Division: Tourism Management, Department of Marketing Management, University of Pretoria b

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1 Understanding sustainable tourism development and responsible tourism practices in the Kruger National Park: measuring visitor perceptions and experiences against sustainability assessment outcomes Douglas, Anneli a ; Wessels, Jan-Albert b ; Fairer-Wessels, Felicite a ; Retief, Francois b ; Morrisson-Saunders, Angus c ; Pope, Jenny b ; Hughes, Mike c a Division: Tourism Management, Department of Marketing Management, University of Pretoria b School of Geo and Spatial Sciences, Department of Geography, North West University c School of Environmental Science, Murdoch University anneli.douglas@up.ac.za; janalbert.wessels@nwu.ac.za; felicite.fairer-wessels@up.ac.za; francois.retief@nwu.ac.za; a.morrison- Saunders@murdoch.edu.au; jenny@integral-sustainability.net; m.hughes@murdoch.edu.au

2 Background: tourism and sustainable development Sustainable Tourism and Responsible Tourism share the same overall goal of sustainable development based on 3 pillars [dimensions] of maximising local economic benefit, social justice, and environmental integrity (UNEP, 2005; Responsible Tourism Partnership, 2002). Tourism is in a special position in the contribution it can make to sustainable development and the challenges it presents (UNEP, 2005) due to: the dynamism and growth of the sector, and the major contribution that it makes to the economies of many countries and local destinations. tourism being an activity which involves a special relationship between consumers (visitors), the industry, local communities, and the environment. Sustainability Assessment aid global tourism in the above and is defined as: any process that directs decision-making towards sustainability (Morrison- Saunders et al, 2015).

3 Introduction and aim Sust. Tourism development and Resp. Tourism practices in SANParks are supported by decision making instruments such as: Results from visitor perception and experience surveys, and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) [a widespread form of Sust. Assessment used in South Africa and the world]; and This project aims to understand Sustainable/Responsible Tourism development practices in the Kruger National Park context by measuring visitor perceptions and experiences against sustainability assessment [EIA] outcomes.

4 Figure 1: Project flow Phase 3: Proposal/s for Continual improvement & Value creation [December 2017] Phase 1: Inception, sourcing EIA s & Evaluation Framework Phase 2: Test visitor perceptions and experiences as a mechanism for follow-up on outcomes from the EIA appraisal Inception Decision Source Kruger EIA s Evaluation Framework Evaluate sampled EIA s Design visitor perception surveys Conduct surveys Results & analyses Period: Aug-Dec 2016 Dec 2016 & ongoing March 2017 Apr-May 2017 May-June 2017 July 2017 August 2017

5 Figure 2: Evaluation Framework CONTEXT Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Principles and Objectives INPUT S Policy Implementation Instrument EIA (Gibson, 2005) OUTPUT S Implementation follow-up (Morrison-Saunders et al, 2014) CONTEXT INTERNATIONAL Responsible Tourism Principles Sustainable Tourism Principles (Global Sustainable Tourism Council Criteria, 2013) SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM Policy Objectives Legislative Objectives Strategic Planning Objectives Interface SOCIAL JUSTICE INPUTS KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS (KPAs) Socio-ecological system integrity Resource maintenance and efficiency Precaution and Adaptation ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY ECONOMIC BENEFITS OUTPUTS KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS (KPAs) Influencing decisions Post decision compliance (EMP/EA) ASSESSMENT OUTCOMES STAKEHOLDER PERCEPTION SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL PARKS Policy Objectives Legislative Objectives Strategic Planning Objectives KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS (KPAs) Intragenerational equity Intergenerational equity Socio-ecological civility and democratic governance KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS (KPAs) Livelihood sufficiency and opportunity KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS (KPAs) Visitor perceptions Local community perceptions Provide Principles and Objectives KPAs and KPIs are developed to evaluate input components Proposals for Continual Improvement KPAs and KPIs are developed to evaluate output components

6 Figure 3: Selected cases (Purposive sampling: Coyne, 1997; Suri, 2011)

7 Conclusion and appreciation Based on the findings from the first two phases, proposals will be made for continual improvement for using the decision making instruments of visitor perception and experience surveys and Sustainability Assessment [EIA] outcomes. We trust that the results will aid SANParks and the Kruger National Park in their quest for improved devotion to the principles of Sust. Tourism development and Resp. Tourism practices for all future infrastructure development projects. We thank SANParks, Kruger National Park, the Universities and the audience for your time.

8 Bibliography Coyne, I.T Sampling in qualitative research. Purposeful and theoretical sampling; merging or clear boundaries? Journal of Advanced Nursing, 1997, 26, Gibson, R., Hassan, S., Holtz, S., Tansey, J., Whitelaw, G., Sustainability Assessment: Criteria and Processes. Earthscan, London. KarmaWaters Our version of Responsible Tourism. Available at: visited 08 March Morrison-Saunders, A, Pope, J and Bond, A Handbook of Sustainability Assessment. Edgar Elgar, Cheltham. Responsible Tourism Partnership Cape Town Declaration on Responsible Tourism. Available at: visited 08 March Suri, H Purposeful sampling in qualitative research synthesis, Qualitative research journal, vol. 11, no. 2, pp United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Making Tourism More Sustainable: A Guide for Policy Makers. ISBN (ENEP). Available at: visited 08 March 2017.