Revisiting and integrating residents' perceptions towards tourism development in urban areas

Abstract

This study sought to determine residents' perceptions of tourism development and the subsequent impacts of tourism in South Africa. Tourism's impacts on residents have been a topical issue in existing literature given that they can offer guidance for planners in terms of development trajectories. This is because tourism is widely associated with both negative and positive impacts on residents, depending on the destination's life cycle and other factors. Thus, Soweto, as South Africa's most visited township and a place where tourism is seen as a strategic tool for socioeconomic development, was selected as an ideal case study for this research. A positivist, quantitative research approach was employed in targeting residents (n=241) using a systematic random sampling method. Data was analyzed through IBM SPSS 24, and key findings revealed that, on the whole, residents are involved directly or indirectly in tourism and generally support its development. Additionally, it was found that residents have largely positive feelings towards tourism and its development in the area although nuances were there regarding tourism recently highlighting the economic gaps between the poor and the rich. The government was also criticized for failing to increase education about tourism among residents so that they could effectively benefit from it. It was also suggested that tourism compromises the authenticity of heritage and cultural activities in the area whilst also resulting in the increased prices of goods and services for locals.