Abstract:
Starting from the observation that having exceptional rock art sites is
not enough on its own to attract tourists, we use a case study in
the Makgabeng to analyse the challenges many remote areas face
when trying to develop rock art tourism. Several initiatives to attract
tourists to cultural heritage sites in the province have been launched
since the late 2000s, without producing the anticipated growth in
visitor numbers. The study combines empirical and qualitative analyses
of data obtained from field observations, focus groups, and semistructured
interviews, all conducted in 2019. In addition, grey literature
(i.e. reports, travel guides, etc.), and tourism websites were used
to investigate whether comparative research from the uKhahlamba
Drakensberg mountains could be applied to address visitor numbers in
the Makgabeng. In terms of practical applications, identifying
obstacles to development and the sustainability of initiatives,
our results may help stakeholders orientate their actions. From a
methodological perspective, our study shows the value of using a
systemic and multiscale approach to analyse factors that impact a
given place, and the interactive and evolving dynamics linking
these factors on different spatial levels. This type of analysis provides
a synoptic and holistic assessment of the challenges facing tourist
development projects in remote areas.
