Proposed Governance Model for Geotourism and Geoheritage in South Africa and the Implications for Africa

Inclusive governance is crucial for the development of geotourism and management of geoheritage sites if social sustainability is to be realised. South Africa has three levels of government, state-owned entities, private entities and not-for-profit organisations that can assist in the development of geotourism in South Africa. However, there is no governance model for the development of geotourism and management of geoheritage sites in South Africa because geotourism and geoheritage management is implemented mainly on the basis of geoparks or protected areas. This paper interrogates a range of governance models used for tourism management, including those used by UNESCO Global Geoparks. The reviewed global governance models are then used to explore mechanisms that could be applied in the model development of geotourism and management of geoheritage sites in South Africa. This paper highlights the opportunities for inclusively engaging with South African stakeholders (including local communities) to develop and manage geotourism, and proposes a model that would be suitable for adoption in South Africa. This is the first time that a comprehensive governance model for development of geotourism and management of geoheritage sites has been proposed for South Africa and Africa as a continent.

Automated summary

Inclusive governance is essential for the development and management of geotourism and geoheritage sites in South Africa, with a focus on social sustainability. Currently, there is no specific governance model for geotourism development and geoheritage management in South Africa, relying mainly on geoparks or protected areas. This paper examines various governance models used for tourism management, including those employed by UNESCO Global Geoparks, to propose mechanisms that can be applied in South Africa. It emphasizes the opportunities for inclusive engagement with South African stakeholders, including local communities, and proposes a suitable model for adoption in the country. This is the first comprehensive governance model proposed for the development and management of geotourism and geoheritage sites in South Africa and Africa as a whole.