Township Tourism can sometimes be a sensitive and often controversial issue. Tourists might feel uneasy about gawking at other peoples’ poverty. I guess that stems from the fact that we are dealing with people’s lives and their daily realities. What one person might see as a ‘shack’ is considered to be a home by another.
Township Tourism can sometimes be a sensitive and often controversial issue. Tourists might feel uneasy about gawking at other peoples’ poverty. I guess that stems from the fact that we are dealing with people’s lives and their daily realities. What one person might see as a ‘shack’ is considered to be a home by another.
Township Tourism can sometimes be a sensitive and often controversial issue. Tourists might feel uneasy about gawking at other peoples’ poverty. I guess that stems from the fact that we are dealing with people’s lives and their daily realities. What one person might see as a ‘shack’ is considered to be a home by another.
As a resident of Masiphumelele Township I believe that there are numerous benefits to township tourism as long as it does not exploit or impact negatively on the local community. Tourism especially township tourism in order to work must have some tangible benefits that residents can see. We, as the residents need to feel we have some sort of control or ownership of the tourist experience. Local employment, funding from tourism helps residents appreciate tourism and thus increase visitor experience.
For instance AWOL through their tours in Masiphumelele also contributes to the up-liftment of the township by making use of a local guide who lives in the community, supporting the local crèche and local business development in the area.
Masi residents are always eager to welcome and interact with visitors, and share local customs with a sense of pride. The township experience must not be detached but rather engaged and interactional. When we visit the crèche, AWOL guests do reading and artwork with the children. Tourists are encouraged to see the real township life or kasi life (as we affectionately call it!). And that real experience needs to be determined by the residents not by outsiders. After all it is the community members who know it the most.
My advice to AWOL visitors to the township would be that they must come with an open mind. Life is hard in townships but not all misery and gloom, there is hope. By visiting an impoverish community, local people have an opportunity of earning a living by sharing their daily lives. AWOL Bicycle township tour is powered by Futouris and Tui Suisse
Written by Loyiso Trunce
As a resident of Masiphumelele Township I believe that there are numerous benefits to township tourism as long as it does not exploit or impact negatively on the local community. Tourism especially township tourism in order to work must have some tangible benefits that residents can see. We, as the residents need to feel we have some sort of control or ownership of the tourist experience. Local employment, funding from tourism helps residents appreciate tourism and thus increase visitor experience.
For instance AWOL through their tours in Masiphumelele also contributes to the up-liftment of the township by making use of a local guide who lives in the community, supporting the local crèche and local business development in the area.
Masi residents are always eager to welcome and interact with visitors, and share local customs with a sense of pride. The township experience must not be detached but rather engaged and interactional. When we visit the crèche, AWOL guests do reading and artwork with the children. Tourists are encouraged to see the real township life or kasi life (as we affectionately call it!). And that real experience needs to be determined by the residents not by outsiders. After all it is the community members who know it the most.
My advice to AWOL visitors to the township would be that they must come with an open mind. Life is hard in townships but not all misery and gloom, there is hope. By visiting an impoverish community, local people have an opportunity of earning a living by sharing their daily lives. AWOL Bicycle township tour is powered by Futouris and Tui Suisse
Written by Loyiso Trunce
As a resident of Masiphumelele Township I believe that there are numerous benefits to township tourism as long as it does not exploit or impact negatively on the local community. Tourism especially township tourism in order to work must have some tangible benefits that residents can see. We, as the residents need to feel we have some sort of control or ownership of the tourist experience. Local employment, funding from tourism helps residents appreciate tourism and thus increase visitor experience.
For instance AWOL through their tours in Masiphumelele also contributes to the up-liftment of the township by making use of a local guide who lives in the community, supporting the local crèche and local business development in the area.
Masi residents are always eager to welcome and interact with visitors, and share local customs with a sense of pride. The township experience must not be detached but rather engaged and interactional. When we visit the crèche, AWOL guests do reading and artwork with the children. Tourists are encouraged to see the real township life or kasi life (as we affectionately call it!). And that real experience needs to be determined by the residents not by outsiders. After all it is the community members who know it the most.
My advice to AWOL visitors to the township would be that they must come with an open mind. Life is hard in townships but not all misery and gloom, there is hope. By visiting an impoverish community, local people have an opportunity of earning a living by sharing their daily lives. AWOL Bicycle township tour is powered by Futouris and Tui Suisse
Written by Loyiso Trunce