Small tourism firms in South Africa: The changing role of Tourism Enterprise Partnership

Abstract

Small tourism firms are critical elements in tourism economies. Support for the enhanced development of small tourism firms seeks to address their constraints on business growth and participation in the tourism economy. This paper contributes to international debates on tourism policy and small tourism firms. It examines the developing world case of South Africa and the operations of the Tourism Enterprise Partnership (TEP) which aims specifically to support SM (M)E development in the country’s expanding tourism sector. Using primary sources in the form of internal documentary material, annual reports and stakeholder interviews, the paper investigates the operations and challenges of TEP in facilitating at scale the growth, development and sustainability of small tourism firms in South Africa.

Keywords: Small tourism firms, business development, national government, South Africa, Tourism Enterprise Partnership.