The Impacts of Tourism Development at Domboshava National Monument

E. Woyo
Lecturer in Charge
Harare Polytechnic Hotel School
elishawoyo77@gmail.com
A paper presented at the International Research Conference, 17 – 18 Jan 2013,
Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe,
HARARE POLYTECHNIC HOTEL
SCHOOL - Your Choice in Training

“Research is to see what everybody
else has seen, and to think what
nobody else has thought”
(Albert Szent-Gyorgyi 1893-1986)


 Introduction and Overview of Zimbabwean
Tourism Industry
 Tourism Development Metrics
 Brief Description of the Monument
 Impacts of Tourism Development
 Challenges of Tourism Development
 Conclusions


 Tourism is one of the major foreign exchange
earners and main growth sector for many
countries especially developing countries that
are rich in natural and cultural resources.
 The World Tourism market has grown at an
average of 3.7 % over the past five years and is
projected to grow by an average of 4.9% over
the next five years, with Asia and the Pacific
regions recording the fastest growth rate
(WTO, 2012)

 Tourism remains the fastest growing service
industry in the economies of most developing
countries including Zimbabwe; hence more
research has gone into the operations of the
sector in order to examine its economic
significance and potential (Amstrong, 1974).
 The Tourism industry provides an important
impetus to growth in other sectors such as
agriculture, transportation, retailing and
manufacturing and is therefore seen as a key
ingredient of economic development

 Tourism industry in Zimbabwe has got
potential for growth
 Tourism currently employs approximately 300
000 people directly and indirectly (ZTA)


 Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme
(STERP) identified as economic recovery
platform with tourism being one of the key
economic drivers with potential to contribute
to Zimbabwe’s turnaround
 Inclusive government has brought about
confidence in destination Zimbabwe


 Tourism development can be measured in
terms of :
 job creation by the tourism sector
 increased income,
 and also improvement in the availability of basic
services such as health, education and cultural
opportunities, as well as in the reduction in levels of
inequality (Roodt, 2001).


 The rock art site of Domboshava is located 35
km from Harare and was declared a National
Monument in 1936 – managed by National
Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe.
 The rock paintings are found in a rockshelter
on the eastern base of an extensive and
imposing granite hill.
 The hill, located in the Chinamhora Communal
Lands, commands a magnificent view of the
surrounding country.

 The one acre area encloses the rockshelter with the
LSA paintings and archaeological deposits within
the rockshelter as well as a geological tunnel which
goes through the wall of the rockshelter, coming
out as two "chimneys" on top of the hill.
 Rainmaking ceremonies in periods of drought –
ritual importance to the local Shona communities,
 Ritual procedures involves the lighting of fires at
the mouth of the tunnel, resulting in black smoke
leaving its residue on the rock surface.


 To explore and identify economic,
environmental and sociocultural impacts of
Tourism Development at Domboshava
Monument from 2005 to 2010
 A descriptive research design was used
 17 semi structured interviews with local
stakeholders including site managers,
community leaders and the results were coded
and analysed
 Case study research strategy

 The development of tourism at Domboshava
National Monument has shown greater
improvements in employment generation
(direct and indirect) – tour guides, monument
custodians, security officers, bar personnel,
waiters, etc all from the local community
 The generation of foreign exchange -
Domboshava National Monument contributes
about US$40 000 p.a.


 Stimulating the creation of new business
enterprises -Income Generation through
curios, revival of craft industries, agro
markets – poverty reduction
 Infrastructural development – roads,
electricity, piped water, boreholes and
entertainment facilities (Carve Affair
Bar), restaurant, the visitor centre
 Increased interest in the cultural and
heritage tourism

 The Interpretive centre acts as a source of
historical and ecological information – gives
information of the history of the site, erosion,
farming and conservation

 Interpretive Centre


 Contributing towards extra inward investment
through the promotion of a positive image of
an area
 Improvement of general environment of a
destination – amenity garden
 Contribution to conservation of an area’s
cultural heritage


 Doxey (1975)’s Irridex Model of Tourist
Irritation - Euphoria, Apathy, Irritation and
eventually Antagonism as more and more
tourist activity happens in their area.
 Euphoria – Visitors are welcome , there are
opportunities for local people, new money
flows in but there is lack of planning
 Apathy – visitors taken for granted as they
become targets for profit making


 Annoyance – saturation is approached, too
many visitors, locals doubt tourism, planners
develop more infrastructure
 Antagonism – open irritation appears, tourism
cheated, strong dislike of tourists, blames
 Acceptance – change has appeared
permanently, change is now accepted (Doxey,
1975)


 Conflict with Society - the curio shop at
Domboshava was set on fire and all its contents
went up in smoke and the society sprayed
paint on the rock art in an attempt to stop the
tourism
 Desecration of traditional values – access to
sacred forests, uncontrolled access to sacred
cave


 The spirituality of Domboshava is
compromised
 Infrastructural development pressures around
the heritage site – more people want to preside
too close or have business close by


• Sustainability - actively protecting, and
supporting the environment for long-term
benefit to all

• Growing tourism in a way that ensures that
the benefits from growth are not short lived.

• Conserving Domboshava National
Monument's environment and spirituality

 Two key issues were identified and discussed:
the benefits of tourism development; and costs
of tourism development.
 Analysis found that despite the limitation and
development issues, the benefits of tourism
development at Domboshava National
Monument outweighed the costs accrued
thereof


 Tourism is a poverty reduction strategy -
supports and improves local community
economically and socially.
 Participation of local communities in
tourism development is essential to
maximize the potential benefits of this
sector, eliminate poverty and conserve
nature - maintain the local culture and
social structure of the native community

The Impacts of Tourism Development at Domboshava National Monument

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