To Analyse how Community Tourism could be Effectively Implemented in the Umzumbe Local Municipality under uGu District Municipality, KZN

Description

Page: 26-36

Clifford Mhlanyukwa Duma (Department of Sociology University of Zululand, South Africa)

This study aimed to ascertain tourism’s effect on local regions’ economic growth. Tourism is universally acknowledged as one of the greatest and most rapidly expanding economic sectors. In developing nations, tourism is regarded as a mechanism for fostering economic development and mitigating poverty, serving as an alternative to conventional economic sectors like industrialisation. South Africa’s natural beauty, diverse culture, artistic heritage, and significant historical sites have integrated tourism into government efforts at both national and local levels. It was evident that regions governed by tribal authorities were impoverished in contrast to a small coastal fraction that is semi-urban; nonetheless, these areas possessed a rich cultural heritage that could readily be developed into a community tourist resource. The situational analysis revealed that Umzumbe Local Municipality contains tourism resources outlined in the Umzumbe Integrated Development Plan for 2022/2023 to 2026/2027. Consequently, I determined that community tourism was integral to the Umzumbe Local Municipality Integrated Development Plan for 2022/2023 -2026/2027. The study analysis indicated that the Umzumbe Local Municipality possesses significant potential for community tourism, which might facilitate local economic growth.