Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa – Investment and Employment - Responsible Tourism: Critical Issues for Conservation and Development - page 253

Table 12.2 examines figures only from commercial lodges within MGR.
Included in these are two local community-owned, commercial lodges which were
not operational in 2003 and some of the data pertaining to these lodges are
discussed shortly under a separate heading. Table 12.2 provides a breakdown of
employee profiles for female, local and previously disadvantaged persons. The
commercial lodges form the backbone of the local economy, providing three-
quarters of direct employment and employee earnings in the cluster. In the latest
study, most of the focus on new data was aimed at these enterprises. Where appli-
cable, assumptions relevant to Table 12.1 apply also to Table 12.2.
Investors from the private sector have continued to opt for the high end of the
tourism market (the intention of the planners from the outset) and the invest-
ment/bed has increased in the past few years. The job:bed ratio supports this
observation.
Female employees make up half of the workforce and earn nearly 42 per cent
of total remuneration. Local employees now constitute nearly three-quarters of
total employed and earn 46.2 per cent of the total cash remuneration paid by
commercial lodges.
Community-owned lodges
A significant development in the reserve has contributed to the shift in the
2003:2007 figures when compared. Two community-owned commercial lodges
have become operational since 2003. Local village communities have collectively
obtained the right to develop and own commercial lodges.This falls within part of
the NWPTB objectives to give some preference to local communities in the
securing, development and ownership of lodge sites.
With the exception of one staff member, 57 of the 58 employees in these
lodges are from local villages, indicating the significant bargaining power gained
from direct ownership. With 40 beds in community lodges, the job:bed ratio is
1.45, slightly above the average of 1.39 for all of the commercial lodges combined.
Significantly, although the Madikwe study does not address total local
community benefit (i.e. does not include all non-cash benefits and other un-
assessed multiplier effects, development in social capital, etc.), the
community-owned lodges have turnover clauses with their appointed operator
(including a minor base rental) and the combined revenue at present from this
source is around $157,000 per annum. This revenue accrues to two village
communities who fall within the Madikwe cluster. As these lodges become more
established, this figure can be expected to rise.
Massyn and Swan (undated, p1) estimated that one of the community lodges
(Lekgophung village, 16 bed lodge) would generate average returns in the order
of $450 per household/annum in the estimated 600 household community. This
figure has now reached the $371/annum mark (cash returns only) bearing in
mind that the lodge has not yet reached its optimal, annual bed-occupancy. As the
lodge moves towards this level, one could expect the annual household benefit to