywords: conservation tourism, sustainability, local people, natural resources, Okavango Delta, Botswana An Assessment of the Adoption of Domestic Nature-based Tourism as a Covid-19 Risk Response and Management Control Moren Tibabo Stone Associate Professor University of Botswana Faculty of Science Department of Environmental Science Private Bag 0022, Gaborone, Botswana Email: [email protected] Lesego Senyana Stone Associate Professor University of Botswana Faculty of Business Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management Private Bag 0022, Gaborone, Botswana Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Tourism is an important economic contributor for many southern African countries. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector was negatively affected. Despite the enormous setbacks brought by the pandemic, it remains a significant development dynamic. The setbacks experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrate that being solely dependent on the international tourism market is not sustainable for Botswana’s tourism. Indications are that the domestic market needs to be developed to complement the international market. As a result, destinations need to respond to changes brought by pandemics. Using the sustainable tourism development framework and a mixed methods approach, the study assesses the potential of the adoption of domestic nature-based tourism as an alternative and/or complement of international tourism. Results show that the domestic tourism market exists. However, demand for the same attractions sought by the international market is thwarted by product pricing, which is beyond the domestic market’s reach. Consequently, the domestic market needs tourism products that suit their budget. The exclusion of the domestic market is pronounced because the tourism product is supply rather than demand driven. Moreover, the needs of the international and domestic markets in terms of attractions, services and expenditure prowess are not the same. As a result, the current one-size-fits-all tourism marketing strategy dilutes the brand value and tourism potential of the country. Therefore, a differentiated package, branding and positioning that communicates clear needs for both the international and domestic market is encouraged. Results call for the development of a marketing strategy that defines the various target market segments’ profiles, preferences and purchasing patterns. The current marketing strategy that focuses on the international market cannot be used for the domestic market because the two markets’ needs are different. Indications are that, using the same international marketing strategies on targeting domestic tourism market has implications on nature-based tourism resilience, and may reinforce the sector’s vulnerability to external pressures and shocks, such as the outbreak of pandemics. Keywords: Covid-19 pandemic, domestic tourism, international tourism, nature-based tourism, tourism resilience, tourism vulnerability 57

The application of CSR on eco-lodges to uplift rural livelihoods in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Refiloe Ntoi Lecturer Mangosuthu University of Technology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Nature Conservation, Umlazi, Durban, 4031, South Africa. E-mail: [email protected] Joram Ndlovu Professor University of KwaZulu-Natal, School of Social Sciences, Howard College Campus, 4001, Durban, South Africa. E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the commitment of businesses to contribute to sustainable economic development, working with employees, their families, the local community, and society at large to improve their quality of life. The concept is based on a business organization’s configuration of social responsibility principles, social responsiveness processes, policies, programs, and observable outcomes as they relate to the firm’s societal relationships. In South Africa private tourism businesses are faced with the challenge of establishing a business environment where their positive impacts on local communities and employees are maximized. In this paper, we discuss the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR)in poverty alleviation and its significance in uplifting rural livelihoods. A mixed methods approach was used for data collection and analysis. Purposive sampling was used to identify and target key informants, who held positions in the community, government, and eco-tourism businesses. From a total of 750 target population spread across KwaZulu-Natal, approximately 25% participated in the study, thus 218 participants in total. Eco-lodges are environmentally friendly accommodations that promote ecotourism, often located in rural areas, creating opportunities for the local communities. The results show that the relationship between tourism and society is complex and all the pro-poor needs are unlikely to be met through CSR alone. The application of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in eco-lodges can significantly uplift rural livelihoods by fostering sustainable development and positive socio-economic impacts. Eeco-lodges often focus on preserving the environment and promoting sustainable practices. This can lead to biodiversity conservation, protection of natural resources, and the revival of traditional sustainable livelihoods such as handicrafts and agriculture. Additionally, partnerships with local suppliers for food, crafts, and services further stimulate the local economy. The extent to which CSR can uplift rural livelihoods depends on the depth and longevity of commitment from eco-lodge operators. Sustainable development requires continuous engagement, transparent practices, and genuine efforts to empower local communities. Therefore, tourism organizations should adopt green practices in the procurement of tourism products and services. CSR initiatives associated with eco-lodges can invest in community development projects. These may include building schools, healthcare facilities, and clean water infrastructure, enhancing education and health standards in rural areas. Eeco-lodges contribute to rural economic growth through job creation. They employ residents in various roles such as hospitality, tour guiding, and maintenance, reducing unemployment rates and enhancing household incomes. Such responsible practices ensure a positive cycle of social and economic benefits for both the eco-lodges and the local communities they serve. However, the paper concludes that addressing poverty alleviation through CSR is inconclusive since the role of eco-lodge business in social development remains a contested issue with emerging patterns of vastly different factors affecting eco-lodge business operations. Keywords: eco-lodges, corporate social responsibility, sustainable tourism, poverty alleviation, environmental sustainability 58

Ecotourism Destination Sustainability: A Comparative Network Analysis in South African Biospheres Alexandra Gillies 3rd Year P/T PhD Student School of Business, Law and Digital Technologies, University of Winchester, United Kingdom Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Ecotourism, given its potential to benefit environment, community, culture and economy, is seen as a vital contributor to the sustainable development of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. Yet, targeting unique or sensitive ecosystems and local, traditional cultures, ecotourism, like other forms of tourism, can cause disruption. The nature of development and evolution of a tourism destination, has profound implications for all the destination stakeholders. The sustainability of the destination needs to be managed. Scholars emphasize the importance of managing sustainability using Management Tools, which are defined as, “management methods that … serve the purpose of implementing … sustainability”. Examples are: reporting frameworks, spreadsheets, audits, certificates and standards. In parallel, sustainability at the destination level, which has attracted more recent attention as the smallest possible unit for sustainability management, is increasingly linked to networks and the willingness of the collective of actors involved to share knowledge towards achieving common goals. Whilst acknowledging these parallel streams, there is a gap in the literature connecting these discourses in the context of destination sustainability. As sustainability scholars have noted – tools alone are insufficient, both tools and methods (processes) are needed. The aim of the study is to explore and gain a thorough understanding of how management tools and social networks co-contribute to ecotourism destination sustainability. Understanding UNESCO Biospheres as ecotourism destinations, and management tools and social networks as forms of sustainability governance, exploring the combined use of management tools and social networks comparatively, in the context of destination sustainability, will elucidate the co-contribution of these approaches, and the challenges, gaps and opportunities identified will inform recommendations and contribute to discourses on sustainability management tools, social networks and destination sustainability. This qualitative, mixed-method comparative case study is grounded in an emergent, constructionist epistemology and guided by an interpretivist perspective. Purposive Snowball sampling is used, and data collection uses surveys, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups for triangulation. Data analysis will use themed content and social network analysis techniques. Case study locations (ecotourism destinations) are three UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (Waterberg, Marico and Vhembe) in South Africa. Keywords: Ecotourism, destination sustainability, knowledge networks, sustainability networks, UNESCO biosphere, social network analysis Investigating place attachment as a cultural ecosystem service in South African national parks Tanya Erasmus PhD Candidate Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa Email: [email protected] Engela De Crom Associate Professor Department of Nature Conservation, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa Email: [email protected] 59

Mathilda Brand Senior Lecturer Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Ecosystem services are the tangible and intangible benefits people can obtain from visiting natural areas. Place attachment, an intangible benefit and part of cultural ecosystem services under the sense of place, has received ample attention but is still poorly understood. It is generally referred to as the bond or the relationship that a person form with a place which can either be an emotional (place identity) or a functional (place dependence) attachment. In this study, the focus was placed on the place attachment of visitors to six of South Africa’s national parks. Two parks were indicated as preferred and four as less preferred. Mixed method research was used where questionnaires and interviews were used for data gathering. For each park, we compared the type and level of place attachment using descriptive statistics from the quantitative data and themes derived through content analysis from qualitative data. Results showed that visitors’ overall attachment levels were higher in the preferred parks. Interestingly for all these parks, the emotional attachment was much higher than the functional attachment. However, the reasons for attachment at each park are unique and visitors to the respective parks form a unique emotional attachment. These reasons were determined by looking at the push and pull factors and the special experiences visitors ascribed to the parks. Place attachment reasons included loyalty, nature experiences, aesthetic features, animal sightings and close encounters forming part of place identity. Activities, amenities and accessibility are common features of place attachment and refer to place dependence. The findings offer insights into attachment in national parks and contribute to efforts to refine definitions and measurements of place attachment as a cultural ecosystem service. Understanding visitors’ attachment to the respective parks allows national park managers to implement improved management, marketing and conservation strategies. Keywords: Place attachment, cultural ecosystem services, national parks, mixed methods Theme: Tourism, policies and governance The Role of The District Municipality in The Development and Implementation of Tourism Policies at the O.R Tambo District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa Silwana, M Department of Tourism and Events Faculty of Business and Management Science Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa Dube, C. N Department of Tourism and Events Faculty of Business and Management Science Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa Email: [email protected] Silo, M. Department of Tourism and Events Faculty of Business and Management Science Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa Email: [email protected] 60

ABSTRACT Municipalities are at the lowest level of government, and it is there that the actual implementation of tourism policies takes place. District municipalities and communities globally often face poorly planned development projects resulting from inefficient and ineffective policy and planning implementation. One of the reasons for this is that there is, at times, a lack of participation by key stakeholders. The success of tourism development policies and their implementation rests on the involvement of all relevant stakeholders. The study adopted a qualitative research approach, whereby purposive and snowball sampling methods were used to identify the research sample from the research population. The research population included district municipality staff, regional and local tourism organisations, also known as tourism forums, tourism development agencies, and rural planning and economic development departments. Consequently, fourteen (14) semi-structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders from the district municipality, local municipalities, tourism organisations and the Eastern Cape Parks Tourism Agency. A thematic analysis technique was used to analyse the data. This paper focused on the role of the district municipality in the development and implementation of tourism policies at the O.R. Tambo District Municipality (ORTDM). The key findings from the study revealed that there is a lack of stakeholder collaboration in development and the implementation of tourism-related policies in O.R. Tambo District Municipality. Keywords: Municipality, tourism policies, stakeholder theory, tourism planning, development From crisis to recovery: Navigating sustainable strategies by hospitality service providers Martin Tshepho Chokoe School of Tourism and Hospitality College of Business and Economics University of Johannesburg Email: [email protected] Lihle Nkomo School of Tourism and Hospitality College of Business and Economics University of Johannesburg Email: [email protected] Erica Sao Joao School of Tourism and Hospitality College of Business and Economics University of Johannesburg Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT The global pandemic has had a negative impact on hospitality businesses because of governments imposing travel bans and restrictions. However, globally the world has continued a path with multiple uncertainties, which reinforces the necessity to reevaluate crisis management strategies. Due to shifting hospitality operations either resulting from a decreased demand globally for hospitality services or noticeable changes within the business model, there is a need to become more resilient to remain more sustainable. This study aimed to determine how the pandemic affected hospitality service providers and identified strategies operators have utilised that will improve crisis management going into the future. A qualitative study was conducted, with purposive sampling of hospitality and restaurant managers or owners within an area of Johannesburg with a total of 15 participants interviewed using a semi-structured interview design. The collected data was examined using a thematic analysis technique. The 61

research revealed that hospitality managers in a cost-cutting exercise reduced their costs by laying off workers, closing businesses, adapting business models and applying lockdown measures of social isolation and sanitization. Restaurant owners/managers were forced to trade according to government restrictions and be obedient to protocols; resulting in more costs incurred but with little revenue generated. Owners within the industry pleaded with the government for financial support to maintain their operations. The management implications of this research encourage a greater awareness of preparation for future pending crises and will be useful to hospitality business owners as they create contingency plans and resilience strategies. Keywords: Crisis management, hospitality operations, restaurants, pandemic, COVID-19, sustainability strategies The impacts of government-induced electricity load shedding, the exchange rate and other factors on the tourism sector in South Africa Daniel F. Meyer Professor School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa Email: [email protected] Natanya Meyer Associate Professor: DHET-NRF SARChI in Entrepreneurship Education, Department of Business Management School of Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Tourism has been recognised as a significant economic driver in developed and developing countries and regions. Therefore, the sector must be protected from external and internal negative impacts. These negative factors could include a lack of capacity for essential services such as electricity, a depreciating currency and high crime levels. South Africa has been selected as the study area because the tourism sector has declined and been affected by some of the above-listed factors. Therefore, the research aimed to assess the impact of reduced electricity supply, a depreciating currency and crime on the growth in the tourism sector. A quantitative research methodology was used to test the hypothesis that a lack of electricity, a depreciating currency, and higher crime levels negatively impact tourism development. An ARDL regression econometric model was used to assess both short and long-run impacts. The study results do have implications for all tourism regions in the world. Keywords: Exchange rate, load-shedding, South Africa, tourism. Governing tourism towards sustainability: Public-Private Partnerships and Corporate Social Responsibility in the Namibian Tourism Sector Mary Ellen Kimaro Senior Lecturer School of Science, University of Namibia, Namibia Email: [email protected] 62

ABSTRACT The Namibian government’s strategies and policies include the governance of the tourism sector through publicprivate partnerships (PPP) while utilizing corporate social responsibility (CSR) to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, the partners’ perceptions of their interactions and ideals in this partnership are unknown. An understanding of these can aid in stimulating and nurturing effective PPP while leveraging CSR to achieve sustainable goals. This qualitative study included informants at the government, tourism business associations and NGOs level. Findings indicated that despite the partners’ awareness of the policies, it was felt that there was a disconnection between these and the CSR practices. Limited communication, and insufficiencies in building social capital, were seen as some of the barriers to effective partnerships. However, progress on sustainable development was said to be evident, despite the paucity of mechanisms to measure progress. In conclusion, recommendations for effective partnerships were made by the study. Keywords: Tourism, governance, public-private partnerships, corporate social responsibility, sustainable development goals, Namibia. Incorporating cultural heritage into the local tourism development strategy in Kwa Ndebele: a systematic review Ayanda Dladla PhD Candidate University of KwaZulu-Natal, School of Social Sciences, Howard College, Durban, 4001 Email: [email protected] Joram Ndlovu Professor University of KwaZulu-Natal, School of Social Sciences, Howard College, Durban, 4001 Email: [email protected] Taemane Phoofolo Lecturer University of KwaZulu-Natal, School of Social Sciences, Howard College, Durban, 4001 Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Cultural heritage has grown tremendously as a niche tourism area in South Africa. There is evidence of an increase in the number of people visiting cultural heritage sites and attractions, particularly Kwa Ndebele in Mpumalanga. The village is an open-air living museum which is endowed with vibrant culture and unique artworks of colourful clothing, paintings and colourfully-decorated huts and traditional attires. The paper aims to examine the level of homogeneity in cultural heritage tourism and how different voices within them are selectively presented or re-interpreted by those in power. The paper seeks to understand better the level of local community participation in conservation and the sustainability of cultural heritage assets when used for tourism development. The results show that cultural heritage tourism can draw large numbers of tourists due to its primary significance to the community. Cultural heritage plays a crucial role in a local tourism development strategy by attracting visitors, preserving cultural identity, and driving economic growth within a region. Cultural heritage refers to the tangible and intangible aspects of a community’s traditions, customs, art, architecture, festivals, and history. It manifests through lived realities, places, and objects that give true meaning, the purpose of existence, and a sense of belonging to the Ndebele culture. Unique cultural attractions, such as historic sites, museums, traditional crafts, and performing arts, draw travellers looking to explore the distinct identity of a place, enriching their travel experiences. The sustainability of cultures can be used for positioning the destination for its food, cultural heritage landscape, artwork and history. 63

Promoting and preserving cultural heritage helps maintain a community’s identity and sense of belonging. By showcasing their traditions and history to visitors, locals are encouraged to take pride in their heritage, fostering a stronger sense of community and cultural continuity. However, tourism development has lagged because of conflicts of interest confronting different stakeholders within the local area. Visitors spend money on accommodations, food, transportation, and souvenirs, generating revenue for local businesses and creating employment opportunities in the tourism sector and related industries. There is an element of fear among the local communities that cultural integration may destroy the authenticity of local cultures and natural landscapes. Balancing the needs of visitors and the preservation of cultural authenticity is essential for the long-term success of cultural tourism as a driver of local development. Even though tourism may lead to social problems, integrating cultural heritage into local tourism development is complicated. Successful implementation of cultural heritage as a tourism strategy requires careful planning, community involvement, and sustainable practices to avoid negative impacts such as over-tourism or cultural commodification. When managed responsibly, it encourages the preservation of historical sites and traditions, ensuring that future generations can also benefit from and appreciate their cultural heritage. The paper concludes that a concerted effort must be made to minimise the negative consequences of cultural integration while unlocking local economic development opportunities for the growth of tourism and social good. Therefore, interactions between locals and visitors can lead to mutual respect, tolerance, and the exchange of ideas, promoting global peace and harmony. Keywords: Cultural heritage tourism, local knowledge, commodification, cultural conservation, sustainability Mission-oriented policy and tourism: refining the role of state in sustainable tourism governance? Aapo Lundén PhD Researcher Geography Research Unit, University of Oulu, Finland Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Mission-Oriented Innovation Policy (MIP), a term coined by Mariana Mazzucato, represents a focused approach to innovation designed to tackle contemporary societal challenges requiring coordinated action across different sectors. Primarily, MIP targets grand societal challenges, such as climate change, through novel technologies, institutional development, governance arrangements, and public-private partnerships. Thus, MIP’s main function is to harness frontier knowledge to meet pre-defined societal objectives, aligning innovation with societal missions and providing potentially a more operational framework for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Importantly, MIP emphasises the state’s role in proactively shaping markets and demand, fostering cross-sectoral collaboration to achieve specific outcomes. MIP holds considerable potential within the complex, multidimensional landscape of tourism. The sector’s multifaceted nature, especially with respect to sustainability issues, requires stronger alignment across multiple scales and governance areas to achieve transformative change (e.g., decarbonisation). Thus, within the MIP framework, the state’s role becomes critical in coordinating and steering tourism development, extending its traditional role of promoting tourism growth to stimulate innovation aimed at tackling societal challenges and directing resources towards selected priorities. In this sense, the state’s role under MIP can be summarised as choosing “picking the willing” over “picking the winner,” focusing on those ready to drive towards goals rather than only on those currently successful. The active state involvement under MIP leads potentially to significant implications for more sustainable tourism governance. This paradigm shift challenges the traditional understanding of environmental policy integration in tourism. The state, no longer a passive facilitator, becomes a key player shaping the sector’s environmental sustainability in alignment with broader societal goals. The MIP paradigm thereby reframes the state’s function, shifting its role from facilitator to a dynamic agent of change, breathing new life into discussions on environmental policy integration and state intervention in tourism. Given the urgency of societal decarbonization and biodiversity loss, traditional state neutrality in tourism governance has been largely insufficient. Therefore, MIP emerges as a potential orchestrating mechanism within tourism governance. It promises to enhance the effectiveness of environmental regulation enforcement and to foster a more transformative impact on the sector.This presentation will investigate the application of MIP in the realm of sustainable tourism and its governance. It will draw examples from previous and existing “mission”- led political projects, such as rebuilding initiatives, sectoral strategies, and funding strategies. The applicability of these 64

examples in the context of tourism will be further explored. Particular attention will be paid to the potential oversights and unintended consequences of applying MIP in varied and complex local contexts. The analysis will further scrutinize the constraints of MIP and the intricacies of state interventions and a more “active” state, considering its potential for oversimplification of the multifaceted reality of sustainable tourism and its diverse meanings and applications. Keywords: Mission-oriented policy, sustainable tourism, tourism governance, environmental policy, state role Theme: Sustainable tourism and hospitality education and learning Challenges and Prospects of Work-Integrated Learning in Hospitality Training and Education in Botswana: A case of Botho University’s Dual Learning Model Tonderai Vumbunu Faculty of Hospitality and Sustainable Tourism, Botho University, Botswana Email: [email protected] Oliver Chikuta School of International Hospitality and Dietary Culture, Nanjing Tech University Pujiang Institute, China Email: [email protected] Sethunya Mogami Faculty of Hospitality and Sustainable Tourism, Botho University, Botswana Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Universities require to constantly orient curriculum to suit the contemporary environment due to increased competition, technological change, and the need for competitive graduates. Based on this background and desire to enhance graduate employability through acquisition of requisite skills and competences, the Faculty of Hospitality and Sustainable Tourism at Botho University in 2021, adopted a Germany Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) model known as the Dual Learning approach. This apprenticeship-based model entails students spending half of each semester on campus and the other half in industry such that upon completion of their 4-year programme graduates would have spent equal amounts of time (two years) on campus and industry. The approach is envisioned to enable seamless transition to professional practice. Being a pioneer programme in the country (and perhaps in the region), there is limited information regarding the effectiveness of the Dual model, particularly in Botswana’s context. Basing on experiential and social learning theories, the study therefore offers a comprehensive evaluation of student and industry experiences and perspectives relating to dynamics at workplace and balancing professional work and academic pursuits. Experiential learning theory (ELT) is grounded on the connection between theory and practice focusing on three components learning, knowing and doing. It is based theories of foundational scholars such as Piaget, Dewey and Lewin. ELT is defined as a process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experiences. This entails active student engagement through multiple approaches such as field trips, internships, work-based learning, case studies, simulations and apprenticeships. Social learning occurs when human beings learn from one another through social interactions, observation, memorisation, and imitation. In Dual learning settings learners work with designated supervisors throughout the study period. Given the high level of interaction between the learners, supervisors and other employees the three general principles of social learning theory observation, imitation and modelling can be effectively applied to evaluate experiences and perspectives. Data will be collected through in-depth interviews with students and industry stakeholders. Eight purposefully 65

selected training officers from the dual partners (hotels) will be interviewed. Twenty-seven students who are undergoing the dual leaning program will also be interviewed using focus groups. The students will be put in four focus group panels according to their divisions for dual learning (two for first and second year respectively). The data will be analysed using thematic analysis. The study is significant in that it forms part of initial research to explore relevance and impact of the dual learning model in a country striving to minimise the industry-academia divide and competitiveness of hospitality workforce traditionally regarded as low. Given that dual learning is in its infancy, findings will be pivotal in enhancing curriculum, strengthening industry-academia co-operation and crafting strategies to effectively improve competitiveness of graduates. Keywords: Work integrated learning, graduate competitiveness, experiential learning, student and industry perspectives Transformational challenges within the tourism industry: A focus on marketing skills Konanani Constance Thwala Senior Lecturer School of Tourism & Hospitality, University of Mpumalanga, South Africa [email protected] Elmarie Slabbert Director School of Tourism Management, Tourism Research in Economic Environs & Society, North-West University, South Africa [email protected] ABSTRACT Tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries globally. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are major players in the South African tourism industry. However, they remain unsuccessful due to challenges related to capitalisation, marketing awareness, and management malpractices. Although these weaknesses are widely known, a major gap remains regarding solutions and recommendations. This study investigated the application of marketing mediums by SMEs in the South African tourism sector. A qualitative approach underpinned by an exploratory design was followed in collecting data by interviewing 30 owners/managers of tourism establishments in the accommodation sector. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The study identified three themes facing SMEs in the accommodation sector. The first is marketing challenges which relate to the lack of dedicated personnel to manage the marketing efforts and the absence of marketing budgets. The second theme is marketing effectiveness, which pertains to the use of tools such as social media usage and online strategies. The third theme concerns the selection of marketing mediums to increase the levels of business. The growth of the tourism industry can be enhanced by improving the marketing and management of tourism organisations, developing an understanding of both the factors contributing to marketing effectiveness and the selection of marketing mediums. Keywords: Tourism, transformation, marketing skills, challenges, tourism products, marketing tools 66

Theme: Tourism and community development The potentials of rural-based tourism among South African Communities around Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park Nelisile Z. Mgabhi Assistant Lecturer Department of Recreation and Tourism University of Zululand E-mail: [email protected] ORCiD number: 0000-0002-6958-2585 Nomfundo S. Mzimela Master’s student Department of Recreation and Tourism University of Zululand E-mail: [email protected] ORCiD number: 0009-0003-2478-636X Zinhle Mhlongo Master’s student Department of Recreation and Tourism University of Zululand E-mail: [email protected] ORCiD number: 0000-0002-6261-1582 ABSTRACT Rural tourism has the potential to be a driver of economic development in many rural areas. Rural tourism can help to maintain a balanced and healthy economy by creating tourism related jobs, revenues, and taxes, all while protecting and improving the destination’s sociocultural, historical, natural, and built resources. The aim of this study conducted in South African context was to investigate the potentials of rural-based tourism resources in the communities surrounding Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) in KwaZulu-Natal Province. Using a qualitative research method hanging on the explorative and interpretative research paradigms, and purposive research sampling, 24 participants were selected for data collection purposes. The selected participants participated in three (3) focus group conversations, with eight (8) members of each group. The data collected was analysed using content analysis. The results revealed that local communities around HiP lacked access to basic infrastructure like good road networks, access to clean water and sanitation. The results further showcased that residents in surrounding communities have interest in engaging in rural-based tourism, but they require support in terms of financial resources and necessary knowledge to start participating in rural tourism. This study has recommendations for the management of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, Mtubatuba Local Municipality, and the Department of Tourism KwaZuluNatal. One of the key suggestions is the development of resource-efficient rural tourism infrastructure, as well as initiatives to foster stakeholder networks and the adoption of rural tourism business practices, in the study area. Keywords: Rural tourism, rural tourism resources, local communities, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa 67

The Role of NPOs in empowering marginalised women through souvenir making in Alexandra Township Thandeka Charmaine Ngubeni Lecturer School of Tourism and Hospitality, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, Bunting Road Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa, Email: [email protected] Milena Ivanovic Emeritus School of Tourism and Hospitality, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, Bunting Road Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa. Email: [email protected] Maisa Correia Adinolfi Lecturer School of Tourism and Hospitality, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, Bunting Road Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) play an important role in creating favourable socio-economic conditions for the empowerment of marginalised women residing in the poorest townships in South Africa. The case study explores the role of the NPOs in empowering marginalised women through souvenir-making before and post-COVID-19 in Alexandra Township in Johannesburg. Methodologically, this is a comparative study based on an exploratory, qualitative field-based research using the four-phase sequential design. In the first facts-finding or discovery phase, three craft-based NPOs were identified, namely: Banna Blankets, Siyondla Umphakathi and Umquele weAfrika. Banna Blankets consists of 30 women, skilled in sewing, crocheting and pattern making, they make shopping bags, blankets and masks. Siyondla Umphakathi consists of 32 women having skills in patching, sewing, crocheting and knitting, they make bed covers, pillowcases, traditional dolls, blankets, winter hats, scarves and masks. Umquele weAfrika Banna Blankets consists of 2 women skilled in sewing, crocheting and beading, they make traditional dolls. The data was collected before and after the pandemic. The data collected before the pandemic employed focus groups with 15 women associated with three NPO and non-participant observations. The data was collected again in June 2023 with selected respondents from the same groups to account for the role of NPOs during and after the pandemic. Thematic Content Analysis and triangulation were used in analysing the data. The pre-COVID-19 results revealed that the role of NPOs in the empowerment of women making souvenirs is manifested under three dimensions, namely, economic, social and psychological. For instance, economic empowerment leads to financial independence, access to tourist markets and access to financial support services. Social empowerment means the development of necessary skills and provision of training opportunities, social cohesion through sharing of skills and knowledge with other women, and provision of production resources, such as material, transport, and machines. Psychological empowerment means women can better deal with everyday life stressors while restoring their selfconfidence thus souvenir-making is considered therapeutic. The post-COVID-19 results reveal the activities of the NPOs during and after the pandemic especially the ways of supporting women during the crises, to assess the level of resilience of the NPOs. The findings of this study offer useful information to the South African government, NPOs, and various women initiatives to ensure ongoing support of the marginalised women involved in souvenir making in South African townships during times of crisis. Keywords: Women’s empowerment, marginalised women, souvenir-making, non-profit organisations, Alexandra, COVID-19, comparative study 68

Community adaption increases resilience and sustainability Claire Fordred PhD candidate Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa [email protected] Kevin Mearns Professor Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa [email protected] ABSTRACT It is thought that vulnerable communities are at higher risk from change, however, they are the most adaptable to change to sustain a livelihood. An approach to addressing the multidimensions of vulnerable communities is to consider the core factors classifying this vulnerability. Core elements in this regard, are strengthening livelihoods, preparedness for disasters, adaptive capacity, and the conservation of the environment. A socio-ecological resilience approach is ideal for investigating these core elements as it comprises a comprehensive consideration from a socio-cultural, biophysical, and environmental approach. Providing an analytical attribute of sustainability, thus increasing rural resilience in reducing socio-ecological vulnerability. Socio-ecological systems include human communities interacting with environments, with reciprocal interdependence with inevitably the transformability and ability to create new adaptive systems. Adapted systems that are more resilient for present situations and future corresponding circumstances with the capacity to retain the same functions, structure and identity whilst experiencing, absorbing, and adapting to shocks. Rural communities have learnt to live with change and uncertainty and self-organised opportunities to sustain their livelihood. However, vulnerable communities unlock ecosystem vulnerability which compromises further internal and external adaption within the system, in this case, a community and the surrounding area. Complex adaptive systems look at three main traits to be more resilient, the ability to deal with change, the ability to reorganise and to adapt. Therefore, the more resilient the socio-ecological system is, the higher the chance of sustainability. A socio-ecological resilience approach can be applied as a guide in the decisionmaking process, an approach to understand and predict transformation from past events and situational context to make it operational within all its complexities. Keywords: Vulnerability, adaption, resilience, communities, sustainability ‘The Chuene’ Leisure Tourism and the Making of a Black Middle Class, 1984 – 2002 Laura Phillips Senior Lecturer School of Social Science, North West University, South Africa. Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT In mid-1984 ‘The Chuene’ opened its doors. Set against a picturesque dam 15 kilometres away from Lebowakgomo, The Chuene was the first leisure resort in the Lebowa Bantustan, one of the ten ethnic Homelands established by the apartheid state as part its grand segregationist project. In his opening speech, Cedric Phatudi, Chief Minister of Lebowa, suggested that the new resort was well timed. Local demand would be driven, according to Phatudi, by Lebowa residents’ “increasing leisure time, greater disposable income, higher educational level, [and] changing lifestyles.” While there has been significant writing about the forced removals and political repression in the 69

Bantustans, more recently scholars have acknowledged that this violence formed part of a broader effort at social engineering (Ally and Lissoni 2018). In particular, many Bantustans leaders were committed to the creation of a black middle class, seen as a way to legitimize the ethnic Homelands and make them into feasible ‘independent states’ (Phillips 2018). This paper examines the project of middle-class formation in the Bantustans by exploring the discourses around The Chuene - which had a short lived but very public life - as the site for Bantustan’s middle classes to holiday. Scholars have conceptualized Bantustan tourism primarily as part of the effort to weaponize a ‘development discourse’ to legitimize the ethnic Homelands (van der Merwe 2017, Drummond et al 2022, Rogerson 2022). By merging these insights with Jacob Dlamini’s writings on black leisure under apartheid (2020), this paper argues that the relationship between nation-making and ‘leisure tourism’ offer important insights into state ideologies and their related class projects. Further, in tracking the collapse of The Chuene, I show how the nature of a state-driven class project has changed in South Africa’s rural provinces in recent times. Keywords: Bantustans, middle-class, leisure tourism, development discourse, ethno-nationalism The development and testing of a regional tourism index Daniel F. Meyer Professor School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Tourism is a leading economic sector and allows for the inflow of capital, similar to an export industry. Analysing the sector with all its components is essential for improved strategy development and implementation. The use of indexes has been successful in the assessment and simplification of complicated economic situations. A gap in research and regional measurement tools has been identified in measuring regional tourism. This study aimed to formulate and test a regional tourism index. The study region was the Gauteng province in South Africa. The methodological process included an assessment of existing tourism indexes, identification and selection of variable or data that represents a progression in tourism, the normalisation of all selected variables, and lastly, the formulation of the composite index with sub-indexes. The development of the index was based on the availability of data, and the index could be used for regional assessment on a global scale. The importance of this regional tourism index is in developing informed strategies and policies. Keywords: Gauteng, index development, regional development, tourism Theme: Digitalisation and technological solutions for sustainable tourism Building Resilience in Tourism: A Framework for Aligning Digital Marketing Strategies with Tourists’ Needs and Expectations Mavis Chamboko-Mpotaringa School of Tourism and Hospitality, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, Email: [email protected] Tembi M. Tichaawa Academic head: Tourism School of Tourism and Hospitality, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, Email: [email protected] 70

ABSTRACT Uncertainty and disruptions are not new to the tourism industry, which has faced unprecedented challenges over the years due to economic crises, political conflicts, climate change, and pandemics such as Covid-19. As the tourism industry recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic challenges and moves toward resilience, there is a need to develop sustainable pathways for tourism transformation. This study proposes a framework for aligning tourism-related digital marketing strategies with sustainable tourists’ needs and expectations to build resilience in tourism. The study adopted a mixed-methods research design and used a sample of 13 tourism marketers and 401 domestic tourists. The findings resulted in developing a framework designed to help tourism stakeholders develop digital marketing strategies that effectively promote tourism destinations and tourist experiences aligned with the needs and expectations of tourists. The framework consists of four main components: understanding consumer behaviour, tourists’ needs and expectations, developing sustainable digital marketing strategies, and measuring the effectiveness of digital marketing tools and platforms. This study argues that by aligning digital marketing strategies with sustainable tourists’ needs and expectations, tourism stakeholders can build resilience in the tourism industry and contribute to its long-term sustainability. The paper concludes by offering practical recommendations for implementing the framework in tourism planning, marketing, and development and provides suggestions for future research. Keywords: Consumer behaviour, digital marketing, tourism, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), updated DeLone and McLean Information Systems (D and M IS) success model The Role of social media in promoting sustainable small-scale events: A study of Local festivals and celebrations Precious Mazhande PhD Student School of Tourism and Hospitality, University of Johannesburg, South Africa Email: [email protected] Tembi Tichaawa Professor & Academic Head: Tourism School of Tourism and Hospitality, University of Johannesburg, South Africa Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Social media has transformed the way events are promoted and marketed, particularly for small-scale events such as local festivals and celebrations. Small-scale events can contribute to the resilience of local communities by promoting social, economic, and environmental sustainability Zimbabwe has a rich cultural heritage, and the country celebrates a number of festivals and events throughout the year that reflects its diverse ethnic groups and traditions. This study aims to explore the role of social media in promoting sustainable small-scale events and how it can influence event attendance and community engagement. A mixed-methods approach will be used. Online surveys and interviews with event organizers and attendees will be conducted. The study will focus on a range of small-scale events, including community festivals, music concerts, and cultural celebrations, in both urban and rural settings. The events include Intwasa Arts Festival, Chimanimani Arts Festival, Gwanda International Gospel Music Festivals, Shoko Festival, Zimbabwe International Book Fair and Jikinya Traditional dance festival. Data will be collected from a total of 120 attendees and 15 event organizers .The research will analyze the social media strategies used by event organizers, the impact of social media on event attendance and visitor experience, and the role of social media in promoting community engagement, environmental sustainability and local economic development. Findings from this research will have implications for event marketing and promotion, particularly for small-scale events, and will contribute to the growing body of knowledge on the use of social media to effectively reach a wider audience and enhance attendee experience in the tourism and events industry. Key words: Sustainable small scale events, festivals, social media 71

Theme: Climate and environmental change impacts and resilience Tourism marketing under NetZero emissions: A case of Sun City hotel Peter Chihwai Department of Tourism and Integrated Communications, Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa. Postdoctoral researcher Email: [email protected] /[email protected] Kaitano Dube Faculty of Human Sciences, Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa. Research Professor [email protected] Godwell Nhamo Exxaro Chair in Climate and Sustainability Transitions, University of South Africa, P.O. Box 392, UNISA 0003, Pretoria, South Africa. Exxaro Chair in climate and Sustainability Transitions Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT The global tourism marketing strategies have been shifting, particularly under COVID-19. Virtual marketing and even virtual tourism raised to new levels. However, while COVID-19 brought new marketing disruptions in the tourism sector, alongside the pandemic was a global traction towards carbon neutrality, with the rallying point following the Paris Agreement of 2015 and the Glasgow Pack being the NetZero emissions by 2050. Drawing from the Ad Net Zero Guide 10-Point Plan for businesses to infuse climate action (SDG 13) into their advertising operations, this paper utilises annual and other company reports from Sun International to check the status quo. The 10-Point Plan involves getting top-level buy-in, establishing the Green Team, gather data and setting carbon reduction targets, measure, reducing emissions, offsetting, establishing scientific and verifiable targets, signing up to Ad Net Zero Initiative, enabling staff to take Ad Net Zero training, and the use of other resources under Ad Net Zero Initiative. The findings reveal that generally, most hotel chains have harnessed the 10-Point Plan, although this may not be explicitly credited to the 2020 Ad Net Zero Initiative. The paper recommends that the entities under consideration keep improving on their commitment to the Climate Action SDG and also market on the ground initiatives widely for peer learning and to save the environment, lives and livelihoods. Keywords: Marketing, tourism, destinations, climate change, NetZero, carbon neutrality Tourism stakeholders’ views of climate change impacts and adaptation strategies Adjnu Damar Ladkoo Senior Lecturer Department of Management, University of Mauritius, Mauritius Email: [email protected] 72

Robin Nunkoo Professor Department of Management, University of Mauritius, Mauritius Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT This study aims to understand the views of tourism stakeholders on climate change and the adaptation and mitigation strategies of Mauritius, which is part of the small island development states (SIDS) network. Literatures suggest that the impacts of climate change are prominent in SIDS because of their distinctive characteristics. The research questions were: (i) what are the views of tourism stakeholders on the impacts of climate change on the tourism industry? (ii) what is the level of tourism stakeholders’ involvement in addressing climate change impacts? and (iii) which climate change adaptation and mitigation measures are adopted by tourism development stakeholders? This study uses an interpretivist approach based on the grounded theory to capture the context specific dynamics. Selective sampling, in the form of maximum variation and purposive samplings, was used. Interviews were done with 30 participants from the public and private sectors of the tourism industry and the civil society. Application of the theoretical sampling led to the straining of extreme cases from the set of 30 respondents, steering the re-interviewing of 10 respondents which thus shows the merging of the funnel and hourglass strategies as an innovative element in this study. The data were transcribed and coded on NVIVO 12 Plus software for attribution of nodes, known as themes. This study develops a framework of tourism stakeholders’ views on climate change where meanings of climate change, type of relationship, motivations and barriers are highlighted for recognising measures that would encourage tourism stakeholders to proactively, voluntarily and legally become climate friendly. This research could capture the challenges posed by Covid-19 too. This research paper emphasizes on findings captured from the first dataset, which is the first set of interview. While the detrimental impacts of climate change are known, this study interestingly sheds light on the facilitator-effect of climate change for tourism development. The capture of the diverging views about the impacts of climate change on the tourism sector and the emergence of the dual consequences of the barriers encountered by tourism stakeholders contribute to the value of this research. Curiously, the latter also shows that while some respondents are commonly motivated and have common climate actions, other tourism stakeholders have unique motivations to pursue distinctive climate actions. While capturing the measures, adopted by the targeted respondents of this study, to combat climate change and mitigate its effects, it has been noted that one category of tourism stakeholder is keener to pursue climate actions. Overall, this study reinforces the need for better preparedness and also triggers the identification of flexible and pandemic-friendly climate actions. Future research can explore areas of collaboration and support that can help pursue climate actions in chaotic situations like the COVID-19 pandemic. Keywords: Tourism, stakeholders, climate, adaptation, mitigation Hailstorms damage and resilience-building in South Africa’s key tourism destinations and attractions Catherine Kifworo Post Doctoral Researcher, Tourism Management Faculty of Human Sciences, Vaal University of Technology, Andries Potgieter Blvd, Vanderbijlpark, 1911, South Africa, Email: [email protected] Kaitano Dube Professor, Ecotourism Management Faculty of Human Sciences, Vaal University of Technology, Andries Potgieter Blvd, Vanderbijlpark, 1911, South Africa, Email: [email protected] 73

Godwell Nhamo Exxaro Chair in Climate and Sustainability Transitions, University of South Africa, P.O. Box 392, UNISA 0003, Pretoria, South Africa. Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT There is growing evidence that climate change has resulted in increased hailstorms in many parts of the world, including South Africa. Following the Second European Hail Workshop in April 2017 in Bern, Switzerland, deliberations addressed five thematic areas regarding challenges and advances in hail research. Among the thematic focus areas were convection and hail in a changing climate, hail damage and hail damage prevention, and nowcasting and forecasting. While hailstorms have attracted attention from the insurance industry, as claims come in for damaged buildings, crops, general equipment, agriculture infrastructure, vehicles and more, the tourism sector remains behind in documenting impacts and remedial measures thereof. In view of the ensuing gap, this paper seeks to profile climate change hailstorm-related occurrences and damages over the last 15 years. It also seeks to document how selected key South African tourism destinations like the Sun City have dealt with the phenomena and their level of preparedness for future incidents. The research uses methodologies including Geographical hailstormrelated Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, field observations, archival and weather data, surveys and interviews. The results show that there has been significant hailstorm damage to some tourist destinations and attractions in the country. It also emerged that while hailstorms are increasing, there are no effective ways of early warning systems in place. Furthermore, the irregularity of hailstorms has led to complacency, with many destinations dealing with the situation when it arises. This has led to massive economic and non-economic losses, which the industry must mitigate. To this end, the paper recommends proactive measures that build resilience in the operations of the tourism industry by addressing preparedness, response and recovery from hailstorm damage. The study further suggests building hailstorm-resilient infrastructure, as well as the development of protocols and procedures for dealing with such unannounced events now and in the future. Keywords: Hail, hailstorms, tourism, destinations, climate change, resilience, adaptation Theme: Tourism resilience and recovery A comparative analysis of responses to the covid-19 tourism disruptions among small, medium and micro enterprises in coastal locations: Case studies of Cape Town and Durban, South Africa Ntwademela S. Perry PhD Candidate School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Email: [email protected] Amanda Gumede Lecturer School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Email: [email protected] 74

Suveshnee Munien Associate Professor Department of Ecology and Environmental Studies, The Water School, Florida Gulf Coast University, United States of America Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Tourism businesses at specific destinations play a strategic role across the tourism value chain, contributing to job creation and local economic development. The economic downturn associated with COVID-19 had and continues to have severe implications for the tourism sector that came to a halt as global and national travel was curtailed to control the spread of the virus. Coastal and Marine Tourism (CMT) sites in South Africa are regarded as the form of tourism that has the highest demand with the largest concentration of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). The reasons for the focus on SMMEs are twofold: they make up the majority of the businesses in the tourism sector, and they are most vulnerable to disruptions. While there has been an increase in research on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses, there is limited research on CMT businesses that adopts a comparative approach. Cape Town and Durban were purposively chosen because they are key CMT destinations. A theoretical framework that combines stakeholder theory, post-structuralist theory, and diffusion theory is utilized. In this framework, SMMEs are considered the primary stakeholders, while organizational and business culture are emphasized by post-structuralist theory. Furthermore, diffusion theory is employed to analyse the SMMEs’ ability and potential to adapt to change. What ‘capabilities’ tourism SMMEs have and which are critical to enable successful responsiveness to the COVID-19 pandemic is a key focus of the study. The capabilities approach provides the framework to assess the impacts of new and emerging technologies that have characterized responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The methodological approach adopted was the survey approach. Specifically, 200 surveys were conducted with SMMEs at purposively selected beach/ coastal tourism locations in Durban and Cape Town, providing an overall total of 400, which enabled a comparative analysis to be undertaken. The study’s primary findings indicate significant differences in the profiles of SMMEs based on factors such as location, turnover, business formality, employee count, and years in operation that affect the SMMEs’ capabilities and responses to cope with the COVID-19 disruptions. Various SMMEs adopted diverse tools and measures to deal with the pandemic, including employee changes, organizational adjustments, and financial changes. The results demonstrate that the impact of COVID-19 varied across different types of SMMEs and at different locations, with those in Cape Town adopting more strategies and being more likely to recover sooner. Those SMMEs with limited resources and support were more vulnerable. Additionally, some types of businesses were forced to implement strategies such as retrenchments and utilizing personal and business savings, leaving them more vulnerable in the future. The study recommends interventions such as providing funding and supporting train to better position tourism SMMEs to be resilient in a world where disruptions are likely to be experienced more regularly in the face of climate change and economic recessions. Keywords: COVID-19 disruptions, SMMEs, Responses, CMT, Cape Town, Durban Regenerative tourism- a Finnish perspective Annika Konttinen Senior lecturer Degree program in Tourism, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Finland Email: [email protected] Eva Holmberg Senior lecturer Degree program in Aviation business, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Finland Email: [email protected] 75

ABSTRACT Before the pandemic tourism as an industry was dominated by discussions about mass tourism, overtourism and huge growth expectations. Even if the request for a more sustainable tourism has been around for a long time, during the pandemic this request became even more evident and it was acknowledged that sustainability thinking in tourism is too focused on maximizing growth and serving the needs of the tourists and the companies offering tourism related services. Models focusing on a resilient and sustainable approach supporting local communities, job creation as well the heritage were developed as it was perceived that sustainability thinking tourism. One of these model suggested as a approach for post-pandemic recovery is regenerative tourism. The sustainable tourism concept has been criticised for being vague and not resonating well with the overall sustainable development idea. There is, however, also a lack of a clear definition of regenerative tourism. A regenerative approach to tourism highlights for instance often tourism as a healing force and change agent to revitalize human and natural ecosystems. Anna Pollock (2019), the most well-known expert of regenerative tourism, sees regenerative tourism as something bolder and more inspiring than sustainable tourism. Regenerative tourism aims not just to do less harm, but to go on and restore the harm that our system has already done to the natural world, and by using nature’s principles”. Regenerative tourism thus means something more than just sustainability as it strongly highlights inclusivity and the giving back instead of just doing less harm. As regenerative tourism is a relatively new concept and mainly developed in countries such as New Zealand and Australia this study aims at gaining an understanding of the potential of regenerative tourism as an approach for tourism development in Finland. The study is a work in progress with an explorative case study approach as a starting point. The preliminary results show that in a Finnish context regenerative tourism is about collaborative and inclusive tourism planning, doing good and getting local places flourishing rather as destination rather than focusing on continuous growth. Keywords: sustainable tourism, regenerative tourism, Finland Weathering the Storm: a case study of tourism resilience in Small Island Developing States (SIDs) Afiya Holder Assistant Professor/Lecturer Edinburgh Napier University, The Business School, Scotland, UK. Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Historically, Small Island Developing States (SIDs) have been symbolically perceived as white elephants needing to be saved due to high tourism dependency and vulnerability in the face of crisis. Yet, during crisis, SIDs are placed at the bottom of the list to receive relief aid. Nonetheless, despite challenges a number of Small Island Developing States (SIDs) continuously rebound time after time post-crisis and pandemics historically. For instance, Caribbean destinations have had to weather many storms from hurricanes, earthquakes, and more recently the coronavirus pandemic. However, despite vulnerability and lack of resources, SIDs have developed resiliency by applying adaptation strategies underpinned by social capital and cohesion. Drawing from concepts of Bourdieu’s Theory of Social Capital (Aldrich, 2017), this qualitative case study examines tourism resilience in key Caribbean destinations. Semi-structured interviews with destination tourism stakeholders to uncover resiliency and adaptation efforts applied during the recent COVID-19 crisis. The initial findings extend beyond Bourdieu’s theory to include elements of symbolic and cultural capital that are also linked to tourism providers rebounding post-crisis and post-pandemic. In addition, these variables contribute to trickle-on effects of recognition and positive awareness in fostering, maintaining, and enhancing social capital. These findings have practical relevance for developing adaptive and resilient approaches for risk and disaster recovery. Keywords: tourism resilience, Caribbean, social capital 76

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