African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure (Jan 2014)
Newtown Cultural Precinct driving tourism led urban regeneration within the Johannesburg inner-city
Abstract
Urban tourism is a growing sector of the tourism market as a result many large cities in developed and developing countries have adopted tourism-led approaches to urban regeneration. Urban regeneration has the potential to produce economic benefits, improve physical environment, inner-city image and the welfare of city residents. Urban and cultural tourism are perceived as powerful tools in urban regeneration and transformation and now form part of local and regional economic development strategies of many major cities across South Africa including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London and Bloemfontein. The focus of the study was to explore the role of Newtown Cultural Precinct as a tool for urban regeneration, local economic growth and increasing tourist flows to the Johannesburg inner-city. The results of the study reveal that Newtown Cultural Precinct serves as a ‘catalyst’ for urban regeneration and shows great potential in stimulating local economic growth and attracting a greater number of visitors into the Johannesburg inner-city. Newtown Cultural Precinct is reaping some of the benefits of urban regeneration by turning Newtown into a safe, secure, vibrant and friendly environment, improving the social dimensions of city residents, creating easy access into Newtown as well as promoting a positive image of the Johannesburg inner city.
