In the context of South Africa, where there is a long history of colonization that has unfairly distributed the country's resources and economy, race is a key characteristic in the tourism sector. I use critical race theory to explore the inequitable role of race and racism in the tourism sector, which ensured the failure of the post-apartheid transformational agenda by covertly perpetuating white supremacy. The study samples a cultural village in KwaZulu-Natal province located on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg.
Ultimately, the study found that there was minimal to no change in the racial makeup of the sector; which is that Whites own a lion's share of the industry while Blacks serve as employees, at times for a mere minimum wage. This thesis does not contain text, graphics or tables copied and pasted from the Internet, unless specifically acknowledged, and the source is detailed in the thesis and in the References sections.
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND OF STUDY
They found that there is a lack of transformation in the Clarens area accommodation sector. Ownership and control of the industry still rests largely in the hands of a white minority. What is the self-identified racial composition of the heritage and cultural tourism industry in the enterprise.
Is transformation taking place in the sector and what have been its effects? Study organization. The problematic racial and economic dynamics of the heritage and cultural tourism sector are clearly presented.
LITERATURE REVIEW
The above figures show the economic potential of the tourism industry in South Africa. This is true of the tourism industry, hence the critical race approach to the study. According to Goudie et al (1999) who are highly critical of the tourism industry, including the heritage and cultural tourism sub-industry, they argue that the industry has not progressed beyond apartheid.
The work of Goudie et al (1999) is undoubtedly one of the few where race is a major theme in the analysis of the tourism sector. This is the case for the tourism industry in South Africa, hence the application of critical race theory in analyzing the findings of this study.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
What is the racial makeup of the heritage and cultural tourism industry at the establishment. How do race and racism play a role in the establishment's employment and ownership structures. The nature of this study is primarily qualitative as it focuses on the experiences of the participants, who in this case were the staff at the cultural village as well as my observations when visiting the site.
The purpose of research in the critical paradigm requires the researcher to be the instigator and facilitator who understands the transformation that needs to occur (Guba and Lincoln 1994). A critical paradigm was also appropriate due to the theoretical and qualitative nature of this study. The consumption of the heritage and cultural products and packages offered by the site (e.g. presentations and tours) therefore played a major role in the observation process of how the site functions.
Documents about the site visitors, or a summary thereof from the management of the heritage site. This is because the cultural village is located twenty-seven kilometers outside the city. One of the main challenges was finding the most cost-effective transport to get there.
Furthermore, I had challenges explaining some of the concepts in Zulu to the participants in the study. The leader of one of the most prominent cultural villages in Durban, a white man, was troubled from the beginning when he read the subject of this study. The study participants played a crucial role in this study by opening up and speaking freely during the interviews.
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
The first participant seemed more positive and from the beginning of the interview established a sense of satisfaction about a working cultural village. This was consistent with his satisfaction as a worker at the cultural village, which he claimed from the beginning of the interview:. The following participant expressed somewhat similar sentiments to that of the previous participant when it came to issues of race:.
Still under the theme "Race and Racism," participants were asked to comment on the racial makeup of the staff at the cultural village. Another participant made some sense of the racial makeup and went on to state that the manager has a preferred racial demographic when it comes to visitors:. I then asked the participants what the racial makeup of cultural village management looked like, and their responses were all consistent; than the country if fully owned by White:.
We don't even have electricity here, we are showing the real life of the ancient Zulus. After all, as can be seen from the answers above, the existence of the cultural village as a tourism enterprise has not brought tangible benefits or development to the surrounding community. Indeed, the government's demands are met here in the cultural village, because when the money goes up, he tells and then at the end of the month, he really raises our salary.
But he would have to abide by the laws of the government and even if he is cheating us, we don't really know. The owner of the neighboring farm also told our leader that sometimes he does not pay his workers. I then asked the participants if they could find a source for the extensive knowledge of Zulu culture that Chief White imparts during the tour.
It is during the tour that the visitors learn about AJ, as they all fondly call him, who is the owner and founder of the cultural village. The driver also gives an intriguing history of the Zulu nation, particularly the Shaka Zulu era.
DISCUSSION OF RESEARCH FINDINGS
This applies to the tourism sector, as evidenced by research results and ongoing trends within the sector. In the previous chapter, the manager gave an explanation to a German couple who inquired about the employees' wages. The study found that the majority of tourist guides who participated in the study were married white men (63.2%).
The rent is deducted from what is considered an already low salary of the workers in the cultural village, making the income even lower. One of the workers explained that the manager has an apartheid mentality in his approach to them. He went on to say that the workers should be more passionate about their Zulu culture and how they act as ambassadors of the Zulu nation, representing the Zulu ethnic group to the many visitors, both local and international.
Her tone was overly grateful and completely submissive to the order of the cultural village as established by the manager. This encounter with the research participants revealed a nervous condition that Fanon (1963) describes as the status of the native. It was as if the manager's commanding voice had an irrefutable sense of purpose.
Race is one of the most influential factors in shaping heritage and cultural tourism and the wider tourism industry in South Africa. The racial demarcation of the industry suggests that the economic approach is inadequate, hence the Critical Race Theory framework. Challenges in implementing the Employment Equity Act in public FET colleges in the Western Cape (Doctoral dissertation, Cape Peninsula University of Technology).
Semi-structured interview guide for destination employees
If long, why did you stay so long and do you see yourself here long term. Have you worked in similar institutions before, and if so, how does that institution compare to your previous experience in terms of addressing the issue of racial equality in South Africa. What are the demographics of your visitors (in terms of nationality, race, age and gender?).
Do the people whose culture is depicted in the farm attraction receive economic benefits and how? Who are the sources of information about Zulu culture and how were they selected? Do these sources receive any form of compensation for their knowledge and how?
How the government's demands from the tourism sector affected the profit and revenue sharing of the cultural village destination. In what way did the tourist attraction of the cultural village contribute to the transformation in the tourism sector. Which indicators are clear evidence of the transformation in the tourist attraction of the cultural village.
How the transformation measures implemented at this attraction have been positive and beneficial to the surrounding community.
Consent form for study participants
My name is Thandanani Gasa from UKZN School of Build Environment and Development Studies [email protected]). You are invited to consider participating in a study involving research into race and racism in the tourism sector. The aim and purpose of this research is to address persistent racism in the tourism sector by looking at how some of the tourist attractions are structured.
It is expected that a total of 8 to 10 participants will participate in the study, drawn from staff and management of the PheZulu Cultural Village. The research hopes to highlight and contribute to a pool of knowledge that will help address the racial inequality that characterizes the tourism industry. has been ethically reviewed and approved by the UKZN Humanities and Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee (approval number_____).
If a participant withdraws from the study, data accumulated prior to withdrawal will be excluded from the study. The researcher may disconnect the participant from the study if the interaction poses any form of threat to anyone involved or not involved in the study. I have been given the opportunity to answer questions about the survey and have received answers to my satisfaction.
Ngiyazisa ukuthi ukuhlanganyela kwami kulolu cwaningo kungokuzithandela ngokuphelele futhi ngingahoxa noma nini ngaphandle kokubandlulula noma yiziphi izinzuzo engivame ukuba nazo. Lesi sifundo sibuyekezwe kontanga futhi sagunyazwa yiKomidi le-UKZN Humanities and Social Sciences Research Ethics (inombolo yokugunyazwa _____). Uma unezinkinga noma imibuzo, ungathintana nomcwaningi (ngemininingwane enikeziwe) futhi ungathintana nekomidi lobulungiswa le-UKZN Humanities and Social Sciences ngale mininingwane elandelayo: ULAWULO LWEZOKUZIPHATHA LWEZINDLU NEZESAYENSI.
