Regional Tourism: The Significance and Profiling of Tourists Travelling from South Africa to Lesotho

Abstract

Regional tourism is becoming an important source of revenue for many developing countries. Through such tourism, countries can enhance their employment opportunities and increase their government revenue. The objective of this study was to profile South African tourists visiting Lesotho, and their motivations in visiting the country. This research adopted a quantitative research methodology, in terms of which questionnaires where completed by the tourists at the border gates and at the airport. Convenience sampling was used, based on the willingness of the tourists concerned to complete the questionnaire, with a screening question being asked by the fieldworkers to ensure that only South Africans completed the questionnaire. The results of the study revealed that Gauteng province has the most business, leisure, visiting friends and relatives and religious market segments visiting Lesotho. The results also show that the mountains, scenery and culture are the main reasons for South African tourists visiting Lesotho. The findings of the research show that South African tourists contribute positively to Lesotho’s economy, highlighting the importance of regional tourism among the regional countries.

Keywords

• regional tourism
• lesotho
• south africa
• economic development
• regional tourists