The potential of tourism to create job opportunities in rural areas of the eastern Free State: a case study of Bethlehem

The research seeks to make a contribution through the evaluation of the situation related to employment in the tourism industry. The case study is devoted to the regional town of Bethlehem. The research strives to involve all stakeholders into the problem of sustainable tourism development with reference to the possibility of the industry to make a meaningful contribution to the unemployment problems of people in rural towns. An attempt is made to provide recommendations that could improve the coordinated efforts of stakeholders in the study area.