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Watson, G.L. and Kopachevsky, J.P. �1994) `Interpretations
of tourism as commodity', Annals of
Tourism Research 21�3): 643±60.
soft tourism
ERIK COHEN, ISRAEL
Originating in Alpine Europe, `sanfer tourismus' is
a term used to describe forms of tourism that have
low or minimal negative impacts on the physical
and sociocultural environment in destination
areas. Generally considered the antithesis to mass
tourism, it is associated with small-scale tourism
development that optimises the benefits to local
communities.
See also: alternative tourism; responsible
tourism; sustainable development
South Africa
RICHARD SHARPLEY, UK
After many years of underperformance due to
political difficulties in the country, a new era has
dawned for South African tourism, particularly
after the first all-inclusive elections in 1994. The
publicity surrounding the peaceful transition to
democracy, the stature of former President Nelson
Mandela, the hosting of major events such as the
Rugby World Cup in 1995 and the implementation
of `Explore South Africa', the destination marketing
campaigns based on the country's tourism
strengths such as the environment, wildlife and
cultural diversity, ensured a growth rate of 8.7 per
cent in 1997 and 15.2 per cent in 1998. This is well
above the world average growth of 2.4 per cent for
1998, as reported by the World Tourism Organization.
During 1998, South Africa hosted more than
5.6 million tourists, of whom 4.2 million were from
Africa. Europe constitutes the largest part of the
overseas market �some 66 per cent), followed by
North America �about 14 per cent) and Asia
�almost 10 per cent). Market surveys indicate that
the main reasons for visiting South Africa centre on
scenic beauty, the opportunity to experience
political change, abundant wildlife choices and
the rich heritage of cultural diversity. Although still
performing well below potential, the impact of
tourism on the economy of South Africa is already
significant. During 1998 tourism contributed an
estimated 8.2 per cent to the economy, was the
third largest earner of foreign exchange and
employed more than 730,000 people.
South Africa is richly endowed with a wide
diversity of natural attractions, ranging from the
largely unspoilt coastline of 3,000 kilometres to an
abundance and variety of animals and plants. This
reinforces its image of being host to `the greatest
wildlife show on earth'. The `big five', namely lion,
elephant, rhino, leopard and buffalo, and whales
are abundant in South Africa. There are also vast
conservation areas such as those controlled by
South African National Parks, a leading conservation
body. Particularly since 1994, the rich cultural
diversity of South Africa has been further developed
and promoted as a key tourism attraction.
South Africa's depth and diversity of attractions are
underpinned by excellent tourism facilities and
infrastructure. Its road networks, transport infrastructure
and health services are in line with the
First World standards. An indicator in this regard is
that during 1998, sixty-three airlines had scheduled
flights to the country.
souvenir
souvenir 547
ERNIE HEATH, SOUTH AFRICA
Souvenirs are material objects which serve as
reminders of people, places, events or experiences
of significance in a person's biography. Some
authors distinguish souvenirs from mementoes.
The term souvenir is used for commercial artefacts,
particularly those acquired in the course of a
journey, as reminders of places visited or of
particular travel experiences. Similarly, mementoes
are acquired non-commercial objects, such as
stones or dry flowers. Souvenirs have a personal
value for the individual which is typically much
higher than their often negligible market value.
The circumstances of their acquisition endow
souvenirs with a metonymic or metaphoric significance:
bottled water from the Jordan river is a