Static or Dynamic Tourism SMME’s Resilience? Adaptive Strategies of Formal and Informal Enterprises to Multiple Crises

Tourism is recognized as an inherently vulnerable and susceptible industry, with tourism small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) being the most affected stakeholder group in times of crisis. This study explores the resilience of formal and informal SMMEs in South Africa against the broad and continuous range of crises that affect their operation. Focused on Vilakazi Street in Soweto, a qualitative research design was utilized, and 21 interviews were conducted with owners of tourism-related establishments. The findings of this study show tourism SMMEs to have been facing a number of crisis events, including load-shedding, and rising inflation rates. In response, the study found the adaptive strategies implemented to include the use of technology, investing in generators, changing business practices, and collective business responses to crises. Moreover, the findings showed a notable distinction between the adaptive strategies and actions taken by informal and formal SMMEs. The theoretical contribution of the study lies in its examination of resilience attributes in informal and informal tourism enterprises.