The Impact of Responsible Tourism

!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 million) in income to the area in which it operates. This is a significant achievement for two reasons: the first that there are so few economic opportunities in the area and the second that these contributions were made despite the lodge being regarded as a ‘white elephant’ by its owners, given its locations & substantial infrastructural problems.

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 million) in income to the area in which it operates.

To understand the scope of this achievement, it is necessary to put !Xaus Lodge in its geographical and economic context and explain some of its history. The Northern Cape is South Africa’s largest province and is also the poorest. Most of the province’s income is from mining and agriculture. Mier Municipality, the jurisdiction in which !Xaus is located, is poor in economic opportunities. Unemployment is high with only 30.3% employed. Only 7,2% of Mier residents have completed schooling.

Mier Municipality, the jurisdiction in which !Xaus is located, is poor in economic opportunities. Unemployment is high with only 30.3% employed. Only 7,2% of Mier residents have completed schooling.

The local economy is also not diverse. Economic opportunities are limited to tourism, business services, salt workings and small enterprises. Agriculture is constrained by a lack of fresh water. The closest major centre, Upington, is 360km from !Xaus Lodge, over 35kms of dunes needing 4×4 vehicles, and 60kms of corrugated gravel roads.

!Xaus Lodge is located inside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. It was built as part of the !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park Agreement, South Africa’s first land claim settlement which in 2002 awarded the Mier and ‡Khomani San (Bushman) communities access to their ancestral lands. An important provision of the settlement was that it was expected to give economic opportunities to these two marginalized communities. Sadly, the facilities built were fraught with problems to the point that when management was concessioned, initially there was no bidder. Consultants declared that the lodge could never be a commercial success.

When TFPD was awarded the management contract, the agreement was underpinned by the promise that the shortcomings would be attended to. In the meantime the lodge was made operational, despite shortcomings, and opened its doors to paying guests in July 2007.

Since then the lodge has become a stable, sustainable business and an international attraction for responsible tourists looking for extraordinary experiences and it is the only successful commercial operation arising from the land claim settlement. In addition to the percentage of revenue that the communities earn as rental, local employment and procurement is prioritized. Guests provide a significant market for local crafters. 125 individuals are supported by the income earned by 25 permanent employees and a further 112 people benefit from the income earned by 16 crafters. This means 3.4% of the total population of the Mier Municipality are dependent on !Xaus Lodge.