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

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Executive Summary The findings of the study have been organised into three Chapters, based on the original distinctions that were made between the various aspects of the project feasibility. Chapter 4 contains information relevant to an assessment of the community's perceptions about the Lubombo Conservancy, the Shewula Reserve and the proposed tourism development. It contains feedback from community members about the problems and opportunities that they perceive to be associated with each of these initiatives, as well as numerous questions that have remained unanswered in the minds of some community members. This chapter also includes a discussion on perceived development needs of the Shewula Community. The implications of the information presented in Chapter 4 are then used to define parameters for the capacity building that will be required to ensure effective community participation in, and ownership, of the project and to enhance the socio-cultural feasibility of the proposed tourism development project. Chapter 5 presents information that is pertinent to a consideration of the environmental factors that could influence or be influenced by the tourism development. This chapter discusses the legislative requirements, from an environmental perspective, that are associated with the tourism development proposed for the Shewula area. It describes the steps that must be taken in order to ensure that the necessary assessment and evaluation of the impacts are adequately undertaken. A detailed description of some of these potential impacts is included in Appendix 2, which serves as a template for the Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE) that will have to be submitted to the Swaziland Environmental Authority (SEA) should the proposed development proceed. Chapter 6 is divided into two main parts. The first part is concerned with tourism trends and the importance of marketing for a development such as that proposed for Shewula. This section discusses the need for a broader framework within which strategic planning for tourism and other development can take place. The need for strategic planning, both for the Shewula area and, on a broader scale, for the Lubombo Conservancy, is emphasised. This chapter also provides a comparison of existing and planned tourism facilities in and around the Lubombo Conservancy, and presents a number of alternatives for the proposed tourism development in Shewula. These alternatives are presented in Table 6.3, which compares the advantages or disadvantages associated with each option for development. The second part of Chapter 6 is devoted to a discussion of the business plan and a proposed management model for the envisaged tourism development. However, although it covers some of the information that might be found in a financial feasibility assessment, it does not contain detailed financial calculations, since the incomplete nature of the planning process prevented a focused analysis of financial costs that might be associated with the project. This chapter also provides a discussion on the ecotourism management model that has been proposed for the Shewula Tourism Development, and describes the relationships between existing and potential roleplayers who are, would or could be involved in the management and operation of the tourism development. These include the Shewula Community and its representative body (the Shewula Game Reserve Trust), an advisory body, a private operator, and donor agencies. xvi
Executive Summary CONCLUSIONS The conclusions of the various components of the study, as detailed in chapters 4,5 and 6, are the basis for the overall conclusions of the study, which are contained in Chapter 7. This chapter highlights current constraints and opportunities that are associated with the proposed tourism development. These may be summarised as follows: Negative aspects: Constraints and limitations to the project Poor communication and lack of community participation At the time of the research, a large proportion of the Shewula community was unaware of the initiative of the Lubombo Conservancy. In addition, although there appeared to be a greater awareness among community members about the establishment of a reserve, there was, and still is, a large amount of uncertainty about the implications of this initiative. Furthermore, although some community members were involved in the initial phases of the tourism development planning process, this process has been lacking in broad-based participation of the general Shewula Community. An unsatisfactory planning process In addition, the planning process has been conducted in an ad hoc manner, with little consideration of development alternatives, and few decisions being made based on a thorough investigation of various aspects that are crucial to the success of the proposed development. For example, little has been done to determine the level of support in the local community for the project, or to design a marketable tourism product which will meet the needs and/or standards of the target market, and which is appropriate given the limited resources available. Lack of awareness and/or capacity in the Shewula Community relating to tourism, and business planning With respect to the ability of the community to participate effectively in the proposed development, it was found that the Shewula community does not have a good understanding of the concept of "tourism development". The community is generally unaware of the consequences of tourism development, and has limited capaciy to participate in development planning. In addition, the community members generally do not have the capacity for business management or financial management, with regard to the proposed tourism development. Extraneous factors There are also additional extraneous factors that are affecting the feasibility of the proposed project. One such constraint is limited ease of access for tourists coming to the Shewula area, mainly in the form of visa requirements (for citizens of some countries) and checkpoints along the road to Shewula. Other factors include lack of co-ordinated promotion of Swaziland and the Lubombo region as a tourism destination, and a socio-political context and culturally-based world-views that may be incompatible with tourism as a phenomenon propagated by the western world. For example, there are Swazi concepts of time, authority and gender roles that differ from western-style perspectives that could, potentially, be the cause of conflict and/or misunderstandings. xvii
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parks and reserves. As SNTC oversee
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2.4.3.4. British Council The Britis
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2.4.4.3. Economic support structure
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One of the transfrontier initiative
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The iNcwala or 'first fruits' cerem
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These political changes have eroded
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Chapter 2 - Situational Assessment
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Chapter 2 - Situational Assessment
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Chapter 3 - An Initial Assessment o
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3.5. RECOMMENDATIONS The recommenda
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4.4. PROBLEMS This section presents
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and therefore how the benefits to t
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c) Re-establishment of game The bel
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) Indirect income generation Sugges
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Chapter 7 - Conclusions 7.1. INTROD
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Chapter 8 - Recommendations 8.2.4.
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Chapter 9 - The Way Forward proposa
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Chapter 9 - The Way Forward Notes o
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Chapter 9 - The Way Forward communi
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References Obua, J. 1997: The Poten
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The four questions that the study t
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3. Requirements The resources that
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Outreach programme at Mlawula could
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If the tourism development site wer
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