TOURISM AND DESTINATION MANAGEMENT: DETERMINING THE VIABILITY OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN LOCAL REGIONS

Throughout the world, tourism is perceived as a viable tool to help alleviate poverty by enhancing employment and equality in many underserved countries such as South Africa. However, tourism may not be established in all regions since each region has diverse industrial potential, which makes it difficult to quantify and develop the appropriate planning and execution of beneficial development strategies. Moreover, tourism development and management, local economic development (LED), and destination management require a systematic local analysis and strategy to establish full implementation and sustainability protocols. The primary aim of this study is to contribute to the enhanced knowledge and expertise associated with the comprehensive ability to determine if a specific region should develop its tourism industry in order to optimise the acquisition of tourism’s enormous benefits. This study utilised a quantitative approach methodology in collecting data from the community, businesses, and government within the region of the Vaal Triangle in South Africa. Moreover, our research used SPSS to analyse the robustness of the statistical data. This study should also augment the extant literature relating to the overall potential of various industries within local regions and expand on the challenges tourism confronts in the development of LED and destination management. The results of the study could also establish a framework for scholars, destination managers and policymakers to determine a region’s ability to compete by incorporating all three ranges of LED, which will confirm that strategies and development proposals are tailored to the specific region.