The Internet of Things can be used as a powerful tourism development tool for Southern Africa, benefiting host communities and tourists alike. This is according to Prof Haretsebe Manwa, deputy director of the School of Tourism at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Mahikeng.
She recently delivered the keynote address at the 7th Biennial International Tourism Studies Association and the Second International Tourism Educators South Africa (TESA) International Conference that took place from 6 to 10 August 2018.
The topic of her address was, “The internet of things (IoT) in the South African Development Community (SADC) region: enclavisation or cultural exchanges?”
A tourism enclave is a facility where tourists are encouraged to stay inside a self-contained resort environment, for example Sun City, the Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls and Sandton City.
Cultural exchange, on the other hand, refers to tourism where there is interaction between host communities and tourists.
All indications are that tourism enclaves are far more prevalent in the SADC than tourism characterised by cultural exchange.
“Communities are conspicuous by their absence,” says Prof Haretsebe, who believes this is not in the interest of sustainable tourism.
She says the sustainability of tourism is dependent on community involvement and the benefit that communities derive from tourism. Thus, communities should be more involved in the co-creation of the tourism experience.
This could be achieved by harnessing the IoT – the billions of devices around the world, from sensors to smartphones, that are connected to the internet and share and receive data.
Through the IoT, various interlinking subdisciplines such as conservation, destination marketing, communication, safety, transportation and accommodation can be brought together to promote tourism development and enhance visitor experiences, says Prof Haretsebe.
For example, through the IoT, communities could give their input on how they would like to be portrayed on destination websites including their products. Community bloggers could also help educate tourists on how to interact with local communities to foster meaningful cultural exchanges.
“There should also be more collaboration and less competition in marketing SADC as a tourist destination,” she says.
Prof Elmarie Slabbert, the director of the School of Tourism, also attended the conference as the current president of TESA.
More than 21 countries were represented at the conference.
Prof Haretsebe Manwa.
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