Sustainable development through the tourism sector: to what extent can sustainable tourism contribute to social justice for the local communities? A case study of the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve in South Africa

Abstract

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals promote global sustainable development. One significant part of the socially focused goals for sustainable development is social justice. Regarding this, the tourism sector has been heavily criticised for not adequately contributing to sustainable development, especially social justice, and is blamed for primarily focusing on profit maximisation and benefitting external stakeholders and businesses, but not the local community. Respectively, this research article explores to what extent sustainable tourism can contribute to social justice for local communities. “Socialising tourism” is a novel concept specifically focusing on social justice for local communities. Thus, this concept has been taken into account when exploring the role of sustainable tourism for social justice. In fulfilment of this aim, this study is based on qualitative research with interviewees from the tourism case study of Grootbos Private Nature Reserve. The qualitative research is used to explore how Grootbos, as a private business, contributes to sustainable development with forms of social justice for the local communities. Respectively, the personal understanding of the participants of social justice has been investigated. Grootbos’ impact on the local community has been looked at through the lens of socialising tourism. The research shows that sustainable tourism and socialising tourism can contribute to sustainable development in local communities and their perception of social justice. Nevertheless, there is a discrepancy between social justice according to the literature and the aspects mentioned by the participants, which have probably been elicited due to listening to the local community.