The Attraction SectorWhat is a tourist attraction?

A physical or cultural feature of a particular place that travellers see as meeting their specific needsThere are 5 sub-sectors in the attraction sector*Gaming and lotteries*Leisure*Conservation*Sport and recreation*Events and conferences

Attractions can be divided into:Natural Attractions:Mountains, forests, waterfalls, deserts, lakes, caves, animals, flowers

Human-made Attractions:Areas of special interest: (Soweto, casinos)Festivals: (Knysna Oyster festival, wine and cheese festival,Grahamstown Arts Festival, Cape Town Jazz Festival)Special buildings: (museums, castles)Cultural and historical events: (battlefields, Robben Island, cultural villages)Theme parks: (Gold Reef City, Ratanga Junction)Special events: (World Soccer Cup, Comrades, Duzi canoe

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Secondary attractions have tourist appeal, but are not the primary reason for visiting the locationE.G. Primary Reason: Tourist visiting South Africa for the Rugby World Cup will also spend some time in the Kruger National Park – secondary reasonA negative attraction is an feature of an area that tends to make the tourist choose another area. E.G. Pollution

The Structure of South African TourismA partnership between the Public, National Government and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs)

National Department of TourismDepartment of Home Affairs: passports

Embassies: visasStatistics South Africa (Stats SA)

Department of Trade and IndustryDepartment of Transport

Parastatals (partially owned by government)SA AirwaysSAN Parks

TEP – Utilises funding from government to help growth and development of

sustainable small tourism businesses

Private and NGOsTHETA: Tourism Hospitality & Sport Education & Training – facilitates the achievement of excellent standardsFEDHASA: Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa – protect the interests of all stakeholders in the tourism industryTGCSA: Tourism Grading Council – star grading of accommodation establishmentsFTTSA: Fair trade in tourism – Promotes sustainable tourism. Tourists will buy FTTSA products because they are assured their travel experiences will benefit the local community, the economy and the environment

TGBSA: Representing travel and accommodation enterprises. Provide training and entrepreneurial opportunitiesSAACI: The Southern African association for the Conference Industry: Represent conference and meetings industry SAYTC: Market RSA as a backpacking and youth travel destinationASATA: The association of South African Travel Agents – ensure professional service to the travelling industrySATSA: Southern Africa Tourism Services association -members have to conform to the highest standards in the tourism industry

SAHRA: Sa Heritage Resources Agency – protects and maintains historical sitesACSA: Airports company South Africa – oversees all the airports in RSANational Gambling Board: Oversees all aspects of

gambling in casinosSANParks: South African national parks – manages all the national parks

International OrganisationsWTO: United Nations agency dealing with questions relating to tourism. It compiles the World Tourism rankings. The World Tourism Organization is a significant global body, concerned with the collection and collation of statistical information on international tourism.SADC: The Southern African Development Community - will ensure economic well-being, improvement of the standards of living and quality of life, freedom and social justice; peace and security for the peoples of Southern Africa.

The Private SectorThe private sector plays an industrial-commercial and non-commercial role in tourism

Tour OperatorsTravel AgentsConference OrganisersBooking agenciesTour guidesTravel publications – brochures, menus, leafletsTravel insurance companiesRestaurantsSouvenir shops

International Community Organisations

World Trade Organisation (WTO) – recognise importance of job creation and foreign exchangeWorld Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) – helps global leaders in the tourism industrySouthern Africa development Community (SADC)- members work together to promote tourism in the regionWorld Wide Fund for nature (WWF) –Play role in protecting environment and animals at tourism destinations

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The Top ten Attractions in South Africa:

© The Kruger National Park© Table Mountain© The Garden Route© Cape Town’s Victoria & Alfred Waterfront© Robben Island© Beaches© Sun City© Cultural Villages© Soweto© The Cradle of Humankind