Analysis of interventions in support of small tourism businesses: the case of Eden District Municipality

This article analyses interventions in support of small tourism businesses (STBs) in the Eden District Municipality (EDM). Existing research points out that due to the contribution of small businesses (SBs) to local economic development (LED), in the locality of municipalities, small business support and development has been prioritised by local government as a focal point of municipal LED programmes. Based on a case study to identify areas in which STBs in the EDM require support to access trade and economic opportunities, this article concludes that a disconnect exists between some support programmes and interventions, and the needs of STBs to access such opportunities. The first outcome of the study thus points to the need for the development of a programme evaluation model for local government programmes. Such a programme evaluation model is a critical outcome of the study recommended for future research that could mitigate the disconnect between programme responses and the needs of STBs. This disconnect negates the plausibility of support programmes and interventions. An inherent shift is therefore required in the practices of local government in which credible baseline information remains a requisite in the appropriation of suitable interventions, thus forming the basis from which programmes are derived. Its value should not be undermined but should dictate the trajectory of future development programmes. The second outcome of the study highlights the need for government to undertake research that explores contributory factors to recurring challenges that STBs experience in accessing trade and economic opportunities and how to mitigate them