Sustainable indicators for adventure tourism destinations: A case of Waterval Boven

Abstract

In South Africa and around the world, the development of sustainable tourism indicators has been advocated by many authors and has resulted in a number of indicators. Indicators are distinguished by factors such as social, environmental as well as economic. South Africa has contributed to the concept of sustainability through its 1996 Tourism White Paper and has participate in major sustainable events involving many great role-players in the field of sustainability. This study aims to determine the main indicators for the development of sustainable adventure tourism and whether respondents are willing to utilize these indicators, as well as to examine whether respondents have used these indicators before. Research was conducted at Waterval Boven, Mpumalanga, South Africa involving a total of 568 respondents. Descriptive statistics and factor analyses (Empirical Kaiser Criterion) were applied to determine which of the factors are valued by participants. In general, the respondents perceived the indicators positively. The study contributes towards the development of sustainable adventure tourism destinations through the utilization of indicators that can make a significant contribution towards poverty alleviation by maximizing social and economic benefits for local communities, enhancing cultural heritage and reducing any negative impacts on the environment.