THE INFLUENCE OF SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL PARKS FREE WEEK ON DOMESTIC VISITORS’ ENGAGEMENT WITH KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Résumé
This purpose of this paper is to examine how ‘SANParks week,’ a yearly event where entrance fees are waived for domestic visitors, influences engagement with national parks, using Black domestic tourists to Kruger National Park as a case study. A primarily quantitative approach was utilized, purposively collecting surveys from Black South African visitors to Kruger National Park, both during SANParks week and outside of SANParks week. A comparative analysis was conducted between the two groups, focusing on differences in travel patterns, motivations and experiences within the park. The results show some variations in travel patterns and motivations of visitors between free week visitors and fee paying visitors, particularly in terms of travel patterns and the role of accessibility in motivations. In addition, there were high numbers of visitors fr om local communities as well as school groups during SANParks free week. However, some barriers to engagement appear to persist with respondents highlighting the need for more affordable options for accommodation and activities as well as a lack of directed marketing towards the domestic market. This study shows that SANParks free week provided important opportunities for Black tourists, by overcoming accessibility issues with very high engagement during this period. Initiatives such as these, are important in increasing engagement with national parks, particularly among local communities surrounding the park.
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