Tourism, protected areas and development in South Africa: views of visitors to Mkambati Nature Reserve

Tourism to areas of natural beauty has recently been seen as one of the fastest growing interests in many countries around the world. This brand of tourism also encompasses celebrating and sharing with tourists the uniqueness and diversity of different cultures in areas visited. Through a case study of current tourism trends in Mkambati Nature Reserve on the Wild Coast, where an ambitious ecotourism project under the auspices of the Spatial Development Initiative (SDI) is planned, this paper attempts to emphasize the role played by local visitors in making ecotourism a success or failure. The study found that local tourists are currently the majority of visitors to Mkambati Nature Reserve. It also shows that while unimpressed with infrastructure and other services, local tourists are prepared to spend money to enjoy the quietness that is offered by protected environments. However, local tourists to Mkambati are not as enthusiastic about visiting and sharing experiences in adjacent rural areas. If based on current trends, then planning of ecotourism ventures should, at least initially, be based on local visitors ’ patterns. Key words: conservation, development, recreation, visitor preferences