Irma Booyens

Rethinking township tourism: Towards responsible tourism development in South African townships

Township tourism in South Africa has grown in popularity since 1994 and is considered by some to be an appropriate mechanism for stimulating local economic development. This paper suggests, however, that it is not necessarily a viable or responsible development option, since it does not automatically ensure pro-poor benefits or enhance community development. Primary research conducted in Soweto to understand visitor demand and tourism stakeholder perspectives suggests there is a demand for responsible tourism in townships. The paper contributes to South African debates about the developmental role of tourism, township tourism and local economic development, responsible tourism, and the related policy implications. It calls for responsible township tourism development in which local authorities play a vital role and recommends the development of township tourism attractions, with a focus on culture and heritage, to create unique visitor experiences.

Networking and learning for tourism innovation: evidence from the Western Cape

ABSTRACT This paper examines the nature of networking and learning by tourism firms in relation to accessing knowledge for innovation. In particular, the nature of tourism learning and networking, geography of networking linkages, and systemic characteristics of relationships between tourism firms, government agencies, higher education institutions, and other organisations in the Western Cape tourism system are examined. The analysis draws on 182 tourism firm, tourism system, and contextual interviews. This investigation demonstrates that even though tourism firms mostly use internal resources for innovation, external, non-local knowledge is significant for enhancing novel innovation. It is disclosed that whilst local network linkages are dense, loose, and of importance for business and marketing purposes, extra-regional network relationships are imperative for learning in relation to innovation. As further observed, network linkages between local and regional actors for supporting tourism innovation in the Western Cape are generally weak which points to the underdevelopment of local and regional innovation networks or systems. The paper provides planning recommendations for enhancing the competitiveness of tourism firms towards fostering development and growth in the regional tourism economy. Specifically, support for stimulating learning networks as well as strengthening systemic relationships in the Western Cape tourism system are recommended. It is underscored that strategic relationships with non-local partners need to be nurtured towards fostering tourism innovation and enhancing regional competitiveness.

Global–local trajectories for regional competitiveness: Tourism innovation in the Western Cape

The paper interrogates regional competitiveness by analysing tourism innovation and networking as a case study example from the Western Cape region, South Africa. The economic significance of services and tourism to the region, as well as the innovation performance of tourism firms, and the policy environment which supports innovation and tourism are examined. An analysis of micro-data discloses that innovation is widespread and therefore is significant for the competitiveness of the regional tourism economy. The results of this investigation point to the critical need for regional policy to focus on strategic networking linkages to access global knowledge flows, as well as the need to develop tourism as core regional competency, and to strengthen the capacity of local institutions to foster regional innovation, competitiveness and growth in the Western Cape economy.

Innovation and Local Economic Development Policy in the global South: New South African perspectives

Recently, innovation has become a critical parameter for contemporary regional and local development policy in the global North. In South African debates about regional and local development policy issues of innovation rarely are discussed and the country’s most recent policy documents and frameworks around local economic development (LED) make no mention or acknowledgement of issues around innovation. This disconnect between South Africa’s national innovation policies and those around regional and local development planning is under review as the country’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) with responsibility for innovation policy in the country, released a new strategy document intended to inform the DST’s involvement in the policy space of LED with the mandate of strengthening local systems of innovation and production in a systemic and systematic manner. It is argued that in terms of LED policy and practice across the global South this South African policy document represents a potential benchmark policy intervention which merits scrutiny and discussion. The aim is to examine the shift in national policy thinking towards the use and role of innovation for driving economic and social change in the marginalised spaces of South Africa. Against a background of debates around national, regional and local systems of innovation in the global South and of the emergence of new perspectives around the potential of innovation to contribute to poverty reduction, job creation and LED a critical review is provided of new policy directions and strategic proposals for the application of innovation to drive economic and social change in South Africa’s marginalised spaces.

Unpacking the geography of tourism innovation in Western Cape Province, South Africa

Abstract This paper interrogates the geography of tourism innovation in the Western Cape, South Africa. In particular, innovations by tourism firms are mapped and local tourism innovation networks are analysed. Networking behaviour is examined since it is regarded as indispensable for accessing knowledge and learning for innovation purposes. The analysis draws on a broader investigation of tourism innovation and networking within the Western Cape province. It is revealed that the main tourist regions in the Western Cape are also the most innovative. Whilst external networking relations are observed to be highly significant for tourism innovation, local embeddedness remains critical for stimulating path creation and exploiting local core competencies for the competitiveness and survival of tourism firms and destinations.

Local innovation networking dynamics: evidence from South Africa

The dynamics of local innovation networking are under-researched in the global South at large. While the concept of a National Innovation System (NIS) has existed in the South African policy domain for two decades, there is little, if any, empirical evidence of innovation networking at the local level. This paper interrogates the spatiality of network linkages and the networking behaviour of innovative enterprises in rural, as well as urban settings in South Africa. This research, drawn from two unrelated studies, demonstrates that innovative enterprises rely on a broad network of actors. Although local network embeddedness has a particular function, external knowledge is significant for novel innovation. A lack of local governmental support for innovation is also observed. The research provides compelling insights from the South. It is argued the notion of multi-scalar innovation networks is valid for South Africa. This is an alternative view on innovation networking in peripheral areas.La dynamique des réseaux locaux d’innovation est sous-étudiée dans l’ensemble des pays du Sud. Alors que le concept de système national d’innovation (SNI) existe dans le domaine de la politique sud-africaine depuis deux décennies, il y a peu ou pas de preuves empiriques de la mise en réseau de l’innovation au niveau local. Cet article interroge la spatialité des liens de réseau et le comportement de réseautage des entreprises innovantes dans les milieux ruraux et urbains en Afrique du Sud. Cette recherche, tirée de deux études indépendantes, démontre que les entreprises innovantes s’appuient sur un large réseau d’acteurs. Bien que l’intégration du réseau local ait une fonction particulière, les connaissances externes sont importantes pour une innovation novatrice. Un manque d’appui du gouvernement local à l’innovation est également observé. La recherche fournit des idées convaincantes en provenance des pays du Sud. On fait valoir que la notion de réseaux d’innovation multi-scalaires est valable pour l’Afrique du Sud. Ceci est une vue alternative sur le réseautage d’innovation dans les zones périphériques.

Innovation in a Changing South Africa: Extant Debates and Critical Reflections

Economic and social imperatives of innovation are increasingly becoming intertwined and important, especially in the global South. While South Africa has a nucleus of innovating enterprises, key challenges with respect to poverty and underdevelopment remain. During recent decades, South Africa has experienced a marked decline in the traditional and employment-intensive sectors along with growth in service sectors. However, growth in low-productivity service sectors accounts for most employment growth. It is noted that regional innovation networks are scarce and predominantly found in major cities. A decline in the traditional employment-intensive and largely rural-based sectors of mining and agriculture, along with attempts to redress the socio-economic consequences of apartheid, resulted in a policy emphasis on innovation in distressed rural areas to enhance local economic development and public service delivery. It is concluded that skewed spatial patterns of innovation, as well as research and policy foci in relation to innovation, emerge.

Managing tourism firms in South Africa for competitiveness: an innovation perspective

Innovation is regarded as significant for the competitiveness of tourism firms. Yet, innovation in services, and also tourism, remain underresearched, especially in the context of the global South. This article draws on a cross-sectoral, firm-level survey of tourism innovation in the Western Cape region of South Africa, which determined that innovation by tourism firms is widespread, albeit predominantly incremental in character. This article interrogates the relationships between innovation and firm survival, as a proxy for competitiveness, and considers firm size as a key determinant of tourism innovation. In addition, the motivators and drivers of tourism innovation are analyzed. The Western Cape investigation reveals that innovation is part of a deliberate strategy for competitiveness by dynamic tourism firms. Further motivations comprise enhancing efficiency and productivity, ensuring survival, and behaving ethically.