Adventure tourism: opportunities and management challenges for SADC destinations

Abstract

English: The international tourism industry is becoming increasingly segmented with the growth of different ‘niches’ or ‘segments’ of tourism. One notable and rapidly expanding niche segment in the international tourism economy is that of adventure tourism. Although adventure tourism has attracted a growing international scholarship, research on adventure tourism in Africa is currently undeveloped. Despite this, all Southern African Development Community (SADC) states are promoting themselves as adventure tourism destinations. This article identifies seven key management and policy issues relating to the development of the adventure tourism business in the SADC region.Afrikaans: Die internasionale toerismebedryf word toenemend gesegmenteer met die groei van nisse of segmente van toerisme. ’n Belangrike en vinnig groeiende nis in die internasionale toerisme-ekonomie is dié van avontuurtoerisme. Alhoewel avontuurtoerisme ’n groeiende internasionale vakkundigheid lok, is navorsing op avontuurtoerisme in Afrika tans onontwikkel. Ten spyte hiervan, bevorder die Suider-Afrikaanse Ontwikkelingsgemeenskap-lande (SAOG) hulself as bestemmings vir avontuurtoerisme. Hierdie artikel identifiseer sewe belangrike bestuurs- en beleidskwessies verwant aan die ontwikkeling van avontuurtoerisme in die SAOG-streek.