Environmental sustainability of festivals : a Case of Mangaung African Cultural Festival

M.A.Abstract: Events and festivals are considered a motivator of the tourism industry, being used for destination development, and, thus, being incorporated into policies and strategies to fast track economic development. The above has been influenced by the ability of the tourism event sector’s ability to attract multiple visitors to a destination, with them engaging in various economic activities during their stay there. However, if not managed sustainably, such events create a myriad of both positive and negative impacts for the host cities involved. Therefore, as a means of balancing event impacts, the concept of sustainability is widely accepted and used as a guiding principle. More recently, new attention has been diverted to managing the environmental impacts of events due to global awareness of environmental issues, including climate change. As a result, an increasing number of events and festivals are developing in an environmentally sustainable manner, or are being ‘greened’. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the environmental sustainability of the Mangaung African Cultural Festival (MACUFE) event. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches of research were employed. Attendees at the MACUFE event informed the study. A sample of 385 respondents was drawn, using both systematic stratified random and convenience sampling techniques. Data were collected by means of the administration of a questionnaire using face-to-face interviews. In addition, participant observation was also used, guided by an observation schedule containing a list of items that formed a checklist. The results revealed a high level of awareness and understanding of the concept of sustainability in relation to the hosting of events and festivals. Thus, the majority of the respondents considered the inclusion and application of sustainability as a guiding principle when hosting events to be of great importance in the given context. The MACUFE attendees expressed the belief that the event was hosted in a sustainable manner, cited such benefits as the generation of employment and the revival of culture, among others. However, the results also unearthed perceptions relating to such negative environmental impacts as waste production, traffic congestion, and the use of fuel, which are considered to be major contributors to the body of greenhouse emissions that are exuded on this planet. Assessing the environmental sustainability of the MACUFE event revealed mixed reactions (significant similarities and differences) from the attendees, with a slight majority rating it to be average. Such a rating was due to the few responsible practices that were observable at the MACUFE event. The results of the study, therefore, suggest a need for increased commitment from the organisers with regards to ensuring the environmental sustainability of the event. The need also exists for an environmental policy and event guidelines to be in place that will guide future activities related to the event, and that will help to ensure the effective implementation of systems that are required to facilitate the heightening of the profile of the event with regards to environmental compliance