research
Malaria and tourism in the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative
The Lubombo SDI Malaria Control Programme aims to reduce one of major the constraints on tourism in the region. As part of the intervention assessment component of the project, the impact of the malaria reductions on the perception of malaria risk by tourists was assessed.
Surveys conducted with tourists and tourist facilities investigated the extent to which malaria deters tourists and tourism development in the LSDI region.
Background
Tourism is the world’s largest earner of foreign currency. It brings an estimated R20 billion a year into the South African economy, second only to the manufacturing and mining industry in its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative is a tri-lateral initiative between the governments of Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa to develop the Lubombo region into a globally competitive economic zone, through accelerated development with regards to agriculture and tourism . The geographical area targeted by this initiative is broadly defined as eastern Swaziland, southern Mozambique and north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal. is the main objective of the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative (LSDI).
The Lubombo corridor has the potential to develop into an international tourist destination but malaria is hampering the growth and development of the region. Malaria control plays a pivotal role in the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative (LSDI). The objective of the malaria control component of the LSDI is to put in place a malaria control programme that will protect the economic interest of the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative (LSDI) and stimulate development.
Perceived malaria risk by tourists is believed to be an important factor that has a negative influence on the tourism industry in the study area. The risk factor, as defined in this study, is the possibility of contracting malaria whilst visiting a tourism facility in the area. It is essential to understand perceptions relating to malaria and malaria risk in the LSDI area.
Malaria control activities, based on residual house spraying, have been taking place in the three countries in the Lubombo SDI since 1999. Major reductions in both malaria cases and parasite prevalence have been recorded. Swaziland’s malaria incidence reduced by 64%, South Africa’s malaria incidence plummeted by a staggering 76% and Mozambique saw a parasite prevalence reduction of 40% in the first year of residual house spraying in 1999.
This study focuses on the scientific study of malaria incidence and distribution as well as on both tourists and tourism operator’s perceptions of malaria risk. It considers the factors that drive people’s perceptions of risk and investigates how tourists and tourism operators respond to malaria risk. It draws conclusions about how malaria impacts on tourism in the LSDI and recommends how malaria control can play a positive role in tourism development in the area.