Feasibility Study of Proposed Tourism Dev in Shewula, NE ...

usiness contracts) should therefore be mutually exclusive. Applications for
such employment should be accompanied by resignation from the trust.
• Capacity of the trustees: The members of the trust should have at least a basic
understanding of the following:
- Tourism: Trustees need to know what tourists value and why they'd want
to come to Shewula, what tourists like / dislike and what attracts tourists,
how the tourism industry operates, how to handle tourists, the benefits and
pitfalls of tourism development, lessons learnt from other experiences
(especially tourism relating to community, culture and eco-cultural
experiences);
- Business management: Trustees will need to know how to handle
legalities, contractual agreements, relationships with others, eg. a private
operator etc. Trustees must also understand the importance of clear and
effective communication and be equipped with ways to ensure proper
transfer of the necessary information to the relevant parties; and
- Resource management and/or Conservation: What is sustainable use,
why it is important, what the benefits are of sustainable development,
sustainable living, sustainable natural resource management, and how
these can be achieved / implemented.
- It is recommended that the trustees should not stand to benefit personally
from involvement in the trust, other than through having the opportunity to
learn (eg. skills training in accounting) and then apply that which is learnt
for the benefit of the larger Shewula community.
3. Draw up a code of conduct (or codes of conduct) which will govern the actions
and activities undertaken by tourists during their visit to Shewula and by the
community during their interactions with tourists. Such a code could also be
provided to guide the behaviour of the Shewula community in relation to the
reserve, and could detail what are considered to be acceptable levels of resource
use as well as what would be considered acceptable and unacceptable activities
inside the reserve.
4. Establish a tour guide association, and provide training for members belonging
to the association. Such an association could, then, be responsible for ensuring
that acceptable standards of guiding for tourists are maintained, and for the
dissemination of information to those who would like to be guides for tourists
coming to Shewula.
5. Plan trial runs of tourists to come to Shewula. Such trial runs should be a
short-term activity, and would provide an opportunity for the community to learn
about tourism. The tourists could provide feedback about their experiences and
about how the tourism product on offer could be improved, so that this information
can be incorporated during the planning stage of the development.
6. Establish a resource management programme. The goal would be for a
Community-based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) approach to be
implemented, not only for the Shewula Reserve but for the greater Shewula area.
The aim would be for the Shewula community to take more responsibility for the
sustainable management and use of natural resources in their area.
7. Explore the possibilities for the proposed tourism development with
potential partners, and ensure that there is adequate liaison with government
and the private sector. Also, establish and maintain contact with other