Shared Growth in Urban Tourism: Evidence from Soweto, South Africa

This paper addresses the under-researched theme of the role of small- and medium-sized enterprises in urban tourism. An analysis is undertaken of key constraints surrounding the potential of tourism small firms (or SMEs) to contribute toward shared growth in the urban developing world. Evidence is provided from recent research conducted on small enterprise development and urban tourism in post-apartheid Soweto, a locality with a rich political history that has come to symbolize the political freedom of the "new South Africa."