COMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS OF LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH TOURISM IN PORT ST JOHNS - SOUTH AFRICA

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate community perceptions of opportunities for local economic development (LED) in the town of Port St Johns (PSJ), using tourism as a conduit. PSJ is situated at the mouth of the Umzimvubu River along the Wild Coast region in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. A sample of 307 residents of PSJ responded to a questionnaire on the effects of tourism in their community. Overall, the findings reveal a tourism policy gap regarding the LED strategy and implementing a tourism development plan for PSJ. Therefore, the recommendation is to initiate a stakeholder consultative process, culminating in developing a strategic tourism plan for PSJ. This study contributes to the literature on including tourism in the general development plan of communities such as PSJ. At the same time, it provides strategic direction on how community livelihoods can be improved using the natural and cultural resources in PSJ.