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

Executive Summary
Objective 3:
To evaluate the capacity of the Shewula community to effectively participate in the
Lubombo Conservancy and sustainably manage the Shewula Reserve, the tourism
development in the Shewula area and associated tourism activities.
Objective 4:
To survey community perceptions, manage expectations where appropriate and
clarify information regarding conservation, tourism and community development
needs and priorities.
As a result of a number of factors, including an incomplete project planning process,
the original objectives of the study were revisited and redefined. This was due to the
original proposal for tourism development being deemed to be unfeasible as a result
of the initial findings of the study. The scope of the study was therefore broadened,
and taken to a more conceptual level, in order to accommodate a consideration of
alternatives for the tourism development, and thereby provide much needed input into
the planning process for the proposed development. The aims and objectives of the
study are detailed in Chapter 1. This chapter also describes the conceptual
framework that informed the study, provides detailed information about the methods
used to obtain the necessary information for the research, and discusses some of the
limitations and strengths of the study.
METHODOLOGY
The study was undertaken over a four month period, with a six week period for
fieldwork during which most of the primary data was collected. The fieldwork
component was preceded by a literature review of relevant material, which covered
topics ranging from community-based tourism development and natural resource
management models to background information about the history of Swaziland and
local tourism patterns in the country.
During the fieldwork period, a participatory research approach was adopted, whereby
some members from the Shewula Community formed part of the study team, and
volunteer researchers from the community participated in the data collection activities
of the research process. Numerous meetings were held, both with members of he
Shewula Community and other interested and affected parties, as well as with
specialists in the fields of tourism and conservation.
THE FINDINGS OF THE STUDY
Immediately after the fieldwork research had been completed, an initial assessment
was submitted, in the form of a preliminary report, to those who were involved in the
process of planning the tourism development. This report was intended to guide
decisions that were being made at the time. Since it was felt that these decisions
would have a significant bearing on the project, preliminary findings were presented,
together with recommendations pertinent to the immediate actions required. Chapter
3 contains an edited version of the preliminary report. It outlines the original proposal,
briefly discusses the problems that were identified by the study, and lists the
recommendations made at the time, but which have been subsequently revised,
updated or elaborated in the subsequent chapters of this report. It is provides the
basis for the information contained in subsequent chapters.
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