The commodification of culture in tourism is often critiqued and lamented in academic texts (Wishitemi et al. 2007). What this process often seems to entail is that so called “cultures” of local communities are showcased to tourists from around the world. Often, it is especially what is considered “exotic” and “indigenous” that is showcased to [...]
Transfrontier Parks Destinations (TFPD), South Africa’s leading group focused on promoting community-based tourism, has become Fair Trade Tourism certified. The group, which is headquartered in Cape Town, launched in 2004 with a mission to manage community-owned properties in transfrontier parks and adjacent conservation areas. Since inception, responsible tourism and conservation has been at the heart of [...]
Reducing negative impacts on local communities, environments, and celebrating local culture. !Xaus Lodge, by bringing guests into the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park who pay a conservation levy, contributes directly to the conservation authority’s revenue and thus its ability to run one of the best desert parks in the world. At the lodge itself, !Xaus [...]
The ownership model and funding. !Xaus Lodge; the land, the infrastructure and the fittings and furnishings are wholly owned by the Mier and ǂKhomani San communities. They appointed commercial management and marketing operators, Transfrontier Parks Destinations (TFPD) on a long-term basis. TFPD have paid their Joint Management Board (JMB) a percentage of turnover [...]
!Xaus Lodge’s most significant achievement in reducing poverty among the local community In the 8 years of its operation under management of Transfrontier Parks Destinations (TFPD), !Xaus Lodge comprising a mere 24 guest beds, and located deep in the desert of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (KTP), has contributed more than R28,9 million (US$1,9 [...]
We are excited to announce that !Xaus Lodge was featured in FOCUS, one of Germany's leading news magazines! The article was published on the 2nd of June 2016 and is a huge honour for our own !Xaus Lodge, as well as the Northern Cape. You can read the article by clicking on the [...]
