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Thulamela's tourism sector has experienced growth in recent years, contributing to a steadily rising regional GDP. However, persistent unemployment and poverty raise concerns about the extent of local community involvement in tourism planning and decision-making, which is essential for ensuring equitable benefits, cultural preservation , and sustainable development. this study examined community participation and interactions with local businesses and authorities in Thohoyandou and surrounding villages within the Thulamela Local Municipality. A quantitative survey involving 304 community members was conducted, and the data were analyzed using SPSS version 29.0 with appropriate statistical techniques. the results reveal a significant gab between communities and administrative governance structure , along with a strong demand for inclusion in the formulation and drafting of tourism policies and participatory planning platforms. This study contributes to the scholarship on community involvement in tourism and offer potential insight for academics, managers, planners and policymakers who seek to enhance inclusive, community-centered tourism governance in developing contexts such as South Africa.

Tourism is increasingly recognised as a catalyst for inclusive development in the Global South. In South Africa, community-based homestays (CBHs) empower rural communities while conserving cultural and environmental assets, yet implementation remains uneven. This study examines the governance and sustainability of CBHs through a case study of the Makwarani village in Limpopo Province. Using an interpretivist qualitative design, ten semi-structured interviews were analysed thematically within Collaborative Governance, Social Exchange, and Sustainable Livelihoods frameworks. Findings reveal that tourism both preserves and commercialises local culture, generates seasonal income, and fosters social cohesion while also producing inequality, environmental strain, and governance fragmentation. Participants stressed the need for equitable benefit-sharing, strong institutional coordination, and community participation. The study concludes that inclusive governance, capacity development, and collaborative management are essential to bridge the policy–practice gap and achieve sustainable, community-driven tourism in South Africa.

This study investigates the prevailing barriers to the development of cultural tourism to become an inclusive and participatory agent of local economic growth in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Using a mixed methods study approach, researchers collected data by giving structured questionnaires and conducting semi-structured interviews in eleven culturally rich areas of the province. Quantitative findings indicate the COVID-19 pandemic significantly eroded tourism growth, followed closely by the lack of local engagement, primarily among the youth and women, largely resulting from the unavailability of information and the lack of support for small businesses. Qualitative findings endorse the stated barriers, indicating the lack of sufficient strategic planning, under-marketing of the culture of tourism, and the lack of integration of such aspects of culture, such as traditional foods and arts, into the touristic products. The study calls for inclusive policies to empower the marginalised communities, the widening of community engagement, and the utilisation of KZN’s cultural resources to drive economic transformation. The study concludes by providing recommendations for responsive governance, strategic marketing, and development paradigms that can reposition the culture of tourism as a viable path for inclusive development in the province.

A well-crafted ecotourism strategy that encourages the participation of poor rural communities could create opportunities for local communities’ residents. This study investigated whether the local communities are participating in the implementation of ecotourism projects. A mixed-methods approach was adopted in the form of interviews and questionnaires. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and ATLAS TI applications were used for data analysis, respectively. The findings indicate that community members had not been properly informed about ecotourism services across the four local municipalities, thereby, community participation in ecotourism activities was somewhat sporadic, inconsistent, and informal. An improved communication network is recommended to encourage local participation in ecotourism businesses.

This paper explores the potential role of indigenous languages in fostering local economic development through cultural-tourism within the Polokwane Local Municipality. As a region rich in cultural diversity and indigenous heritage, Polokwane presents a unique opportunity to leverage its linguistic and cultural assets for sustainable economic growth. This paper discusses how the incorporation of indigenous languages can contribute to various aspects of local economic development, including tourism, entrepreneurship, cultural preservation, and community engagement. Therefore, this conceptual paper uses a traditional literature review and secondary data analysis techniques to discuss trends of research on the relationship between indigenous language, cultural tourism and local economic development.