Tourism
🌍 TOURISM — FULL STUDY NOTES
1. REGIONAL TOURISM
Regional Tourism
Tourism that takes place within a particular geographical region.
In this topic: tourism within the Southern African region.
SADC
Full name
Southern African Development Community
Main aims
Economic development
Regional integration
Cooperation between member states
Peace and security
Poverty reduction
Improve quality of life
Sustainable development
Tourism in SADC
Promotes tourism within Southern Africa.
Encourages cooperation between countries.
Encourages tourists to visit multiple countries in the region.
Tourism contributes to:
Employment
Foreign exchange earnings
Economic growth
Development of infrastructure
🌍 SADC COUNTRIES
🇳🇦 Namibia
Capital: Windhoek
Currency: Namibian Dollar (NAD)
Major attractions: Namib Desert, Sossusvlei, Etosha National Park, Fish River Canyon
Tourism: Wildlife, desert and adventure tourism
🇧🇼 Botswana
Capital: Gaborone
Currency: Botswana Pula (BWP)
Major attractions: Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, Makgadikgadi Pans
Tourism: Wildlife, safari and nature tourism
🇲🇿 Mozambique
Capital: Maputo
Currency: Mozambican Metical (MZN)
Major attractions: Bazaruto Archipelago, beaches, Gorongosa National Park
Tourism: Beach, marine, diving and wildlife tourism
🇲🇬 Madagascar
Capital: Antananarivo
Currency: Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
Major attractions: Avenue of the Baobabs, national parks, beaches
Famous for: Lemurs, baobab trees and unique wildlife
Tourism: Wildlife, nature and beach tourism
🇲🇺 Mauritius
Capital: Port Louis
Currency: Mauritian Rupee (MUR)
Major attractions: Le Morne, Chamarel, Black River Gorges, beaches
Tourism: Beach, luxury, marine and resort tourism
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Capital: Harare
Currency: Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG)
Major attractions: Victoria Falls, Great Zimbabwe, Hwange National Park
Tourism: Wildlife, cultural, historical and adventure tourism
🇿🇲 Zambia
Capital: Lusaka
Currency: Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
Major attractions: Victoria Falls, South Luangwa National Park, Lower Zambezi National Park
Tourism: Wildlife, safari and adventure tourism
🧠 Quick associations
Namibia → Namib Desert
Botswana → Okavango Delta
Mozambique → Beaches
Madagascar → Lemurs
Mauritius → Luxury beaches
Zimbabwe → Victoria Falls + Great Zimbabwe
Zambia → Victoria Falls + Safari
⚠ Victoria Falls is shared by Zambia and Zimbabwe.
⭐ Match these
Namibia → Namib Desert
Botswana → Okavango Delta
Mozambique → Beaches/Bazaruto
Madagascar → Lemurs/Baobabs
Mauritius → Beaches/Le Morne
Zimbabwe → Victoria Falls/Great Zimbabwe
Zambia → Victoria Falls/South Luangwa
Victoria Falls → Zambia + Zimbabwe
🏢 RETOSA
Full name
Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa
What was RETOSA?
A tourism organisation associated with SADC.
Established in 1997.
Served as the promotional and marketing arm of SADC tourism.
Main purpose
Promote Southern Africa as a single, multi-faceted tourist destination.
Market the region internationally.
Encourage tourism development.
Encourage tourists to travel within the region.
Promote regional tourism products.
Encourage cooperation between tourism stakeholders.
RETOSA objectives
Promote and market Southern Africa.
Encourage intra-regional tourism.
Encourage international tourism.
Promote community and rural tourism.
Encourage regional/international transport.
Promote tourism training.
Encourage consistent tourism standards.
Promote sustainable tourism.
Promote the region’s natural and cultural resources.
Easy exam definition
RETOSA:
Organisation responsible for promoting and marketing Southern Africa as a tourism destination.
🧠 SADC vs RETOSA
SADC → regional development + cooperation
RETOSA → tourism promotion + marketing
💱 2. FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Foreign exchange
The conversion of one country’s currency into another country’s currency.
Foreign currency
Currency belonging to another country.
Exchange rate
The value of one currency compared with another currency.
Example:
$1 = R18
This means:
US$1 = R18
US$100 = R1 800
Currency appreciation
When a currency increases in value compared with another currency.
Stronger rand
Foreign tourists receive fewer rands for their currency.
South Africa becomes more expensive for foreign tourists.
South Africans can buy foreign currency more cheaply.
International travel becomes cheaper for South Africans.
Currency depreciation
When a currency decreases in value compared with another currency.
Weaker rand
Foreign tourists receive more rands for their currency.
South Africa becomes cheaper/more affordable for foreign tourists.
Foreign travel becomes more expensive for South Africans.
⭐ Remember
Strong rand → SA expensive for foreigners
Weak rand → SA cheaper for foreigners
🧮 FOREIGN EXCHANGE CALCULATIONS
Foreign currency → Rand
Multiply
Example:
US$500 × R18
= R9 000
Rand → Foreign currency
Divide
Example:
R9 000 ÷ 18
= US$500
🧠 Memory trick
Foreign → Rand = ×
Rand → Foreign = ÷
🤝 3. CUSTOMER CARE
Customer care
The way a business treats, assists and communicates with customers.
Good customer care
Friendly
Helpful
Respectful
Professional
Patient
Efficient
Good communication
Reliable
Quick response
Understanding customer needs
Importance of good customer care
Customer satisfaction
Customer loyalty
Repeat business
Positive reputation
Positive reviews
Increased sales
More tourists
Competitive advantage
🌎 FOREIGN TOURISTS
Foreign tourist
A person who travels to another country for tourism.
Needs of foreign tourists
Safety and security
Accommodation
Transport
Food
Accurate information
Currency exchange
Good communication
Reliable services
Cultural understanding
Cultural differences
Foreign tourists may have different:
Languages
Religions
Customs
Traditions
Food preferences
Social norms
Communication styles
Tourism businesses should:
Respect different cultures.
Avoid stereotypes.
Be patient.
Provide accurate information.
Respect customs and traditions.
Understand dietary requirements.
Use appropriate communication.
Provide multilingual information where possible.
🗣 LANGUAGE BARRIER
Definition
Difficulty communicating because people speak different languages.
Ways to overcome it
Multilingual staff
Translation services
Translation apps
Simple language
Signs
Symbols/pictures
Multilingual brochures
Clear written information
📈 4. MULTIPLIER EFFECT
Definition
The multiplier effect is the repeated circulation of tourism spending through the economy, creating additional income and economic activity.
How it works
Tourist spends money
⬇
Tourism business earns money
⬇
Business pays employees/suppliers
⬇
Employees and suppliers spend money
⬇
Other businesses earn money
⬇
More economic activity
DIRECT, INDIRECT & INDUCED EFFECTS
Direct
Money spent directly by tourists on tourism products/services.
Examples:
Hotel
Restaurant
Tour guide
Attraction
Transport
Indirect
Tourism businesses spend money on suppliers and other businesses.
Example:
Hotel buys food from a local farmer.
Induced
Tourism employees spend their income/wages.
Example:
Hotel employee uses their salary to buy groceries.
🧠 Remember
DIRECT → Tourist spends
INDIRECT → Tourism business spends
INDUCED → Tourism worker spends
Benefits of the multiplier effect
Creates employment
Increases income
Supports local businesses
Increases government revenue
Encourages investment
Stimulates economic growth
Develops local communities
Supports suppliers
Increases economic activity
🔥 THE STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW COLD
If you’re short on time, these are the things I’d make automatic:
SADC
Full name
Purpose
7 countries in your scope
Capitals
Currencies
Major attractions
RETOSA
Full name
Purpose
Promotes and markets Southern Africa as a tourism destination
Relationship with SADC
Foreign exchange
Definition
Exchange rate
Appreciation vs depreciation
Strong vs weak rand
Foreign → Rand = multiply
Rand → Foreign = divide
Customer care
Definition
Characteristics of good customer care
Importance
Foreign tourist needs
Cultural differences
Language barriers + solutions
Multiplier effect
Definition
Process
Direct
Indirect
Induced
Benefits