Impact Of Tourism In South Africa

Tourism has become one of most quickly developing commercial industries toward the beginning of the 21st century. Numerous countries use tourism as a fast and simple answer for combating financial difficulties. For example: the contribution of tourism to financial movement worldwide is assessed at around 5% (UNWTO, 2011). Thus, South African government concentrates its attention on international arrivals and foreign trade which, in turn, bring additional revenue and help to fight poverty. Returning to the 1980s the economy of South Africa made a leap up due to tourism industry and there were over half a million people employed there in the 2000s (Rogerson, 2004). Definitely the development of tourism advance increase of employment, relief of

The first favorable effect of tourism, for society and local economy of South Africa, is the creation of additional workplaces. Development of tourism industry increases the number of new hotels and tour agencies, which provokes the increase in service jobs. Hence, 65% of the total population of South Africa employed in the service sector (WTTC, 2011). Basically, service jobs are created in travel organizations and stately homes that are interested in people or support staff who keep the rides going at entertainment centers or theme parks in the

In terms of tourism and poverty, in the setting of government support for mindful tourism, South African research has been at the global front line of advancing ideas of so-termed "pro-poor" tourism (Rogerson, 2004, p. 204). In most cases, this pro-poor tourism is a type of examinations which seek to show that tourism can offer both direct and indirect employment and enterprise opportunities including the poorest groups (Rogerson, 2004, p. 204). For example, tours to remote hamlets is a kind of charity tourism, which provide help and participation of tourists in the daily life of poor villages of Africa. In addition, all the profit is used to improve the life quality of disadvantaged communities. Despite the significant impact of such tours the best-known component of the South African tourism system is “nature-based” tourism or in other words ecotourism (Aylward and Lutz, 2003, p. 205). Ecotourism is also a kind of charity tourism which gives potential of employment for poor communities. For example, Namaqua and adjacent Richtersveld National parks provide not only the staff jobs for poor people but also revenue from tourists-visitors targets to help them (Lousbser et. al, 2001, p. 205). Equally important that extra income in South Africa also helps dealing with poverty. Although there were about 11.5% of the South African population living below US$ 1 per day