Sustainable tourism entails limiting the involvement of the local community in decision-making.

Tourism is one of Africa’s fastest-growing sectors and is often described as a “double-edged sword”. While it can create jobs, improve infrastructure and preserve culture, it can also lead to challenges such as cultural erosion, income leakages and environmental degradation.

Using relevant African examples, critically discuss how sustainable tourism development can mitigate the negative impacts of tourism while enhancing its positive impacts.

Include all three dimensions of sustainable tourism in your answer. These dimensions are as follows:

1. Economic dimension. Examples include creating local jobs in lodges and game reserves, reducing revenue leakages from foreign-owned businesses and addressing inequality through community-based tourism.
2. Environmental dimension. Examples include conserving wildlife in national parks, mitigating climate change in coastal areas and managing tourism carrying capacity in nature reserves.
3. Sociocultural dimension. Examples include preserving African cultural heritage, valuing indigenous knowledge systems, ensuring community participation in decision-making and avoiding cultural commodification.

INSTRUCTIONS

• Write your answer in essay format with an introduction, body and conclusion.
• Use subheadings for clarity (e.g., Economic dimension, Environmental dimension, Sociocultural dimension).
• Avoid merely listing points; provide a critical discussion supported by relevant examples.

• Introduction reflecting your understanding of sustainable tourism: 3 marks
• Economic dimension: impacts, mitigation and examples: 7 marks
• Environmental dimension: impacts, mitigation and examples: 7 marks
• Sociocultural dimension: impacts, mitigation and examples: 7 marks
• Conclusion: integration of ideas and forward-looking insights: 1 mark

As a manager of a lodge in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, David faces the challenge of implementing sustainable tourism practices while meeting the establishment’s energy needs. He has been asked to devise a plan aimed at enhancing sustainable tourism, with a focus on energy. His survey of the lodge’s operations revealed a significant dependence on electricity and transportation. The lodge relies heavily on diesel generators for power, despite the reserve’s abundant sunlight and wind, contributing to environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. 

What is the primary energy-related challenge for sustainable tourism at the Maasai Mara National Reserve?

As a manager of a safari lodge in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, you lead a team of passionate staff committed to sustainable tourism practices. One of your responsibilities is to ensure that the principle of stewardship guides all decision-making at the lodge. 

What does the principle of stewardship emphasise in sustainable tourism leadership?

In the context of sustainable tourism, “consumption” refers to … .

Discuss two benefits and two challenges of community-based tourism in Africa.

Environmental, social and economic resources may be neglected, as long as the needs of the local population are met.

The One Planet Vision for the Responsible Recovery of the Tourism Sector includes only five lines of action.

How can consumerism negatively affect sustainable tourism?

Sarah, an anthropology student, travels to Bali, Indonesia, to immerse herself in the local culture and to deepen her understanding of the impact of globalisation on sustainable tourism. Upon arrival, she is disappointed to find that many traditional Balinese villages have become tourist hubs that cater mainly to Western tastes and preferences. Authentic cultural practices have been commodified for mass consumption; souvenir shops sell cheap imitations of traditional crafts; and restaurants serve international cuisine instead of local delicacies. 

Which potentially negative impact of globalisation on sustainable tourism is Sarah witnessing first-hand on her visit to Bali?