The Impacts of Tourism Initiatives on Rural Livelihoods and Poverty Reduction in South Africa: Mathenjwa and Mqobela - Responsible Tourism: Critical Issues for Conservation and Development - page 238

Strategic
planning

Market knowledge
and industry
expertise

Funding
investment and
equity

Training and skills
enhancement inc. guiding,
management, accounting
hospitality and operational

Donations to local
community bodies
inc. schools, charities,
conservation groups

Sales and
marketing

Conduit for
communication
with other
stake holders and
networks

The Private
Sector/Tourism
Industry

Employment
of local staff

Developing and
enhancing secondary
industries inc. food
production, arts and
crafts and cleaning

Raising awareness and
informing travellers of the
importance and potential
benefits of tourism

Dealing
effectively with
the media

Promotion of responsible
tourism practices to
stake holders inc. community,
governments and NGOs

Instigation and use of
relevant certification
schemes inc. green
tourism accreditation

Lobbying and bringing
pressure to bear on relevant
local, national and
international authorities when
needed/appropriate

Source: Adapted from Simpson, 2008a

Figure 11.5 Potential roles of the private sector and the tourism industry in
maximizing the delivery of benefits to communities

and socio-cultural costs to the community against the potential benefits
(Rattanasuwongchai, 1998; Simpson, 2008a).
The private sector is more sensitive to the market than any other stakeholder;
this is of course not surprising as private sector stakeholders are interested in
financial stability, remuneration and economic sustainability. However, the
support and cooperation of the local community is frequently integral to those
objectives and the path by which to achieve commercial and economic goals may
often involve the preservation of essential natural assets, fundamental to the
tourism product, and the maintenance of good relations with communities
adjacent to or affected by the tourism initiative (Roe et al, 2002; Wearing and
MacDonald, 2002; WTO, 2005; Beeton, 2006; Hawkins and Mann, 2007).
During the course of conducting the case studies, potential roles available to the
private sector and the tourism industry in maximizing the delivery of livelihood
benefits to communities were identified and these are given in Figure 11.5.
Negative impacts and adverse change as a result of the tourism and commu-
nity nexus can take many forms and manifest themselves through social,