Perceptions of residents of the Moses Kotane Local Municipality on tourism structures around Mogwase and Saulspoort

Abstract

The impact of tourism on local communities may not always be positive, and consequently the contribution done by tourism to communities is debatable. It is noted that while some developed and developing countries generate most of their income from tourism, they [these countries] are negatively affected by tourism. The attitudes of the host community towards tourism industry are fast becoming the major issue across the world. For example, local communities may form specific negative attitudes about tourism and travelers for reasons such as automobile and foot traffic congestion, increased commercialism, loss of community identity, increased taxes and costs, litter and vandalism. The empirical study uncovered that the majority of respondents, at 66. 7% indicated that tourist attractions in Moses Kotane do not contribute positively towards the development of local communities. In addition, 93.3% agreed that tourism affects local communities since tourists were setting trendy life styles which contradicted traditional African lifestyles. Invariably, due to tourism communities dealt with serious problems such as the use of drugs and prostitution, and many hectares of land were lost to farming in order to promote tourism in the region .