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

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Chapter 3 - An Initial Assessment of the proposed Shewula Tourism Development 3.3. ANALYSIS OF THE PROPOSAL AND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS • Market research There is insufficient market research about what the target market of the project will be. There is too much reliance on the Maputo Corridor and the Lubombo SDI to 'ensure a continuous flow of tourists'. 76 • Planning There has been insufficient planning due to the constraints of submitting the original application to the British Council in on time. • Design The design is intended to include elements of traditional Swazi culture, but the details thereof have yet to be finalised. The site, which has yet to be selected, and the target market, which is unknown at this stage, will also influence design. • Management model The management model for the project is not detailed enough. Decisions are needed regarding how the tourism development would actually be operated, and how the benefits of the tourism development would be maximised for community development. There is also no indication of who would be responsible for marketing or who would be responsible for the risks taken. • Rates The rate to be charged needs to be finalised. The rate would depend on a number of factors, including the market aimed for, the running costs incurred, and what would be included in the rate and what extras may need to be paid for. • Size of the development and number of beds in accommodation facilities An insufficient number of beds have been planned. Eight beds are potentially unfeasible for the kind of accommodation planned for in the proposal. If 8 beds is the target, then the upper segment of the tourism market should be aimed at so as to reduce the risk of medium to long-term financial failure. However, the original proposal does not adequately cater for such exclusive, upmarket tourism. • Communal ablutions Communal ablutions would be unfeasible, since most people prefer en-suite ablutions, although this would depend on the target market for the project. • Catering options It would be advisable to provide facilities for full catering and self-catering, so as to broaden the market base. > Location The location of the tourism development has yet to be defined. Deciding where it should be must take cognisance of what assets are available in Shewula to offer a unique experience in the area. These might include the river, scenery and / or views, and unique cultural and ecological experiences. 6 See original proposal, Appendix 5. —
• Access The proposed routes for access to the tourism development could be both dangerous (although boats could be a good option in the long-term for the adventure tourist) and costly (building a bridge across the Umbuluzi River would be expensive but remains an option in the long-term). 3.4. CONCLUSIONS After extensive consultation and intensive participation with primary and secondary role-players, it was felt that the original proposal was unlikely to be feasible in the long-term, and had a high risk of failure. The original concept for tourism development has not been properly conceptualised and there is insufficient integration and broad-based participation in the planning process. There is a dire need for a strategic tourism and conservation plan for the Shewula area to identify potential nodes for development, and undertake a detailed assessment of these. Alternatives have been identified but require further assessment (see Section 6.1). A marketing plan needs to be drawn up in parallel with an integrated and strategic tourism and conservation plan, so that a pro-active strategy is in place. This could be carried out in conjunction with a private operator who could manage the lodge for the community. The private operator would determine the rates for the proposed tourism development(s), as he/she is the one who must ultimately make the profit on the tourism development. Factors to be taken into account in determining the rates are varied. • Firstly, one could determine at which rate the potential market diminishes. In connection with this, one could determine what is the rate at which the tourism development becomes unfeasible, due to the rate defining a market that is too small to sustain the tourism development in the medium- to long-term. • Secondly, the rate could be fully inclusive or it could only cover bed and breakfast; or dinner, bed and breakfast. Extras to be charged for would then include lunch and/or dinner, and activities (walks, game drives, etc). Tour operators could often help to determine this. 77 The number of beds available will also help to determine the rate charged, as the number of beds determines staffing costs. The number of staff needed per bed for 8 beds is greater than the number of staff per bed for say 20 beds. Therefore there is a point where the best option for the number of beds will be determined by staff costs, thus determining the rate. More research would be required into what design would be best for the tourism development, so as to ensure its complementarity with the receiving environment, and with the market targeted. 77 Ruth Buck, Owner, Foresters Arms, Swaziland, pers. comm.
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A Feasibility Study of the Proposed
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would
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2.3. Biophysical Context ..........
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6.1.4. Conclusions ................
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Box 9.1 Figure 6.1. Consideration o
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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
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Executive Summary INTRODUCTION The
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Executive Summary The findings of t
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Executive Summary Positive aspects:
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Executive Summary • Tourism input
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Chapter 1 - Introduction This chapt
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Chapter 1 - Introduction 1.1.2. Des
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Chapter 1 - Introduction Objective
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Chapter 4 - Socio-Cultural Findings
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Chapter 5 - Environmental Evaluatio
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Chapter 6 - Tourism, Marketing and
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The following model was formulated
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Chapter 7 - Conclusions 7.1. INTROD
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Chapter 7 - Conclusions and well-be
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Chapter 8 • Recommendations shoul
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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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