A creative tourism approach to the cultural-heritage regeneration of District Six, Cape Town

Abstract

The survey aimed at determining whether the potential existed for further developing cultural and heritage tourism activities in the redeveloping District Six. A past, rich and diverse in culturalheritage, provided the basis from which the study examines whether the implementation of a cultural-heritage tourism plan in the area, if appropriate, would help address issues of restitution and ultimately contribute to the country‟s cultural, heritage and tourism asset-base. Currently no formal tourism plan exists for District Six. A historical study provided an assessment of the areas‟ cultural and heritage assets, manifested in politics, music and dance, art, literature, and architecture. A search of existing cultural and heritage tourism literature was conducted in order to gain insight into the descriptive, theoretical and conceptual study questions identified. Relevant development policies and frameworks impacting and supporting potential tourism development in the area were examined. These included the Development Framework for District Six (2011) and the National Heritage Tourism Strategy (2012). Creative tourism was further examined as a tool to augment the tourism product and positively contribute to cultural regeneration. Business and functional linkages to assist the integration of District Six tourism into the broader economy were also identified. A comparative analysis of the introduction of a cultural-heritage tourism plan in Genadendal was made, an area which experienced similar sociopolitical and historical conditions as District Six. Parallels of the potential challenges were drawn and opportunities identified. Furthermore, an empirical survey in the form of in-depth interviews was administered during 2013 to seventeen relevant academics, heritage and tourism practitioners, resident representatives and development consultants. The methodology included obtaining qualitative data through transcribing interviews and thematically presenting and analysing the data.