The role of Gauteng in South Africa's backpacking economy

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.