1,721,201 research outputs found
Kawasaki disease masquerading as anomalous origin of left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery
Full text linkCITATION: Waggie, Z., Van der Merwe, P.-L. & Kalis, N. N. 1999. Kawasaki disease masquerading as anomalous origin of left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. South African Medical Journal, Supplement 3 June.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaAlthough myocardial ischaemia/infarction is rare in childhood, it is a well-described complication of both Kawasaki disease (KD) and anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (AOLCA). We describe a case of Kawasaki disease appearing as an AOLCA in a 2-year-old boy with myocardial infarction.Publisher’s versio
The influence of contrast media on serum osmolality, haematocrit and cardiac output : a comparative study in dogs
No full textCITATION: Van der Merwe, P. L., Basset, A. & Els, D. 1985. The influence of contrast media on serum osmolality, haematocrit and cardiac output : a comparative study in dogs. South African Medical Journal, 67:468-410.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaThirty-two mongrel dogs were used in a comparative study to assess the effect of normal saline solution, metrizamide and Cardioconray on serum osmolality, haematocrit and cardiac output. The study demonstrated that the higher the osmolality of the test substance, the greater the reduction in haematocrit and the higher the increase in cardiac output.Publisher’s versio
Progressive familial heart block: Part II. clinical and ECG confirmation of progression - report on 4 cases
Full text linkCITATION: Van der Merwe, P.-L. et al. 1986. Progressive familial heart block: Part II. Clinical and ECG confirmation of progression - report on 4 cases. South African Medical Journal, 70(9), 356-357.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaENGLISH ABSTRACT: Two types of progressive familial heart block controlled by a single gene have been described; 4 cases show that type I is progressive and that the pathogenesis is still unknown.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaarPublisher’s versio
Progressive familial heart block (type I) : a follow-up study after 10 years
Full text linkCITATION: Van der Merwe, P.-L. et al. 1988. Progressive familial heart block (type I) : a follow-up study after 10 years. South African Medical Journal, 73:275-276.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaA follow-up study was done on 55 patients, all members of families with type I progressive familial heart block (PFHB) examined during 1977. Of the 55 patients 5 had died, 17 had normal ECGs while 7 with previously abnormal ECGs remained unchanged. All the others had progressed to a more severe form of heart block and 8 of them had received permanent pacemakers. These findings again emphasise the importance of regular ECG follow-up examinations of members of PFHB families.Publisher’s versio
Inappropriate involuntary admissions to psychiatric hospitals
Full text linkCITATION: Van der Merwe, P. L., Allan, A. & Allan, M. M. 1999. Inappropriate involuntary admissions to psychiatric hospitals. South African Medical Journal, 89(12).The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaBackground. In order to preserve scarce resources, treatment in tertiary psychiatric hospitals should be restricted to those whose treatment needs make admission to such hospitals essential. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that a number of patients involuntarily admitted to tertiary psychiatric hospitals are discharged within 7 days of admission. The aim of this study was to identify the legal and clinical reasons that contribute to this situation. Method. The first stage involved reviewing the mental health legislation and psycholegal literature. Thereafter we undertook a retrospective study of the records of the patients involuntarily admitted to Stikland Hospitar, a tertiary psychiatric hospital in the Western Cape. Treatment and security-related variables were compared for the ≤ 7 day and ≥ 8 day groups. Results. Eighteen per cent of involuntarily admitted patients were discharged within 7 days. The ≤ 7 day group differed significantly from the ≥ 8 day group in terms of gender, age, substance abuse history, diagnosis and previous admissions. There were more male patients, younger people, and individuals with a history of substance abuse in the ≤ 7 day group, while more patients in the ≥ 8 day group had a diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar mood disorder. Conclusions. This study of involuntarily admitted patients in a tertiary psychiatric hospital demonstrated that a small but notable group was discharged within 7 days of admission. The data do not allow us to determine exactly what caused this situation, and further research at primary and secondary level is necessary in order to clarify this.Publisher’s versio
Travel motives of adventure tourists : a case study of Magoebaskloof Adventure
Full text linkThesis (MA (Tourism Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.Adventure tourism involves travel and leisure activities pursued with the expectation that they will produce a rewarding, adventurous experience. Adventure tourism can be defined as travel to a destination to participate in adventurous activities in a natural environment. Two categories of adventure are distinguished, namely soft and
hard adventure. Soft adventure includes activities such as bird–watching, hiking,
camping and horseback riding, and it requires relatively little physical skill and little or no experience. Hard adventure includes activities such as rock climbing,
mountaineering, survival games and caving. Hard adventure has high levels of risk and participants are more likely to engage in physically and mentally challenging outdoor activities. Magoebaskloof Adventures is one of many adventure destinations in South Africa
where adventure tourists can participate in adventure activities. It is of great value for Magoebaskloof Adventures to ensure that the needs and expectations of adventure tourists are fulfilled. One way to ensure that these needs are met, is to determine what motivates adventure tourists to travel and participate in adventure activities. Knowledge of these motives will assist adventure tourism products to stay competitive and to develop relevant products. A number of researchers have found that certain travel motives can explain the existence of certain adventure tourism products. Motive can also influence or determine the behaviour of adventure tourists visiting different adventure products or
destinations. Past research into adventure motives identified important motives such as escape, challenge, fun, social interaction and experience. As little research has been conducted on travel motives for adventure tourism in South Africa, the aim of this research was to determine the travel motives of adventure tourists to Magoebaskloof Adventures.
A literature study provided the background for the empirical study. A quantitative research approach was followed, with a non–probability sampling method, namely convenience sampling. The research was conducted at Magoebaskloof Adventures for a period of nine months (March 2010 to December 2010). A total of 400 usable questionnaires were received back.
The results of the study involved two sections: firstly the profile of the typical
adventure tourist was determined; and secondly the travel motives of adventure
tourists were determined. The profile indicated that adventure tourists are on
average 33 years old, male and English–speaking. They are married, hold a diploma or degree and travel in groups of 1–5. The typical adventure tourist travels 1–3 times a year, drives a sedan vehicle and prefers self–catering accommodation.
The factor analysis identified the following seven travel motives for adventure tourists: Factor 1 - Prestige and status(an increased sense of personal growth, acquiring new skills, the feeling of success after completing the activity, overcoming fear, and interacting with people and/or the environment); Factor 2 - Group togetherness(participation in a recreational opportunity, family recreation, spending time with someone special, experiencing fun and excitement, and spending time with friends); Factor 3 - Knowledge seeking(learning about adventure, sharing in the challenge, and educating oneself); Factor 4 - Escape and relaxation(exploring a new destination, getting away from routine, and relaxing); Factor 5 - Photography and attraction (an opportunity to practice photography, continuing a habit of adventure that
already started in childhood, and the desire to feel part of an adventure); Factor 6 - Enhancing relations (participating because friends arranged the activity, participating in order to tell friends about the experience, and participating because the participant has the necessary experience to perform the activity); and Factor 7 - Novelty (performing the activity before the participant is too old, enjoying the journey with family and friends, and doing ‘something different’). Escape and relaxation was the factor with the highest mean value, and this correlates with other adventure travel motive research as well as research regarding tourists’ motives for visiting nature–based attractions. An analysis of travel motives in general indicates that Escape and relaxation is commonly an important travel motive.
Magoebaskloof Adventure focuses more on soft adventure, and the travel motives of participants in this research will therefore differ from those of consumers of hard adventure products. The latter are motivated by aspects such as thrill, challenge, fear, terror, risk, daring, adrenaline, journey, expedition, excitement and success, to name a few. Group togetherness was also identified as a strong motivating factor, and existing nature–based research confirms this as an important motive to travel. In conclusion, this study found that there are differences between the travel motives of tourists to Magoebaskloof Adventures - which provides soft adventure tourism products - and the travel motives of tourists who pursue hard adventure activities. The results of this research can assist Magoebaskloof Adventures in the development of feature adventure tourism products and focused marketing material.Master
An ecotourism model for South African National parks
Full text linkThesis (Ph.D. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.The primary objective of this study was to develop an ecotourism model for South African National Parks. South African National Parks' current ecotourism/tourism management strategies were analysed and it was found that no clear guidelines regarding the development and management of ecotourism in South Africa National Parks exists. As South African National Parks (SANParks) is one of the largest conservation and ecotourism providers in South Africa, and because ecotourism tends to occur in sensitive ecological and human communities, the need for an ecotourism model for South African National Parks is crucial. The absence of such a model will prevent the effective and sustainable management, monitoring and control of ecotourism in South African National Parks.
A literature study was conducted into sustainable–, responsible– and ecotourism as well as current national and international policies concerning ecotourism in national parks or nature–based tourism.
Sustainable tourism requires that tourism development should be of such a nature that a balance is kept between the economy, socio–cultural environment and the physical environment. This is referred to as the triple bottom line. The goal of sustainable tourism is to maximise the positive impacts and minimise the negative impacts on the just mentioned triple bottom line aspects. Responsible tourism has the same goals as sustainable tourism, but stresses the importance of all stakeholders taking responsibility of ensuring a sustainable tourism industry. It should therefore be seen as a pathway to achieve sustainable tourism, rather than as an end in itself. Ecotourism forms part of the sustainable/responsible tourism paradigm. From the literature, four main pillars were identified on which ecotourism is based, namely: conservation and enhancement of natural and cultural attractions; environmental education; sustainable management practices and the provision of an enlightening tourist experience. The literature review also indicated some principles supportive of the pillars that are important if ecotourism is to take place, namely: natural and cultural environment; local community upliftment; long–term planning; ethical behaviour of all stakeholders; environmentally–friendly practices and tourist satisfaction.
Quantitative research was conducted. An explorative research approach was followed by the means of a self–administered questionnaire with the aim of determining the perceptions, of both the demand side (visitors to South Africa National Parks) and from the supply side (managers of South African National Parks) on the subject of ecotourism. Fifty–six (56) constructs pertaining to aspects of ecotourism were measured on a five–point Likert scale. The constructs were based on a literature review regarding responsible– and ecotourism. Sources that were used to a large extent to develop the questionnaire include the works of Frey and George (2010), Saayman (2009), Fennell (2008), Spencely (2008), Björk (2007), Diamantis (2004),DEAT (2003) The questionnaire for the visitor survey was launched on the website of South Africa National Parks during March 2011 and ran for one month. During this time, 993 respondents completed the questionnaire. The same questionnaire was sent via electronic mail to the managers of SANParks, namely regional and general managers, hospitality services managers and managing executives. A total of 25 questionnaires were completed.
The results of the empirical research were processed by the North–West University's Statistical Consultation Services (Potchefstroom Campus). The data was analysed by means of the SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) software programme. Statistical methods that were used include: descriptive statistics; exploratory factor analysis; factor correlation matrix and a t–test.
The results of the descriptive statistics revealed that the following ecotourism aspects were rated as most important by visitors: everyone (staff and visitors) has a responsibility to maintain a litter–free environment; animals should not be fed; everyone (staff and visitors) has a responsibility to save water and electricity. The managers, however, rated the following as the most important ecotourism aspects: to ensure managers, staff and contract employees understand and adhere to all aspects of the South African National Parks' policy to prevent negative impacts on the environment and local communities; do not feed the animals; and to comply with all relevant national, provincial and local legislation, regulations, licences and permits as may be required.
Six factors were identified from the exploratory factor analysis: Factor 1: Product development; Factor 2: Local community involvement; Factor 3: Environmentally friendly practices; Factor 4: Ethics; Factor 5: Food and activities; Factor 6: Policies.
The factors recorded serve as important guidelines for the development and management of ecotourism products in South African National Parks. For instance, the factor with the highest mean value was “ethics”. Visitor respondents felt very strongly that rules and regulations should be adhered to by visitors and that severe penalties should be implemented in the case of non–compliance. This was also the definite view of staff members.
The research made the following contributions to the discipline of tourism and specifically ecotourism:
* This research presents the first ecotourism model for South African National Parks which can assist park management in creating ecotourism products that provide a sustainable ecotourism experience and secure the future of ecotourism in national parks.
* It was the first time that the perception of ecotourism was determined from both a demand and supply side in South Africa National Parks, which assisted in identifying the key factors for ecotourism products from.
* The results of this research paved the way for SANParks in the development of an ecotourism policy for South African National Parks.
* The results further made a contribution to the future development of a national ecotourism policy for South Africa (which currently does not exist). Such a policy can then be applied to provincial parks, private game reserves and game farms in South Africa.
* The research contributed to the development of a sustainable ecotourism rating criteria for South African National Parks to allow them to grow closer to an ideal managed system that is in line with sustainable / responsible management aspects.
* The results were presented at the First International Conference on Tourism and Management Studies in the Algarve, Portugal on the 27th October 2011.
* A contribution was also made to the literature on ecotourism in terms of clarification of what is expected by the users (tourists) of ecotourism products and what SANParks' managers view as important aspects of ecotourism and how ecotourism should be developed and managed.
* Finally, this study contributed to the research concerning national parks in terms of ecotourism development and management.Doctora
Travel motivations of tourists to selected marine national parks
Full text linkThesis (M.Com. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.Tourism comprises the world's largest industry, and beaches (marine tourism) are considered as one of the major tourism attractions in the world. Marine tourism includes different aspects such as the ocean, coastal water sports, hotels and restaurants, island and beach resorts, recreation, fishing boat operators, cruise ships and charter yacht companies. One of the main contributors to marine and wildlife tourism in South Africa, is South African National Parks (SANParks), comprising of 21 national parks. Of the 21 National Parks six are marine national parks covering 4004.4 square kilometres namely West Coast, Wilderness, Tsitsikamma, Addo Elephant, Agulhas and Table Mountain National Parks. The two most known Marine National Parks in South Africa are Tsitsikamma and Addo Elephant National Parks: Addo Elephant for the fact that it is the only national park in South Africa hosting the BIG 7, namely elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, leopard, whales and great white sharks. Tsitsikamma National Park is important as it is the first and oldest Marine National Park in Africa.
South African National Parks receive thousands of visitors each year and tourists visiting these parks are a source of revenue for national parks and by determining travel motives, marketing can be undertaken more effectively, and specific factors can be taken into account when the marketing strategies are being planned. The literature review indicated that an understanding of tourist motives is a key aspect in understanding tourist behaviour. If the travel motives of tourists are known to product owners, in the case of South African National Parks, they will assist the product owner with product development as well as its marketing strategy. By understanding tourist behaviour one can understand why tourists buy certain products and why they make certain decisions. Tourist behaviour can be analysed in terms of the purchasing process a tourist goes through when making a decision. Different tourists will have different decision making processes and will have different motives for buying different products and services. To be able to understand how buyers proceed through the decision making process one has to look at the tourist decision–making process which consists of different influences like demographic factors, the marketing mix, internal/ psychological, external/social and situational factors.
From the literature review, the following travel motivations theories were identified: Maslow's hierarchy of needs, Murray's classification of needs, Mill and Morrison's needs and wants theory, Push and Pull theories and the Sun lust and Wanderlust theory. It was found in the literature review that there are some travel motives that are found in most of the nature based destinations such as “relaxation and escape”, “learn about nature” and “park attributes” to name but a few. The research, however, also found that travel motives are closely linked to what these destinations offer and it was also found that different marine destinations seem also to have different travel motives. The aim of this study is, therefore, to determine the travel motives of tourists to selected Marine National Parks in South Africa.
Secondary data was used to determine the visitor's profile as well as the factor analysis on travel motives. Four hundred and eight questionnaires were administered to the Addo Elephant National Park and 495 to the Tsitsikamma National Park. The data analysis consisted of two parts, the first part was descriptive data and here the profile of the visitors to the two selected marine national parks was discussed. In the second part a factor analysis was conducted. The aim of a factor analysis is to reduce the data and to assist in the interpretation of the data. A factor analysis further describes the variance–covariance relationship among a number of variables in terms of a few underlying but unobservable random quantities, called factors. For this research a principal axis factor analysis with Oblimin with Kaiser Normalisation rotation was performed on the 22 travel motive items.
The visitors' profiles for both the parks were quite similar except for the following: The largest percentage of the visitors to Tsitsikamma National Park were Afrikaans speaking and not as in the case of Addo Elephant National Park most tourists were English speaking, The major markets for Addo Elephant National Park, were the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces and for the Tsitsikamma National Park the major markets were Gauteng and the Western Cape Provinces. The factor analysis regarding travel motives revealed the following four factors: Education and knowledge seeking, Relaxation and escape, Park attributes and Family togetherness.
A comparison was done regarding the travel motives of tourists to the two national parks to determine if there were any differences. A small to medium effect size was found for “relax and escape” and “education and learning about wildlife”, therefore, a small to medium statistical significant difference were found.
This research confirmed that different marine destinations have different travel motives. Therefore, marketers can use this information and focus on individual marketing for each park based on the products they offer.Master
The socio-economic impact of tourism in the Karoo National Park
Full text linkThesis (M.Com. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.Literature on ecotourism and sustainable tourism emphasises the responsibilities and opportunities in protecting national parks through appropriate tourism development. National parks assist in addressing the economic and social challenges facing local, and mostly small, rural communities adjacent to the national parks. Most of South Africa's national parks are situated in rural areas giving tourists access to villages and towns surrounding the park, contributing to the economic and social upliftment of local communities such as in the case with Karoo National Park (KNP). National Parks in South Africa are seen as major tourism assets due to the wildlife and various activities for international and local visitors, but little is known about the socio-economic impact (contribution) of these parks on their respective local economies and communities. This was first realised by Saayman and Saayman who developed a socio-economic impact model that can be used to do socio-economic impact studies on national parks. Tourists to national parks frequently visit local communities. These tourists then spend money on aspects such as crafts, lodging, food and entrance fees, thus enhancing the economy of the villages/towns in the area. These tourists also have a social impact which can contribute positively or negatively on the quality of life of the local community.
The aim of this research is to determine the socio-economic impact of the Karoo National Park in South Africa. The research was conducted from 27 March 2007 to 1 April 2007. To achieve the goal of the research, three surveys were conducted: a community survey (240 questionnaires), a business survey in Beaufort West (86 questionnaires) and a visitor survey (104 questionnaires) of tourists visiting the Karoo National Park.
The community survey included questions relating to demographic aspects, impact questions pertaining to specific park impacts in the community and personal impacts on residents. A descriptive analysis, statistical analysis and factor analysis was done to interpret the social data and to determine the most relevant social impact factors. The business survey asked questions regarding employment creation, leakages, and income changes as a result of the park. The visitor survey included questions relating to demographic aspects and expenditures.
The factors influencing the economic impact of tourism were identified in the study and include the following: production factors, politics, expenditure, inflated processes, leakages and seasonality to name but a few.
The results indicated that the Park has an impact on employment, production and general income in the region. Only 4% of businesses' existence is due to the Karoo National Park, yet many of these businesses rely on tourists spending. Guest houses and Bed and Breakfast establishments indicated that they benefit most from the Park. Curio shops indicated that 8.8% of their business is due to the Park, with restaurants indicating 15%. Retailers and service stations also indicated that they give 8% and 20% respectively of their turnover to the Park and tourism and recreation services estimated this contribution at 15%. The results confirm that rural areas face high leakages. However, in terms of employment creation, the fact that 98% of all workers live in the area under consideration, is an indication that the benefits of the park reach the locals. The total economic impact of the Park on the local economy is R4 187 378. The community felt that the park does have a positive to very positive effect on the quality of life of the community. The positive aspects of the Karoo National Park are the fact that the park attracts tourists and assists in conservation. The appearance and image of the town has improved due to property value increase, a significant drop in crime levels, an improvement in entertainment opportunities, an increase in interaction between locals and tourists which is perceived to be positive, an increase in social and moral values and an increase in pride among members of the community. The results show that the park has a greater social impact than an economic impact on the community of Beaufort West. The Karoo National Park impact is not as significant as that of larger National Parks such as Addo Elephant National Park due to its size. From this it is learned that the smaller the operation the lesser the socio-economic impact. This research adds to the much needed research regarding socio-economic impacts of national parks in South Africa.Master
The influence of Blue Flag status on tourist decision–making in South Africa
Full text linkMCom (Tourism Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014Marine tourism has been growing over the years to a diverse and large industry providing for a variety of markets. Across the world tourists enjoy activities of different types including kayaking, scuba diving, snorkelling, surfing and travelling to beaches for leisure reasons. Travelling to coastal towns with the purpose of visiting a beach has always been a great attraction for people across the world. Not only resulting in beaches becoming one of the tourism industry’s biggest markets but also a great contributor to local economies.
In 200,1 South Africa adopted the Blue Flag Programme, a beach award which focuses on clean bathing water and pollution free environments. The programme was first established on the French coastline in Europe by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Since then 244 beaches and 208 marinas across 10 countries now boast with a Blue Flag award. The award requires beaches to adhere to four sets of criteria. These are water quality, environmental management, environmental education and information and safety and security. The programme also has specific periods allocated to beaches in which the beach has to meet all the stipulated standards. *Previous research has stated that the programme has great drawing power for tourists. *In contrast, other studies revealed that it has no benefits for the tourism industry, whatsoever. *Some studies have stated that it is a symbol of quality recognised by all across the world. The literature review conducted for this study revealed that the programme holds great benefits for conservation of the environment. Seen from a tourism point of view, however, it is still unclear whether the programme benefits the tourism industry or has any impact on it whatsoever. The primary goal of this dissertation is to determine the influence of Blue Flag status on the decision-making process of beach visitors when they select a beach, thereby determining whether or not the Blue Flag programme adds any value to the tourism industry. A literature review was conducted on important aspects concerning this study, namely the Blue Flag Programme, the tourist decision-making process, travel behaviour of tourists and tourist behaviour, to gain insight into the type of research. Thereafter an empirical study was conducted on six beaches in KwaZulu-Natal which involved the distribution of a self-administered questionnaire. The sampling method used for the study was quantitative, probability sampling with systematic sampling which involved the fieldworkers to approach every second person/group of people on the beach. The survey took place from 28 March to 4 April 2013. A total of 572 usable questionnaires was collected from a sample of 600 beach visitors. The data was captured using Microsoft™ Excel™ 2010 and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 21). Exploratory factor analyses were performed as well as a linear mixed-effect model analysis to analyse the impact of the Blue Flag Programme on tourism. To achieve the goal set for this study, two articles were produced.
The aim of chapter 3 (article 1) was to determine the push and pull motives of beach visitors. The results revealed the profile of respondents to be female, married with an average age of 39 years and originating from Gauteng. They have a diploma or degree from a tertiary institute and like to visit the beach for an average of eight nights at a time. To identify the push and pull motives of beach visitors, the travel motives were first identified by means of a principal axis factoring analysis, with Oblimin and Kaiser Normalisation. The aspects yielded three factors, familiarity, family relaxation and escape and beach characteristics. The most important factor was determined to be familiarity. The analysis further revealed two push and two pull motives. The push factors are escape and relaxation (most important push motive) and familiarity. The pull motives are beach attributes (most important pull motive) and cognizance. This article showed that the familiarity of a beach plays an important role as to the motives of beach visitors as well as the fact that visitors to these beaches want to escape and relax away from everyday life.
The aim of the chapter 4 (article 2) was to identify the influence of Blue Flag status on visitors’ decision-making when selecting a beach as well as to determine whether any statistically significant differences exist between the visitors to Blue Flag beaches and visitors to non-Blue Flag beaches. A principal axis factoring analysis was conducted to determine the decision-making aspects of beach visitors. This analysis yielded five actors, environmental education, safety and access, cleanliness, landscape and popularity. The most important factor was identified as cleanliness with a mean value of 4.37. Furthermore, a linear mixed-effect model analysis was conducted which identified one statistically significant difference with the factor popularity, which has a p-value of 0.002. No other differences were identified. This study thus found that Blue Flag status does not influence visitors’ decision in selecting a beach. What was interesting was the fact that the aspects which are of importance to beach visitors (such as cleanliness) form part of the criteria on which the programme is based (environmental education and information, environmental management, safety and security and water quality). Thus having Blue Flag status does impact positively on tourism. Since this was the first study of its kind in South Africa, it can benefit all beach destinations in the country. From the findings it is clear that marketing needs to be conducted regarding the Blue Flag programme and the benefits that could be reaped for both the local community and beach visitors. Furthermore, beach management can make use of the motives identified in chapter 3 as well as the decision-making aspects identified in chapter 4 to increase visitor numbers to the beach and gain competitive advantage. Tailor-made marketing strategies can be implemented which will improve the efforts of beach managers and municipalities as well as managers of the Blue Flag Programme to market the programme and raise awareness. Recommendations are made regarding further study on the Blue Flag programme to identify ways in which awareness of the programme amongst the public can be raised. Similar research can also be conducted on other environmental and tourism award systems, such as the Seaside award. This research contributes to the literature on marine tourism, seeing as this was the first time such a study was conducted in a South African setting.Master
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