Geographic Information Systems: A Toolbox for Sustainable Tourism in Southern Africa

Abstract

Achieving sustainable tourism is a multidisciplinary process fraught with development planning obstacles that require advanced spatial data and information system management. Tourism growth and planning pronouncements are becoming increasingly complex without a corresponding organised computerised spatial data and information management system. Tourism organisations are also grappling with the challenges of achieving sustainable tourism development. The emergence of geographic information systems technology can help address the challenges associated with achieving sustainable tourism development. Geographic information systems technology provides opportunities for spatial data and analysis of tourism resources for sustainable development. Through content analysis, this study reviews how geographic information systems technology can contribute to sustainable tourism development. Specifically, the authors examined the role of geographic information systems technology in managing environmental impacts, analysing the suitability of locations, identifying conflicting interests, and modelling relationships for sustainable tourism development within the Southern African context. The findings indicate that geographic information systems technology has the potential to contribute to sustainable tourism development and achieving sustainable development goals. It offers a snapshot of the state-of-the-art in this rapidly evolving field to tourism academics, managers, and policymakers.

Keywords

• tourism growth
• sustainable tourism development
• geographic information systems