Urban food markets: A new leisure phenomenon in South Africa

Cities are multi-purpose tourism destinations. The objective in this paper is to examine an emerging new phenomenon in the leisure tourism economies of South African cities, namely the growth of food markets - sometimes referred to as farmers' markets - which are attracting international and local attention as new foci for leisure and recreation. During the past two decades an increasing number of food markets have appeared in several South African cities with many flourishing as leisure foci for both local residents and tourists. Economic impact studies would certainly show economic stimulus accruing from such markets. The extent and characteristics of food markets in Gauteng and food market entrepreneurs are under scrutiny in this investigation.