1. James Seymour and Shakila Maharaj Tourism KwaZulu-Natal March 2010
Inclusiveness an important stimulant for the future success of the Maputo to Hluhluwe Tourism Corridor
Colleagues, on behalf of Tourism KwaZulu-Natal I would like to thank you for giving Shakila and I the opportunity to present to you.
James Seymour and Shakila Maharaj
Tourism KwaZulu-Natal
March 2010

2. Introduction
Nature and extent of tourism supply and demand in the Maputo to Hluhluwe Corridor;
To introduce KwaZulu-Natal’s tourism strategy for people with disabilities , the manner in which it has been implemented and the potential benefits of such an approach for the Hluhluwe to Maputo corridor.
The purpose of our presentation is twofold:
Firstly, to provide an overview of the nature and extent of the tourism supply and demand in the Maputo to Hluhluwe Corridor or an area we broadly refer to as being the Lubombo Transfronteir Conservation Area and;
Secondly, to introduce KwaZulu-Natal’s tourism strategy for people with disabilities, the manner in which it has been implemented and the potential benefits of such an approach for the Hluhluwe to Maputo corridor.

3. Core Attractions: Isimangaliso
This corridor is an area of significant eco and cultural tourism potential. It contains the recently declared and first South African World Heritage site. This is Africa’s largest estuarine system which is made up of a series of 3 major lake systems and 8 interlocking eco-systems. Some of its special features are the fact that it contains the largest concentration of hippo in southern Africa, contains some of the largest dunes and most sensitive coastal forests in Africa. The coastline of this park contain the southernmost coral reefs of Africa, which are also rated as amongst the best dive sites in the world. They are also the home of the prehistoric Coelacanth and the largest turtles in the world the Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles. Many tourists specifically come to this area to observe this beautiful creatures lay large clumps of eggs from November to January and when the hatchlings appear in early February/ March. This coastline is also renowned for whale watching particularly during this areas winter months.

4. Core Attractions: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
This area is also the home of the Hluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, South Africa’s oldest game reserve and internationally renowned for the fact that it was here that the White Rhino was saved from extinction.

5. Core Attractions: Tembe, Ndumo, Thanda and Phinda
Furthermore, this corridor contains the Tembe Game Reserve. A big 5 reserve that contains what are regarded as the biggest elephant in Africa, as well as Ndumo an internationally renowned birding paradise and the sought after private game reserves of Phinda and Thanda.

6. Core Attractions: Ponto Do Ouro
Ponto Do Ouro on the just north of Kosi Bay is an increasingly popular beach and scuba diving area.

7. Core Attractions: Maputo
And last but certainly not least … Maputo … the gateway to Mozambique’s many tourism treasures … famous for its seafood cuisine, Portuguese colonial heritage and heritage of resistance against oppression.

8. Tourism Demand and Supply
Elephant Coast ,000 foreign long haul and in excess of 100,000 domestic. Spend of more than R1bn. 214 accommodation establishments and 32 conservation areas
Mozambique /- 1.2mn; 80,000 by air (UNWTO, 2010)
Unfortunately, this area’s tourism potential was significantly retarded by the former South African regime and civil war in Mozambique. South Africa purposively limited infrastructural development in this area and the Kosi to Hluhluwe area was by and large used for military purposes and very often to experiment with new missile weaponry.
However, since South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994 and as a result of the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative which was aimed at fast tracking economic development in this area through the establishment of infrastructure of the like of the new Kosi to Hluhluwe highway and the development of the Isimangaliso or what was known as the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park World heritage Site and aggressive tourism promotion of this area tourism demand for this area is now some 120,000 domestic and in excess of 200,000 long haul foreign tourists per annum in the South African component of this node. The total impact of the spend of these tourists is estimated to be in excess of R1billion.
Mozambique attracts some xx foreign tourists per annum and a large proportion of them enter the country through Maputo.

9. Destination Competitiveness
Competitive strategy is regarded as a key ingredient of successful destinations.
The destination concept is regarded as tourism’s central product and basis of destination competitiveness.
Competitiveness strategy – attempting to identify a favourable or distinctive position in a marketplace through an understanding of the factors that define the competitiveness of a particular industry or sector (Porter,1990,1996).
Poon (1993) regards competitive tourism strategy as the constant and innovative adaptation to what is particularly dynamic market.
Ritchie and Crouch (2003) – dealing with competitive and comparable advantages and disadvantages
Heath (2003)- ability of a destination to deliver goods and services that perform better than other destinations on those aspects of the tourism experience considered to be important by tourists.
Two of tourism’s most important paradigms or beliefs is the notion that that competitive strategy is an important ingredient of successful destinations and that competitive strategy is based on a clear understanding of destination competitive models or the factors that determine destination success.
Competitive destination management involves the identification of the key advantages of a destination and using them to innovatively carve a distinct position in the tourism market place and at the same time determining the core disadvantages or challenges of a destination and dealing with them.

10. Access is a key element of the destination concept, destination management and destination competitiveness models
Destination = Amalgam of the tourism amenities, attractions, access, image, marketing and prices of a particular area.
Destination management is the co-ordinated management of those elements.
Destination competitiveness models attempt to identify the factors that determine the competitiveness of a destination.
Access is a core element of destination competitiveness:
McKercher (1998) - market access is measured in terms of lower travel time, effort or financial costs. Influences type of tourist that visit a destination.
Hassan (2000)
Heath(2003)
Ritchie and Crouch(2003)
Dwyer(2003)
Access is regarded by the most the important destination competitiveness theorists as being an important determinant of destination competitiveness. McKercher, however, indicates that it does not necessarily impact on tourism volume, but rather the type of tourist that visits a destination.
The concept of inclusiveness , particularly for tourists with disabilities is an important aspect of accessibility. It is for this reason that Tourism KwaZulu-Natal made a decision in 2004 to investigate the phenomenon of tourists with disabilities and to put together a strategy to ensure that KwaZulu-Natal becomes more accessible for such tourists.

11. Tourism KwaZulu-Natal’s Strategy for Tourists with Disabilities (2004)
Significant Tourism Market and the fact that it makes business sense to be accessible for people with disabilities
Overview of key accessibility guidelines of organisations such as EU and UK Accessibility Scheme
Stressed the significance of accessible service and the fact that persons with impairments are willing to deal with physical challenges, but find it difficult to deal with front line staff who are insensitive to the needs of those with such challenges.
This study highlighted the fact the tourist with disabilities market is a significant tourism market and the fact that it makes business sense to be accessible for people with disabilities.
Furthermore, it provided an overview of the key accessibility guidelines of organisations such as EU and UK Accessibility Scheme.
It also stressed the significance of accessible service and the fact that persons with impairments are willing to deal with physical challenges, but find it difficult to deal with front line staff who are insensitive to the needs of those with such challenges.

12. Initial KZN Disabled Tourism Strategy
Awareness Campaign
A KwaZulu-Natal Disabled Tourism Association
Brochure and database of accessible tourism facilities
Website
Encouraging Tour Operators to consider engaging this market
Training of Tourism Information Officers and other front line staff to provide accessible services
Lobbying the National Tourism Grading Council to establish a National Accessibility Scheme
The initial KZN strategy that emerged from this study proposed the need for:
An Awareness Campaign regarding the concept of accessibilty and the significance of the tourism market of individuals with impairments;
The establishment of a KwaZulu-Natal Disabled Tourism Association
A Brochure and database of accessible tourism facilities
A dedicated website
Encouraging Tour Operators to consider engaging this market
Training of Tourism Information Officers and other front line staff to provide accessible services
Lobbying the National Tourism Grading Council to establish a National Accessibility Scheme
I would now like to hand over to Ms Shakila Maharaj who has played a significant role in implementing this strategy…

13. Implementation Progress
Disability Tourism Forum
Series of Awareness Initiatives
Promotion of National Accessibility Scheme
Annual monitoring of levels of awareness of concept of accessibility
Disability tourism Forum - platform that formalized networking, information sharing and collaboration on development initiatives
Objectives: create awareness, create champions, create opportunities
Current Status: Regular meetings disburdened, individuals active in own areas, outcomes to date include TKZN Board representation, integrated Strategic Action Plans, research,road-shows, fam tours,local and international presentations, Excellence Awards, promotion of Disabled tour operators and accessible product developers, Indaba, Durban tourism FIFA     World Cup, Internal Disability policy regular media coverage.
Series of presentation and mass shots .... Increased level of awareness.
Grading Council of South Africa have relaunched an accessibility programme.

14. Implementation Progress (cont.)
Preliminary assessment of the Elephant Coast region from a blindness perspective;
Key needs identified
Preliminary assessment of Hluhluwe, Saint Lucia and surrounding area from a Blindness perspective :
attractions reviewed - animal interaction, game drives, canoeing in the swamps, estuary boat trips, wale watching, Zulu village, souvenir and traditional market shopping, crocodile park, quad biking in pineapple plantations. Tremendous potential to  create extraordinary experiences and attract the disability travelling market to this adventure destination.
Findings include:
Levels of access apparent,
trade receptiveness,
market driven - the business case.
Common Needs:
market knowledge - understanding the disabled tourist and the diversity in the disability sector,
product knowledge and design - knowing what to do and how to do it in the provision of accessible experiences,
service excellence - raising the service levels through attitudinal training creating disability confidence and competence,
market and service provider interface - bringing the both in contact, where from and how to attract the disabled traveller.   

15. Relevance and Benefits for Mozambique
Both regions can be marketed as a seamless destination.
Mozambique acquire expertise in attracting a new market segment and grow market share.
Mutual benefit for both regions through closer collaboration, joint product development and skills transfer.
Create career opportunities for People with Disabilities within the Mozambique tourism industry.
Enhance the profile and value of the disability sector in Mozambique society and so promote disability integration.
Encourage greater interface between the South African and Mozambique disability sectors towards shaping broader social transformation and equity.
Both countries serve as role models to the African continent.
Relevance and Benefits to Mozambique:
Proximity of geographic location allows for ease of access support to Mozambique in developing inclusive tourism  attractions.
Both regions can be marketed as a seamless destination.
Mozambique acquire expertise in attracting a new market segment and grow market share.
Mutual benefit for both regions through closer collaboration, joint product development and skills transfer.
Create career opportunities for People with Disabilities within the Mozambique tourism industry.
Enhance the profile and value of the disability sector in Mozambique society and so promote disability integration.
Encourage greater interface between the South African and Mozambique disability sectors towards shaping broader social transformation and equity.
Both countries serve as role models to the African continent.

16. Conclusion
Potential improvement of status of Maputo to Hluhluwe Corridore as a tourist destination and tourism flow as a result of the adoption of an inclusiveness strategy
Recommendations:
Awareness campaign;
Incentive scheme or low interest loans to mobilise an accessibility programme for this area
In conclusion, we firmly believe that the adoption and implementation of an inclusive tourism strategy can undoubtedly enhance the accessibility of a tourism destination of the like of the Maputo to Hluhluwe corridor, improve its image from a service delivery perspective and thus ultimately enhance the overall competitiveness of this area as a tourist destination.
It is thus recommended that a process to increase the level of awareness of tourism service providers in this area to begin to adopt the recommendations of tourism accessible schemes of the like of xxx needs to be mobilised. Furthermore, it would be commendable if some form of incentive scheme such as the mobilisation of tax rebates for tourism service providers that make a decision to invest in making their services more accessible or subsidies or low interest loans could be established for such investments. This would certainly assist in fast tracking such an initiative.
I thank you>>>