The role of Gauteng in South Africa's backpacking economy
Date
2008-05-14T09:05:43Z
Authors
Mograbi, Jonathan Brandon
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Abstract
Abstract
This study is a detailed investigation into the backpacking sector of
Gauteng. The findings of both a backpacker consumer survey and a
backpacker enterprise survey are drawn upon in revealing the current
trends and key shaping issues within Gauteng’s backpacking sector. As
the province in which South Africa’s major international airport is
situated, Gauteng plays a key role as the starting and concluding point
for backpacker travel in South Africa. As such, the form and function of
the backpacking industry of Gauteng has evolved to suit this somewhat
narrow, yet crucial, role played by the province. Within the limited
role that Gauteng plays in the South African backpacking economy, a
number of obstacles to the growth and socio-economic impacts of
Gauteng’s backpacking sector are identified. Several strategic
recommendations are put forward in order to address these challenges.
These recommendations aim to broaden the role that Gauteng plays within
the budget tourism industry, and remove the barriers to growth, so as to
ensure that the sector plays a part in the wider national goals of
empowerment and redistributive growth.