Inclusiveness an important stimulant for the future success of the Maputo to Hluhluwe Tourism Corridor James Seymour and Shakila Maharaj Tourism KwaZulu-Natal.

Inclusiveness an important stimulant for the future success of the Maputo to Hluhluwe Tourism Corridor

James Seymour and Shakila Maharaj

Tourism KwaZulu-Natal

March 2010

Introduction

– Nature and extent of tourism supply and demand in the Maputo to Hluhluwe Corridor;

– To introduce KwaZulu-Natal’s tourism strategy for people with disabilities , the manner in which it has been implemented and the potential benefits of such an approach for the Hluhluwe to Maputo corridor.

Core Attractions: Isimangaliso

Core Attractions: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi

Core Attractions: Tembe, Ndumo, Thanda and Phinda

Core Attractions: Ponto Do Ouro

Core Attractions: Maputo

Tourism Demand and Supply

Elephant Coast - + 200,000 foreign long haul and in excess of 100,000 domestic. Spend of more than R1bn. 214 accommodation establishments and 32 conservation areasMozambique - 2007 +/- 1.2mn; 80,000 by air (UNWTO, 2010)

Destination Competitiveness– Competitive strategy is regarded as a key ingredient of successful

destinations.– The destination concept is regarded as tourism’s central product and basis

of destination competitiveness.– Competitiveness strategy – attempting to identify a favourable or distinctive

position in a marketplace through an understanding of the factors that define the competitiveness of a particular industry or sector (Porter,1990,1996).

– Poon (1993) regards competitive tourism strategy as the constant and innovative adaptation to what is particularly dynamic market.

– Ritchie and Crouch (2003) – dealing with competitive and comparable advantages and disadvantages

– Heath (2003)- ability of a destination to deliver goods and services that perform better than other destinations on those aspects of the tourism experience considered to be important by tourists.

Access is a key element of the destination concept, destination management and destination competitiveness models– Destination = Amalgam of the tourism amenities, attractions, access,

image, marketing and prices of a particular area.

– Destination management is the co-ordinated management of those elements.

– Destination competitiveness models attempt to identify the factors that determine the competitiveness of a destination.

– Access is a core element of destination competitiveness:• McKercher (1998) - market access is measured in terms of lower travel

time, effort or financial costs. Influences type of tourist that visit a destination.

• Hassan (2000)• Heath(2003)• Ritchie and Crouch(2003)• Dwyer(2003)

Tourism KwaZulu-Natal’s Strategy for Tourists with Disabilities (2004)

• Significant Tourism Market and the fact that it makes business sense to be accessible for people with disabilities

• Overview of key accessibility guidelines of organisations such as EU and UK Accessibility Scheme

• Stressed the significance of accessible service and the fact that persons with impairments are willing to deal with physical challenges, but find it difficult to deal with front line staff who are insensitive to the needs of those with such challenges.

Initial KZN Disabled TourismStrategy• Awareness Campaign • A KwaZulu-Natal Disabled Tourism Association • Brochure and database of accessible tourism facilities • Website • Encouraging Tour Operators to consider engaging this market • Training of Tourism Information Officers and other front line staff

to provide accessible services• Lobbying the National Tourism Grading Council to establish a

National Accessibility Scheme

Implementation Progress

• Disability Tourism Forum• Series of Awareness Initiatives• Promotion of National Accessibility Scheme• Annual monitoring of levels of awareness of

concept of accessibility

Implementation Progress (cont.)

• Preliminary assessment of the Elephant Coast region from a blindness perspective;

• Key needs identified

Relevance and Benefits for Mozambique• Both regions can be marketed as a seamless destination.

• Mozambique acquire expertise in attracting a new market segment and grow market share.

• Mutual benefit for both regions through closer collaboration, joint product development and skills transfer.

• Create career opportunities for People with Disabilities within the Mozambique tourism industry.

• Enhance the profile and value of the disability sector in Mozambique society and so promote disability integration.

• Encourage greater interface between the South African and Mozambique disability sectors towards shaping broader social transformation and equity.

• Both countries serve as role models to the African continent.

Conclusion– Potential improvement of status of Maputo to Hluhluwe Corridore

as a tourist destination and tourism flow as a result of the adoption of an inclusiveness strategy

– Recommendations:– Awareness campaign;– Incentive scheme or low interest loans to mobilise an

accessibility programme for this area