Urbani izziv Volume 25, No. supplement, July 2014
: S189–S203
(Articles)
doi: 10.5379/urbani-izziv-en-2014-25-supplement-014
Author
Christian M. Rogerson
University of Johannesburg, Faculty of Management, School of Tourism & Hospitality, South Africa
crogerson@uj.ac.za
Jayne M. Rogerson
University of Johannesburg, Faculty of Science, School of Geography, Environmental Management & Energy Studies, South Africa
jayner@uj.ac.za
Title
Urban tourism destinations in South Africa: Divergent trajectories 2001–2012
Abstract
Cities are growing tourism destinations in both developed and developing countries. For policymakers in many cities the promotion of tourism is a vital issue. The phenomenon of urban tourism has emerged as a significant research topic in tourism and urban studies. The South African experience has been one of the most well documented cases in urban tourism in the developing world. Most existing research is focussed on supply-side issues of the establishment of new tourism products in cities or of the impacts of growing urban tourism. This article examines urban tourism from a demand-side perspective and interrogates the performance of South Africa’s eight metropolitan areas as tourism destinations over the period 2001-2012.The analysis reveals that the metropolitan areas as a group are expanding in significance as tourism destinations. Divergent pathways or trajectories of development are apparent in terms of unpacking the performance of the eight different areas.
Key Words
urban tourism, South Africa, purpose of travel, domestic tourism, international tourism