Zoekresultaten

High resolution thermal stress mapping in africa

Urban planning will benefit from tools that can assess the vulnerabilityto thermal stress in urban dense cities. Detailed quick-scan heat stressmaps, as made in this study for Johannesburg, have proven valuable inthe decision-making process on this topic. It raised awareness on theurgent need to implement measures to tackle the effects of climatechange and urbanization. Awareness on heat stress has led to theimplementation of measures to mitigate the effects of climate change.As in other countries, nature-based solutions (e.g. green roofs and walls,swales, rain gardens, planting trees etc) are considered in urban areasin South Africa for various reasons. The awareness of the effect ofnature based solutions on heat stress is still low, which can be improvedby the use of heat stress maps. Some of these measures are alreadymapped on the open source web tool, Climate-scan(www.climatescan.nl) for international knowledge exchange aroundthe globe.

The planning and development of childfriendly green spaces in urban South Africa

Activities as the critical link between motivation and destination choice in cultural tourism.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the motivations of a select group of South Africans in terms of their potential engagement with cultural tourism; more specifically, the study set out to show whether these motivations influence the cultural activities that the tourists want to participate in and whether their interest in specific cultural activities determines their destination choices. Furthermore, the mediating role of activities in the relationship between cultural motivations and destination choice was also assessed. Design/methodology/approach: An online panel survey collected responses from 1,530 potential cultural tourists across South Africa. Hypotheses were tested, using structural equation modelling. Findings: The results show that tourists' motivations for cultural tourism influence their likelihood of participating in specific cultural activities. Cultural tourism is shown to be influenced by more than learning and includes entertainment, relaxation, novelty and escape dimensions. There also seems to be a difference in the activities engaged in by destination type. For example, tourists likely to take part in indigenous cultural tourism activities are more likely to do so at hedonic destinations. Practical implications: This paper contributes to the understanding of cultural tourism activities, aiding destinations in attracting cultural tourists. Destinations need to develop activities that match visitor motivations, increase satisfaction and encourage visitors to return. Originality/value: The paper increases the understanding of cultural tourism in South Africa and underlines the importance of communities in providing distinctive tourism activities. The study also has an important social dimension, highlighting the role of social status in cultural tourism consumption and destination selection.

Introduction - public accountability in the Global South:

The vast literature on accountability in the public sector (usually called ‘public accountability’originating from political science and public administration tends to emphasize the positive dimension of holding authorities to account. As formulated by one prominent scholar in the field, ‘[a]ccountability has become an icon for good governance’: it is perceived as ‘a Good Thing, and, so it seems, we can’t have enough of it’ (Bovens, 2005: 182, 183). Accountability has, thus, become one of the central values of democratic rule – varying on a well-known American slogan one could phrase this as ‘no public responsi bility without accountability’.

Prison Tourism: The Emotional Responses to Robben Island, South Africa

The purpose of this chapter is to investigate the motivations and emotions ofWestern visitors to Robben Island. The methodology used is a qualitativeresearch approach, with 25 participants conducting semi-structured inter-views to acquire a better understanding of the visitors’ emotions andmotives. Visitors’ motivations are “historical interest,” “earning andunderstanding,” “education,” “must-see,” “part of itinerary,” and “remem-brance,” according to the findings. Furthermore, this study found that“sadness” is the most frequently encountered emotion by visitors to RobbenIsland. These insights can benefit a variety of tourism industry stakeholders,including the Robben Island Museum. The data can be used by the RobbenIsland Museum to improve the visitor experience. By understanding therange of emotions experienced by visitors, what evokes these emotions, andhow emotions influence behavior, Robben Island Museum can focus onmore effectively evoking these emotions. This will enhance the customerexperience and create a greater impact and lasting impression.

A letter to Dr. Paul Julien.

A reflection on the impact of Paul Julien's photographs in the form of a letter to him, part of the larger investigation into his legacy.