https://etd.cput.ac.za/handle/20.500.11838/82 Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:12:19 GMT 2026-04-15T08:12:19Z https://etd.cput.ac.za/handle/20.500.11838/4031 Title: Community perceptions of tourism development in rural areas of Tsatsane, Lesotho Authors: Phasumane, Palesa Edith Abstract: This study investigated community perceptions of tourism development impacts in rural areas. The investigation was conducted using a qualitative research method to understand the relationship between tourism development and community perceptions. The investigation was conducted to help understand community perception regarding access to and involvement in tourism development projects and business opportunities associated with projects in the Tsatsane community in Lesotho. To achieve the research objective, a semi-structured questionnaire was designed to collect both qualitative and quantitative data using a purposive sampling method. For the quantitative data, a self-administered questionnaire was utilized and face-to-face for the qualitative. Respondents were members of the Tsatsane community, leaders and tourism stakeholders from the public and private sectors. Responses received were analysed using the Thematic analysis to organize identified themes emerging from the responses. Similar themes were grouped to enable data analysis following the export of data from Atlas ti.8 to improve understanding of respondents’ perceptions of tourism development in the Tsatsane community. The study concludes that there is a statistically significant relationship between tourism development projects, participation and business interest in females and youth compared to males and the elderly. The study recommended that there should be other hospitality facilities alternatives to accommodate both international and domestic tourists and home stay facilities in Tsatsane should be well developed to better standards to generate improved economic benefits. The pricing of home stays should also be taken into consideration; if the services improve the pricing should also increase. The tourism sector should link with other supporting sectors such as transport and marketing because tourism as an industry needs other industries to grow and the government of Lesotho through relevant ministries should take part in the development and growth of the tourism sector in Tsatsane. Description: Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2022 Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://etd.cput.ac.za/handle/20.500.11838/4031 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://etd.cput.ac.za/handle/20.500.11838/3934 Title: Hotel choice attribute of business and leisure travellers in Cape Town Authors: Matondolo, Mmanare Pholosho Mildred Abstract: As competitiveness between hotels increases, hotel managers are realising that improving their hotel's performance can be a competitive advantage. The rapid growth of the hotel industry has been driven by growing demand. The increased use of hotel services has resulted in hotels facing more demanding customers. Some of the characteristics of the successful activity of a business organisation are a presentation and constant improvement of the quality of services, which meet and exceed the expectations of customers. Understanding the customers’ needs is important, and identifying the attributes that meet customer needs is essential for hoteliers. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the different hotel attributes that influence guests when selecting hotels in Cape Town. This was a quantitative study that used a cross-sectional design. The study was conducted using a closed-ended questionnaire. The questionnaire used consisted of a general question section and a sociodemographic section to obtain the background data of the respondents (travellers’ information) and a hotel attributes section, which determined the selection criteria influencing guests’ choice of hotel. The respondents of this study were guests who stayed in various hotels based on the Atlantic Seaboard, the Central Business District and the surrounding areas in Cape Town. A convenience sampling method was used to select the hotels and guests who participated in the study based on their availability and willingness. A total of 91 respondents from five hotels took part in this study. Data were captured in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 28.0. The findings are presented using descriptive and inferential statistics in the form of tables. The background of the respondents (sociodemographic, visiting category of the particular hotel, hotel visitors, hotel information, booking ratings and duration of stay section) of this study shows that 75% of the respondents were regular (meaning they go to that particular hotel often). Of these participants, 86% were from South Africa, and 68% of the respondents were between 18 and 35 years of age. Participants who stayed at the hotels for business and leisure reasons accounted for 46.2% while, 37.4% were just for business reasons and only 12.1% were for leisure. Only 4.4% indicated that they stayed at the hotels for other reasons. The results showed that most of the respondents were young South Africans, which suggests that these hotels attracted domestic travellers. These findings are helpful in the current environment whereby the tourism and hospitality industry is in the process of recovery and reshaping its market segmentation to focus more on domestic travellers. Most of the respondents had a university national diploma or degree or a college certificate, both at 38.5%, which was the highest among the other categories; this implies that most of the respondents were educated. This study identified 34 hotel attributes and grouped them into ten themes. Themes were established as follows: brand image, marketing, pricing, reservations, transport and location, food and beverage, business facilities, facility structure, hotel hygiene & security and lastly, hotel services. Among these hotel attributes studied, guests rated hotel hygiene and security as the most important (71%), followed by the business facilities theme: business centre (68%) safety hotel hygiene and security, in addition, cleanliness of the room (67%), room comfort (66%). Furthermore, the guests also reported interpersonal skills under the hotel service theme, such as efficient service provision (65%). staff responsiveness (63%), understanding of guest requests (63%), as well as politeness and friendliness (56%) as important. The highest attribute rated was safety and security which falls under the hotel hygiene and safety theme. Knowing the essential attributes to consider in satisfying their guests will increase the number of returning guests and increase loyalty and profitability. Therefore, managers should pay attention as these factors play an important role in investments in the hotel industry. Description: Thesis (Master of Tourism and Hospitality Management)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2022 Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://etd.cput.ac.za/handle/20.500.11838/3934 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://etd.cput.ac.za/handle/20.500.11838/3930 Title: New-age tourism students’ learning preferences and implications for tourism education at universities of technology Authors: Mokoena, Pavla Phitlhelelo Abstract: Discourse on the transformation of higher education from a consumption value point to an indication that Generation Z university students are the most affected by the education transformation process. Shifts in teaching practices and learning environments make it a constant challenge to understand the gap between tested and unknown pedagogical practices in tourism departments at Universities of Technology (UoTs) in South Africa. The Covid-19 pandemic has added to factors that impact on teaching and learning activities. Universities have gone to great lengths to respond to challenges brought about by the pandemic to provide facilities and resources for students during remote learning. The Covid-19 emergency implementation plans, referenced as ERT, implemented by the Council on Higher Education, were effected with clear guidelines of strategic goals that needed to be achieved to complete the academic agenda during the pandemic. Insights into students’ perceptions and learning experiences during this period might assist in revealing gaps between what students experienced and what educational leaders assume as critical factors for blended/hybrid learning. The aim of the study was to explore learning preferences of Tourism Management students at selected UoTs in the interest of engaging in learning, determining engagement within the various learning environments and ascertaining whether the Covid-19 pandemic had any impact on students’ learning preferences. Research on students’ experiences and perceptions during this period highlighted glaring challenges related to remote learning and provided deeper understanding of students’ study practices. The pragmatic approach of the study allowed for navigation of the research process at a time the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic was heavily felt. A questionnaire surveys involving N=147 online participating students at three UoTs was followed by two focus group interviews with N=8 participants using an explanatory-sequential research approach. The results indicated a significant preference for contact classes as opposed to remote classes p = .0098. The kinaesthetic learning style was the most preferred in the classroom (45%), with students indicating a need for activate-participatory face-to-face sessions, while the diverger learning style was the most preferred remote learning approach. In line with the survey results, all focus group interviewees/respondents professed conducting research on new content before either attending class or discussing elements they did not understand with peers to cement learning. Challenges experienced during remote learning were linked to issues of connectivity for access to learning, lack of social interaction leading to impacts on students’ mental wellbeing and resulting in a further widening gap to education access and success. Blended/hybrid learning is a possible standard for HE teaching and learning practices in South Africa. It is hoped tourism departments, institutions and government would consider recommendations of the study as long-term strategies that could include partnerships with all critical stakeholders, according to the ERT principles, in addition to the proposed student-focused framework guidelines presented for successful implementation of chosen blended/hybrid models. Description: Thesis (DTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2022 Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://etd.cput.ac.za/handle/20.500.11838/3930 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://etd.cput.ac.za/handle/20.500.11838/3924 Title: The Covid-19 pandemic and cultural event(s) cancellation in South Africa: views of the royal reed dance in KwaNongoma, KwaZulu Natal Authors: Ndaba, Zimasa Felicia Abstract: Cultural festivals have emerged not only as events that showcase cultural and social values, but as instruments that promote tourism development, tourism seasonality expansion, image improvement, community pride and socioeconomic growth. The Royal Reed Dance Ceremony (RRDC) hosted annually in KwaNongoma, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa is one such events. Since March 2020 (until 2022), the events industry in South Africa has been severely impacted as all gatherings were prohibited owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. This engendered a spiralling effect on the sector with most cultural festivals being cancelled or postponed. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of the cancellation of the RRDC cultural festival in KwaNongoma, by considering the sociocultural and socioeconomic effects resulting from the cancellation. The objectives were to discuss the effects of the cancellation of the RRDC, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, as perceived by the event stakeholders, to explore lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic; to propose guidelines and protocols for the organisation of safe cultural festivals in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and potential future pandemics. In carrying out the study, qualitative research was conducted by means of phenomenological approach. Due to data collection constraints, the study followed non-probability convenience sampling and a total of 14 in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the researcher had to conduct virtual interviews with the participants either telephonically or through other virtual platforms like Zoom or MS Teams. The recorded data obtained from the maidens, residents and organisers was transcribed into textual format whereafter the data were analysed using Creswell’s six-step phenomenological approach. The results indicated that, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic the cancellation of the RRDC had negative sociocultural and socioeconomic effects on the different stakeholder groups, such as the loss of a sense of belonging, loss of business opportunities and loss of opportunities to share cultural experiences. Stakeholders highlighted that COVID-19 restrictions affected the economy of KwaNongoma negatively since the festival is often attended by international and domestic tourists who contribute to improving the quality of life of the community. Furthermore, the study established the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and proposed guidelines and protocols for the organisation of safe cultural festivals in the context of the pandemic and beyond. The study recommends that organisers ensure resilience in the case of COVID-19 by encouraging communities to spread the hosting of such cultural events nationally during such crises as a means of product diversification and ensuring inclusive recovery which will contribute towards transformation in cultural tourism to secure sustainability both during and post the COVID-19 restrictions’ era. Managerial and practical implications are also highlighted. Description: Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2022 Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://etd.cput.ac.za/handle/20.500.11838/3924 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z