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19 March 2019 | Story Dr Cinde Greyling
Dr Mutana and Prof Mukwada
Many people enjoy spending time in the mountainous Drakensberg region. Prof Geofrey Mukwada’s involvement with the UFS Afromontane Research Unit (ARU) sparked an interest in sustainable tourism in the area. Pictured here are Dr Sarudzai Mutana with Prof Mukwada.

Not only is the Qwaqwa Campus situated in a beautiful region – its researchers also contribute to keeping the area pristine. Recent research by Prof Geofrey Mukwada and his PhD student, Dr Sarudzai Mutana, focused on indicators monitoring sustainable tourism development in the Drakensberg region.

Dr Mukwada is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography on the University of the Free State (UFS) Qwaqwa Campus. 

Our majestic mountains are fragile

Many people enjoy spending time in the mountainous Drakensberg region – either as adventure seekers exploring the many trails, or just relaxing and reconnecting with nature. Prof Mukwada’s involvement with the UFS Afromontane Research Unit (ARU) sparked an interest in sustainable tourism in the area. “Mountains are fragile but attractive environments which continue to attract tourists,” he said. “Tourism is one of the major business sectors in the Drakensberg region, with promising growth opportunities and proving to be an anchor of green economy in the future – if practiced correctly.” Unfortunately, the issue of monitoring sustainable tourism has not been widely researched in African mountains. 

According to international standards

“We specifically looked at the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC), which is an international best-practice framework to help destinations monitor and ensure that tourism is developed in a responsible manner,” Prof Mukwada explained. “South Africa’s Manual for Responsible Tourism was designed according to some of the recommendations of the GSTC. But we found that, while the tourism and hospitality operators in the Drakensberg region appreciates the need to monitor and ensure sustainable tourism in the area, there is limited use of indicators as a tool for monitoring.” 

Forward together

There are competing demands between land-use and development practices and alternatives in the region – unless the focus shifts to sustainable practices, the short-term gains could be followed by dire consequences. “We suggest an integrated monitoring of tourism development, with a pro-poor focus that involves more local community leaders. Going forward, we would like to see the industry adopt the indicators proposed in our study.”

News Archive

Academic leads a group of South Africans during a visit to Australia
2008-12-04

 

Prof. Doreen Atkinson, research associate from the Centre for Development Support at the University of the Free State (UFS), recently lead a group of South Africans that attended the Desert Knowledge Symposium in Alice Springs, Australia. Prof. Atkinson, leader of the group and part of the centre's programme for arid areas, received funding from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) to take the group to the symposium.

 Here are, from the left: Mr Jerry Aries, Department of Agriculture in Elsenburg, Western Cape, Ms Sue Taylor, research associate from the Centre for Development Support at the UFS, Prof. Atkinson, Ms Leonie Fouchè, Camdeboo District Municipality in Graaff-Reinet, Ms Deidré van Rooyen, researcher from the Centre for Development Support at the UFS, and Mr Stefanus Jooste, Central Karoo District Municipality, Beaufort West; back: Mr Jaco Mostert, Northern Cape Provincial Government, Mr Mark Ingle, research associate from the Centre for Development Support at the UFS, and Mr Peter Myles, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
Photo: Supplied

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