Stakeholder Perceptions of Crime and Security in Township Tourism Development

Abstract

This paper examines by way of exploratory study the perceptions of residents and police on the effects of crime on township tourism. The study was conducted in Gugulethu, Khayelitsha and Nyanga townships in Cape Town. Using a qualitative research approach, three focus group interviews, one in each township (a total of 18 participants), and semi-structured interviews with eleven police officials in the Cape Town townships yielded information to address the research aim. Thematic data analysis captured police officials’ and residents’ perceptions on which more conclusive research can be done. Residents and police perceive Cape Town townships as unsafe for tourism. Despite this, the study found that tourism does not contribute to crime but rather becomes a casualty of crime in these townships. High unemployment, lack of education, drug and alcohol abuse were identified as contributors to crime in the townships. One of the recommendations in this study is that the local tourism offices in Cape Town should encourage the unemployed towhship youths to go through an entrepreneurship training process such as business incubation to help them create and manage their own tourism businesses. Sponsorship to this effect, in terms of financial and technical support can be provided by private tourism sector companies in collaboration with local municipalities and public institutions.

Keywords

• crime and tourism
• resident perception
• resident safety
• resident security
• township tourism