Introduction
Tourists make a significant contribution to the South African economy.
Tourism is a fast-paced and competitive industry that requires businesses to be able to change quickly to meet the changing needs and wants of their customers. In this industry, customer satisfaction, safety, and enjoyment are especially important. Wildlife is very important for the tourism industry in South Africa. It gives local communities located close to or surrounding protected areas chances and benefits, while also boosting the economy. Therefore, South Africa’s responsible wildlife tourism industry focuses not only on protecting wildlife and making it more affordable and accessible for more people but also on how important it is to respect the people who live in these beautiful places. Tourism can play an important role as a source of growth and poverty alleviation in South Africa.
Unfortunately, human development and society cause extensive habitat loss in areas which were previously occupied by wildlife, forcing wildlife to be confined to captivity or even becoming extinct. In many of these areas, issues of human-wildlife conflict have been a major cause of concern especially when it comes to hunting and poaching, but long-term wildlife conservation can only be achieved by understanding the history of land use, economic needs, and community culture.
Habitat loss is a major concern in terms of wildlife.
The key to tourism in South Africa is making use of both sustainable conservation and community development. This is where the hospitality side of the industry plays a major role. Hospitality means taking care of and entertaining guests, visitors, or strangers in a friendly and generous way. Lodges are established in these vulnerable communities surrounding protected areas which house tourists and visitors and enable them a first-hand experience of the wildlife. These lodges require a significant workforce and employment can be established in the local communities. This safari lodge model plays an important role in improving the following aspects:
- Improves local employment.
- Capital investment.
- Local procurement.
- Biodiversity conservation.
- Corporate social responsibility.
- Public-private partnerships assist public-protected areas to move from international donor finance to a domestic economy.
- Long-term, mutually beneficial cooperative enterprises give communities a local income and protect their land rights.
Not only does the tourism industry positively impact the community and economy, but also the status of the wildlife species. As tourists are attracted to these nature reserves or game lodges, a focus is placed on the well-being of the animals as this is the main point of attraction for foreigners. Wildlife species which are scarce and endangered are protected more as funds have become available through the industry to conserve these species. Reserve owners and managers intently focus on the management of the wildlife species and healthy populations to sustain the tourist attraction which draws people to the reserve.
As the saying goes, “Along with great power comes great responsibility.” The future and outcome of our wildlife are in our hands as these animals are completely vulnerable. Even though we have an amazing opportunity and are so fortunate to be able to have access to and experience these within the borders of our country. However, if we do not take the responsibility of conservation seriously, the generations to follow will likely not experience many of these amazing sights.
In this Hospitality and Tourism (I) unit, we will look at the basic overview and introduction of what the industry is about and the different sectors which are related to the tourism industry. In Hospitality and Tourism (II), we will delve deeper into what the different roles of the departments and services within the hospitality industry include, as well as how to ensure customer satisfaction and cultural awareness when dealing with visitors.
Trends Impacting the Tourism Industry in SA
In the tourism industry, certain trends impact and affect the industry. These trends should be monitored and planned for to ensure the best possible outcome even though they may have a negative impact on the tourism industry. Some of these trends will be discussed below.
A. Disease Outbreaks
Certain disease outbreaks impact the tourism industry.
Over the past recent years, the outbreak of the Coronavirus had a major impact on the tourism industry as the national and international tourism industry was brought to a complete halt for an extended period. The South African economy relies to a large extent on the tourism industry as a lot of international tourists come to SA to have an African experience and in doing so boost the economy. Many of the places which rely to a large extent on international tourists had a tough time staying afloat.
Other diseases such as Malaria, Foot and Mouth disease, Yellow Fever, and Ebola to name a few also impact the tourism industry.
B. Township tourism
Township tours enable tourists to experience the local culture.
Foreigners want to experience the rich and authentic culture of the local townships. Guided tours take the travellers through the local communities to experience and see first-hand the way the locals live and stay in traditional housing, the type of food they eat, their culture and heritage, and traditional entertainment as well as buy some curios from local artists. This trend offers an excellent opportunity to boost the local economy of the township or village as small business owners and entrepreneurs can receive an income.
C. Climatic Conditions
Severe climatic conditions can prevent guests from travelling to their destination or cause severe damage to roads and infrastructure.
Unfortunately, this industry is quite heavily reliant on climatic conditions which we are unable to control. Environmental disasters such as floods can either inhibit travellers from reaching their destination as roads are closed or flushed away or in extreme cases, the lodges and infrastructure could potentially be damaged and uninhabitable for some time. This has an impact on the economic outcome of the industry and lodge. Furthermore, other environmental situations such as fires, droughts and tornadoes or strong winds can also negatively impact the tourism sector.
D. Politics
The political stability of the country has a major effect on the tourism sector. International travellers and foreigners are much more reluctant to travel to SA when they hear about some of our political ventures such as national strikes, xenophobia (the dislike against people of other countries), racism attacks, farmers being murdered and so on. Many times, we who live in the country have become so accustomed to it and almost accept it as “normal”, even though it is far from normal or acceptable, but we do not live in constant fear of it. However, this is the type of news which are being spread on an international level and makes foreigners fear for their lives when they think of coming to SA.
The political stability of our country affects whether tourists will travel to SA or not.
On a local side, these political agendas can interfere with the lower-level workforce which is employed at the lodges and who are responsible for important roles such as housekeeping, security, and general maintenance. Taxi strikes can hinder the workforce from getting to work, or government workers and or farm labourers can go on strikes demanding an increase in salaries. From the management side, meeting the needs of your employees and ensuring they are well looked after and satisfied will ensure the least number of disruptions.
How Tourism and Hospitality Impact the Local Community
As already briefly mentioned, the tourism and hospitality industry has the potential to greatly impact the local community assisting in community development and upliftment.
When lodge owners are focused on improving the local community, they can play a significant role by making use of local inhabitants to become employed in the different aspects of the lodge. Many of these locals will have no experience in the field of hospitality. Ideally, the owner will invest in giving the employees some basic training in the field in which they have been employed. This not only gives them the ability to effectively execute and perform their jobs but will also give them some experience and knowledge for future employment opportunities.
Local women can be trained in housekeeping and ensure that the lodge is ready for new visitors and that their needs are met, and they are satisfied. Other opportunities are for women to be trained as kitchen staff where they will help and assist in different roles in the kitchen and even food preparations. Local men can be trained in lodge maintenance and fixing basic aspects around the lodge and in the reserve, as security and field guides. These roles will be discussed later on in further detail. When proper training in these fields is given the locals will not only receive industry skills which will prove to be very useful but also some basic life skills which will be invaluable for them and their households and future generations.
Local women who have completed training to be able to work in a lodge.
Another way lodges can involve locals is by making use of local artists and incorporating the local culture into the lodge’s interior decorations and styles. This is a great way for locals to be empowered and earn an income as well as for travellers to experience the culture. Local cultural entertainment can also be incorporated into the experience. Southern Africa is rich with a diverse range of different cultures and communities and lots of travellers embrace the opportunity to explore and discover these cultures and experiences.