Stakeholder Perceptions of Eco-Cultural Resorts in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Eco-cultural projects are initiated in host communities to create livelihood opportunities linked to tourism and concurrently supporting conservation efforts. Research tends to focus on the sustainability of the projects after implementation with limited understanding of stakeholder issues during the planning stages. This study focuses on stakeholder perceptions of the proposed Eco-Culture Resort (ECR) in the Chelmsford Nature Reserve (CNR) at Ntshingwayo Dam in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa in relation to tourism potential. The methodological approach adopted entailed interviews with 50 respondents purposively selected from the ranks of three key stakeholder groups - government, business and community members. The main findings reveal that the stakeholders linked ECRs with conservation, sustainable development and tourism-related opportunities. Respondents also viewed the proposed resort as a tourist destination with huge economic development potential. The study reveals that ECRs have stakeholder support and perceived to have the potential to increase tourism opportunities and enhance the level of environmental awareness among both would-be visitors and the broader community. However, challenges arise that foreground the importance of extensive stakeholder engagement to ensure that tourism benefits are realised. There is limited research on examining stakeholder perceptions of tourism-related aspects of ECRs despite the growing recognition that understanding of different views, interests, opinions, expectations and concerns results in greater success of nature-based conservation and tourism projects. This research addresses this gap in the literature and addresses the issue of better understanding stakeholders' perceptions and concerns during the planning stages of ECRs.