Inclusive or exclusive : heritage and cultural tourism in post-apartheid South Africa

Abstract

Since South Africa’s transition to democracy in 1994, the importance of the tourism industry for the country has grown tremendously. Tourism before 1994 was in essence simply seen as a leisure activity enjoyed by those in power namely the ruling white elite class. However, by 1994 this had all changed. With the end of apartheid and the advent of the ‘new’ South Africa the tourism sector gained major recognition as a sector with the ability to boost South Africa’s economy. At the same time, it also became a means for achieving the new government’s goal of reconstruction and nation building in a country that was left divided by the apartheid system. Within the broader framework that is tourism it was heritage and cultural tourism that was seen to be a catalyst for social change and healing.To a certain extent the responsibility of reconstructing, repackaging, transmitting images and representations of the ‘new’ nation and its past, came to rest on the shoulders of the heritage and cultural tourism industry. Through the therapeutic benefits of reconstructing and re-imaging the heritage and cultural sector, South Africa was given the opportunity to not only correct a sector that was once biased, unfair and unequal in its representation of its people and history but also at the same time it provided an opportunity for reconciliation. Since 1994, with the rise of democracy various attempts have been made to correct the inequalities of the past. Thus this study aims to investigate heritage and cultural tourism in post-apartheid South Africa through considering the historical developments and current situation within the country. The intention is to determine the challenges that still face heritage and cultural tourism in South Africa in terms of being reinterpreted and presented to be more inclusive and rectify the bias of heritage during the apartheid era.