Research

RESEARCH PROJECTS:

The Tourism Management Division has been collaborating with the National Department of Tourism on research projects as part of a Memorandum of Understanding agreement since 2012. The departmental research team: Professor B. Lubbe, Prof F. Fairer-Wessels, Dr A. Douglas and Dr E. du Preez. 

The 2017-2018 research project is a particularly interesting and challenging one which builds on previous work and encompasses the development of a framework to inform investment for product and infrastructure development in tourism.

In 2016/2017 the Division did research on measuring memorable tourist experiences at major attractions.

Read more: http://www.researchmatters.up.ac.za/researcher-projects/view/76

In 2015/2016 our research project was focused on the issue of rhino poaching: determining the impact of poaching and anti-poaching measures on visitor experiences.

Read more http://www.iol.co.za/travel/travel-news/how-rhino-poaching-is-affecting-sa-tourism-2086328

In 2015/2014 the focus shifted to determining the regional competitiveness of the various provinces for the domestic market. The study also culminated in the development of a regional tourism competitiveness index. Industry stakeholders at provincial and regional level received training in the application of the model and are undertaking their own research at the hand of the methodology to determine their own competitiveness using this standardised instrument.

Read more: https://tkp.tourism.gov.za/Documents/2015-16_UP_Regonal%20Competetiveness.pdf

For the period 2014/2013 our research focused on developing the competitiveness of South Africa as a globally competitive tourism destination, taking into cognisance unique aspects of the destination.

Read more: https://tkp.tourism.gov.za/Documents/2014-15_Up%20Competetiveness.pdf