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

Chapter 7 - Conclusions
There is a general lack of awareness and/or understanding regarding the processes
that have been undertaken to establish the project, the reasons for the project, the
nature of the tourism industry, and the possible benefits as well as the possible costs
of introducing tourism to Shewula. There is also a degree of uncertainty regarding the
specifics of the development, such as how the tourism development could / should
operate, and hence an apprehension / suspicion regarding the benefits of such
development for the community.
b) Lack of participation
The lack of participation and lack of motivation to participate in the various stages of
the project, is associated with a lack of broad-based support for the project among the
general community members. There is, however, some qualified support for the
project, but it remains dependent on the proven success of the project. The concerns
raised during interaction with the community about the possibility of having their land
taken away, and of corruption in the institutional body that would manage the
projects, reflect the fact that the general community does not feel a sense of
ownership about the project.
c) Lack of information.
The above-mentioned limitations stem, in part, from the situation described in section
7.1.2, namely lack of access to information. The community's ignorance regarding the
content of the proposal and the processes that have resulted in the project's initiation,
have contributed to both a lack of understanding and misunderstandings about the
proposed development. This has, in turn, been accompanied by a lack of enthusiasm
to become involved in the project, a limitation further impeded by the process-related
limitations of an non-participatory planning approach.
7.1.4.2. Strengths and Opportunities
Despite the above-mentioned limitations, there is tremendous potential for these
constraints to be addressed. There is a desire on the part of the community to
participate more fully in the planning of the project, and to be kept informed of its
progress. There is also a degree of willingness, on the part of some community
members, to make sacrifices (especially in the form of time spent planning for it).
There was also interest expressed in utilising the opportunities for associated
business development and tourism activities that could result from / be associated
with the tourism development.
- The formation of a Community Trust is also a positive factor that could serve to
strengthen the project. Many of the decisions that still have to be made before the
project's ultimate implementation could be taken by this trust.
7.1.5. Additional constraints to the project
Apart from the above-mentioned weaknesses, threats, limitations and/or obstacles to
the project, there exist a number of factors which are not directly related to the
project, which could nevertheless significantly influence the project's feasibility. These
are further discussed below.
The existence of several checkpoints that tourists would be obliged to make en route
to and from Shewula, poses a significant threat to the tourism experience that would
be encountered by tourists travelling from Maphiveni, along the road to Lomahasha,
and into Shewula. This is of particular importance with regard to the sense of security