Open AccessEmergent planning for South Africa's blue economy: Evidence from coastal and marine tourism
Author(s) -
Christian M. Rogerson,
Jayne M. Rogerson
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
urbani izziv
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.275
H-Index - 15
eISSN - 1855-8399
pISSN - 0353-6483
DOI - 10.5379/urbani-izziv-en-2019-30-supplement-002
Subject(s) - tourism , economy , tourism geography , marine spatial planning , marine conservation , investment (military) , environmental planning , geography , political science , business , environmental resource management , economics , politics , archaeology , law
Ocean-based industries are in focus in terms of expanding debates and planning around the blue economy. Against this backdrop the objective in this paper is to examine contemporary directions in South Africa concerning planning for the blue economy as a whole and more specifically for the sector of coastal and marine tourism. Using documentary analysis of official planning and strategic documents, South Africa’s blue economy strategy, which is titled ‘Operation Phakisa’, is unpacked and critiqued. Attention shifts to examine current directions and challenges of unfolding planning for the expanded development of coastal and marine tourism in South Africa. It is shown that uneven spatial development characterises the existing coastal tourism economy. Arguably, tourism planning is linked to Operation Phakisa which is being challenged for a number of shortcomings, most importantly for prioritising investment attraction and economic growth stimulation over issues about the conservation of maritime resources.