Economic Diplomacy through International Tourism Co-operation : the Case of South Africa and China, 2009 to 2017

Abstract

This mini-dissertation examines the nexus between international co-operation in tourism and economic diplomacy through the lens of modern diplomatic practice. In this 21st century, characterised by globalisation, economic diplomacy is emerging as one of the ubiquitous mode of modern diplomatic practice in both the developed and developing nations. It takes many forms, such as negotiation of bilateral and multilateral trade regimes, establishing foreign economic relations, nation branding, attraction of foreign direct investment and promoting international tourism to pursue national development imperatives. This mini-dissertation focuses on one function of economic diplomacy, that of international co-operation in the field of tourism. This is a case study research design based on literature review, analysing the nature and character of the evolving economic diplomacy practiced through tourism co-operation between South Africa and China. The literature review indicates that there is an abundance of analysis on the significance, nature and conduct of economic diplomacy between South Africa and China and that economic diplomacy is central to their growing diplomatic ties since 2009. However, there is lack of understanding of tourism’s role in South Africa’s economic diplomacy architecture, meaning the exact role of tourism co-operation in advancing economic diplomacy remains undocumented in the mainstream literature discussing South Africa’s evolving economic diplomacy agenda. This lacuna has motivated this study and its findings will contribute to the body of knowledge on the evolving nature of modern diplomatic practice. This mini-dissertation investigates the extent to which economic diplomacy practiced through tourism co-operation advanced economic diplomacy between South Africa and China from 2009 to 2017. The nature of economic diplomacy practiced by South Africa through international tourism co-operation postulated in this mini-dissertation includes mainly four pillars: 1. Negotiation, signing and implementation of tourism co-operation agreements; 2. Representation of South Africa’s tourism interests in China; 3. Country branding and positioning to increase inbound tourism arrivals; and 4. Building business relations through tour operators to promote tourism. The four pillars constitute the central tenets of analysis in this study, with the key finding being that co-operation in tourism is emerging as a major constituent of the burgeoning economic diplomacy between South Africa and China. The report recommends a more focused research agenda on this theme of tourism co-operation in diplomacy studies and provides policy recommendations on how South Africa can strategically use this form of co-operation as an effective instrument of economic diplomacy.