Past Niche Tourism: The First Chapter of Mountain Tourism in South Africa

Mountain tourism enjoys a long history in many countries, much of which is unrecorded. This paper addresses one dimension of the neglected past of recreation and tourism in the Global South. The focus is on the development of mountain tourism as a form of niche tourism in South Africa. The paper co...

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Main Authors: Christian Rogerson, Jayne Rogerson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: WSB Poznań 2024-03-01
Series:Studia Periegetica
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.wsb.poznan.pl/index.php/sp/article/view/1945
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author Christian Rogerson
Jayne Rogerson
author_facet Christian Rogerson
Jayne Rogerson
author_sort Christian Rogerson
collection DOAJ
description Mountain tourism enjoys a long history in many countries, much of which is unrecorded. This paper addresses one dimension of the neglected past of recreation and tourism in the Global South. The focus is on the development of mountain tourism as a form of niche tourism in South Africa. The paper contributes to the limited international historical scholarship on niche tourism. In addition, it extends the literature in South African tourism scholarship on tourism’s past, tourism history and the historical geographies of tourism. Using the limited extant literature and with primary archival sources the early development of mountain tourism in South Africa is investigated. The time period covered is from the mid-19th century to the early 1950s. Arguably, the initial origins of mountain tourism in South Africa must be situated at Table Mountain in Cape Town. The focus shifts subsequently to the growth of mountain tourism in the high Drakensberg range. Although mountain tourism is dominated by domestic visitors it is argued that the South African Railways played a vital role in exposing South Africa — and especially the Drakensberg — as a potential destination for international mountain tourists.
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spelling doaj-art-7e760c52078244889f782eac8ef0e2532025-08-20T02:10:20ZengWSB PoznańStudia Periegetica1897-92622024-03-0145110.58683/sp.1945Past Niche Tourism: The First Chapter of Mountain Tourism in South AfricaChristian Rogerson0Jayne Rogerson1School of Tourism and Hospitality, University of Johannesburg, South AfricaSchool of Tourism and Hospitality, University of Johannesburg, South Africa Mountain tourism enjoys a long history in many countries, much of which is unrecorded. This paper addresses one dimension of the neglected past of recreation and tourism in the Global South. The focus is on the development of mountain tourism as a form of niche tourism in South Africa. The paper contributes to the limited international historical scholarship on niche tourism. In addition, it extends the literature in South African tourism scholarship on tourism’s past, tourism history and the historical geographies of tourism. Using the limited extant literature and with primary archival sources the early development of mountain tourism in South Africa is investigated. The time period covered is from the mid-19th century to the early 1950s. Arguably, the initial origins of mountain tourism in South Africa must be situated at Table Mountain in Cape Town. The focus shifts subsequently to the growth of mountain tourism in the high Drakensberg range. Although mountain tourism is dominated by domestic visitors it is argued that the South African Railways played a vital role in exposing South Africa — and especially the Drakensberg — as a potential destination for international mountain tourists. https://journals.wsb.poznan.pl/index.php/sp/article/view/1945mountain tourism, mountaineering, South Africa, archival research, Table Mountain, Cape Town, Drakensberg
spellingShingle Christian Rogerson
Jayne Rogerson
Past Niche Tourism: The First Chapter of Mountain Tourism in South Africa
Studia Periegetica
mountain tourism, mountaineering, South Africa, archival research, Table Mountain, Cape Town, Drakensberg
title Past Niche Tourism: The First Chapter of Mountain Tourism in South Africa
title_full Past Niche Tourism: The First Chapter of Mountain Tourism in South Africa
title_fullStr Past Niche Tourism: The First Chapter of Mountain Tourism in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Past Niche Tourism: The First Chapter of Mountain Tourism in South Africa
title_short Past Niche Tourism: The First Chapter of Mountain Tourism in South Africa
title_sort past niche tourism the first chapter of mountain tourism in south africa
topic mountain tourism, mountaineering, South Africa, archival research, Table Mountain, Cape Town, Drakensberg
url https://journals.wsb.poznan.pl/index.php/sp/article/view/1945
work_keys_str_mv AT christianrogerson pastnichetourismthefirstchapterofmountaintourisminsouthafrica
AT jaynerogerson pastnichetourismthefirstchapterofmountaintourisminsouthafrica