Cultural festivals as drivers of cultural tourism development in South Africa: Stakeholder perspectives from the Royal Reed Dance

Bama, Hilary K. N. and Ndaba, Zimasa F. (2027) Cultural festivals as drivers of cultural tourism development in South Africa: Stakeholder perspectives from the Royal Reed Dance. MODERN GEOGRÁFIA, 22 (1). pp. 63-86. ISSN 2062-1655 (In Press)

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Abstract

Cultural festivals have emerged as celebrations and showcases of cultural and social values, as well as important instruments for promoting tourism development, extending seasonality, enhancing destination image, fostering community pride, and supporting regional economic growth. This study examines stakeholder views on the role of cultural festivals as drivers of cultural tourism development in South Africa, with a specific focus on the Royal Reed Dance Ceremony. Considered an activity in which visitors are motivated to learn, discover, experience, and consume tangible and intangible cultural attractions or products at a destination, cultural tourism continues to attract significant interest in both developed and developing economies. Adopting a hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative approach based on the interpretivist paradigm, the study used semi-structured interviews to collect data from 14 key informants, including maidens, residents, organisers, and service providers; data analysis was facilitated using ATLAS.ti. The results reveal that, while the Royal Reed Dance functions as a flagship cultural tourism attraction, its development potential is constrained by fragmented governance, limited infrastructure, and weak integration into formal tourism planning. The study argues that cultural festivals can play a strategic role in rural tourism development when supported by coordinated stakeholder engagement and policy alignment. Practical and managerial implications are also discussed.

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