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Transitions to low-carbon energy are central to sustainability transitions, with electricity being a pressing current concern both in South Africa and globally. Economic, social, institutional, and political factors often make transitioning to renewable electricity particularly complex. In this article, we examine electricity transitions in tourism from a global South context, combining evolutionary economic geography (EEG) concepts with the multi-level perspective (MLP). Our findings point to strong exogenous lock-in factors working against an electricity transition in South African tourism. A historic dependence on coal, along with complex place-based factors lock the country into a carbon-intensive electricity path at the national electricity infrastructure level. In turn, these complexities adversely affect an electricity transition in the tourism sector. However, energy policy change along with innovation by tourism actors is emergent stimuli for creating low-carbon electricity paths. More specifically, recent climate change mitigation policies, the increasing unreliability of grid electricity, and legislative reforms are significant factors encouraging the renewal of the electricity system. At the same time, it is becoming more cost-effective for businesses, including tourism establishments, to install renewables. The South African case contributes to the emerging body of literature on sustainability transitions in tourism. It does this by showing that to achieve a just energy transition, proper appraisal of path-dependent structural challenges is needed to understand the nature and levels of change required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the literature on COVID-19 is expanding, particularly in relation to crisis management responses pursued by large tourism enterprises, currently few studies exist on the responses of small tourism firms and more specifically of the crisis management practices of small and microaccommodation establishments. The aim in this study is to investigate the business management responses of small tourism firms to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and restrictions in South Africa. Themes of concern are whether enterprises have been able to sustain operations and adopt certain coping mechanisms or management strategies to mitigate the pandemic's impact. The article reports on an interview survey of small and microenterprises engaged in accommodation services (N = 75) in South Africa under lockdown restrictions as a means of assessing the responses and coping strategies during an unprecedented crisis of this core component of the country's tourism industry. Among key findings are that small and microlodging firms that have suffered severe financial losses because of the COVID-19 shock have few viable mechanisms to cope with the impact of the crisis and that government support to aid recovery has been insufficient in South Africa. This research contributes to the limited body of international scholarship that examines how small and microaccommodation firms, a major group and contributor of many economies, are navigating the unprecedented COVID-19 environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovation is increasingly recognized as a potent policy tool for addressing the structural problems that characterize poverty in marginalized rural communities. In what ways should governments in developing countries be involved in supporting innovation to achieve inclusive development objectives? This special issue brings together key insights from different facets of rural transformation programmes in the global South, with the view to shed light on the nature and outcomes of state involvement. The contributions to this volume highlight three domains in which the state plays a pivotal role in spurring inclusive rural transformation: promoting agricultural innovation in Algeria and Vietnam, supporting rural capacity building in South Africa and Peru, and the provision of pro-poor innovations for rural social development in India and Argentina. In all three domains, government support coupled with greater participation of local community members in the planning and implementation of innovative projects proved to produce greater potential for success. The contributions also emphasize the pivotal role that the state must play in supporting local capability building and bridging knowledge gaps between innovation producers and rural user communities, in order to facilitate local absorption of external technological solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tourism sector is routinely offered as an option to grow employment in South Africa. Yet, questions need to be asked about the nature of employment in tourism, the state of education and skills training in the sector and its prospects for youth. Drawing on a national study, this paper interrogates tourism education and skills training issues in relation to youth employment and development. The findings reveal that youth in the sector find themselves in precarious employment: they typically have low-level skills, do not continue their education or training after being employed and have few career progression options. At the same time, a mismatch between the outcomes of education and skills training in tourism and the requirements of the industry come to the fore. Enhanced skills development and the creation of pathways for learning; labour market access and upward career progression are needed to advance youth in tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa's National Development Plan entrenches the importance of a capable developmental state for the country's social and economic development. Likewise, the potential of science, technology and innovation to address development challenges is emphasised. The developmental state and inclusive innovation ideas have been in and out of the policy agenda since 1996 but have recently gained renewed policy attention. As part of an inclusive innovation for development agenda, the Department of Science and Technology facilitated the demonstration of a suite of basic service innovations in 'distressed' municipalities. This paper, using a mixed-methods approach, draws on the assessment of these demonstrations to reflect on key features which come to the fore in both the developmental state and inclusive innovation literature as crucial for success. In order to enjoy a measure of success in terms of developmental states and inclusive innovation for development, similar conditions are necessary: the encouragement and fostering of active participation by all stakeholders; sufficient financial resources and human capabilities at all levels; and strong collaborative and cohesive networks with similar purposes in mind. Once these form part of practice we are likely to see better implementation of inclusive innovation for development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creative tourism is a growing field of inquiry in tourism studies and engages creative industry, creative city and urban regeneration debates. This research identifies creative experience-based tourism as an example of novel tourism product innovation in Cape Town. Creative spectacles and creative spaces in the Cape Town context are also investigated. Key findings are that creative experience-based tourism is a small, but emerging urban tourism niche market with considerable growth potential in Cape Town; creative events are well developed currently in Cape Town but as yet poorly integrated with the wider tourism destination mix as well as creative industry initiatives, and whilst creative clusters are emerging in Cape Town, minimal development of creative urban spaces for tourism purposes is evident. Critical policy issues emerging from this analysis surround recommendations for fostering creative networks, stimulating demand for creative tourism, developing a comprehensive creative tourism product mix, planning for creative precinct development, and integrating creative tourism into the Cape Town destination image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responsible tourism incorporates economic, environmental and social imperatives in keeping with sustainable tourism notions. It can be argued that tourism entities, private, public and non-profi t alike, need to innovate in order to be competitive from an economic perspective as well as implement environmentally and socially responsible practices, and impact on environmental and social change. This article proposes that responsible tourism can provide a framework for conceptualising and cultivating tourism innovation in the light of sustainability debates. Based on a broader study of tourism innovation in the Western Cape, South Africa, innovation relating to economic, environmental and social practices is examined. The findings point to the widespread implementation of both innovation and environmental practices by tourism enterprises. In addition, social and structural innovations are identified as innovation types which have a particular bearing on responsible tourism. It is argued that local policy initiatives are needed to strengthen innovation for responsible business practices in tourism and thereby to enhance environmental and social change on a larger scale. Overall, the results of this cross-sectoral investigation contribute to discourses on environmental innovation in tourism by identifying it as a prevalent type of tourism innovation which comprises multiple environmentally friendly practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A research gap exists for the conceptual strengthening, measurement and analysis of innovation at the tourism firm and systems levels, especially in the context of the global South. This paper investigates tourism innovation in the Western Cape region of South Africa. In particular, the nature and types of innovation by tourism firms and system actors are interrogated. It is revealed that innovation by tourism firms is widespread, albeit is largely incremental in nature. The main contribution of this research is the development of an expanded evidence-based tourism innovation typology from a cross-sectoral survey of tourism firms and qualitative interviews undertaken with tourism system actors. In addition, recommendations are provided regarding measurement of innovation in tourism. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, innovation has become a critical parameter for contemporary regional and local development policy in the global North. In South African debates about regional and local development policy issues of innovation rarely are discussed and the country's most recent policy documents and frameworks around local economic development (LED) make no mention or acknowledgement of issues around innovation. This disconnect between South Africa's national innovation policies and those around regional and local development planning is under review as the country's Department of Science and Technology (DST) with responsibility for innovation policy in the country, released a new strategy document intended to inform the DST's involvement in the policy space of LED with the mandate of strengthening local systems of innovation and production in a systemic and systematic manner. It is argued that in terms of LED policy and practice across the global South this South African policy document represents a potential benchmark policy intervention which merits scrutiny and discussion. The aim is to examine the shift in national policy thinking towards the use and role of innovation for driving economic and social change in the marginalised spaces of South Africa. Against a background of debates around national, regional and local systems of innovation in the global South and of the emergence of new perspectives around the potential of innovation to contribute to poverty reduction, job creation and LED a critical review is provided of new policy directions and strategic proposals for the application of innovation to drive economic and social change in South Africa's marginalised spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creative industries are increasingly attracting the interest of academics and policymakers around the world. Policy enthusiasm is also directed in many countries towards developing knowledge-intensive or high-technology sectors. The new media sector is considered an innovative growth sector which holds potential for emerging countries. This case study examines innovation in new media firms situated in Cape Town. Theoretically, creative industries are linked to post-industrial and knowledge-based economies and the growth of services, and innovation in high-technology small and medium enterprises is also considered. This paper provides micro data regarding the innovation activities of new media firms based on purposive interviews. The study found that these firms are dynamic in terms of technological innovation. However, their innovation activities tend to be incremental and localised. Furthermore, various barriers limit their innovation enhancement and growth prospects. Public policy can support new media firms in terms of access to new business development funding and programmes supporting small enterprise innovation, improved design education and network opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the relationship between innovation activity and firm size in the South African context. Based on data from the National Innovation Survey (2002-2004) the paper looks in particular at the nature of innovation by small, medium- and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs). The main finding is that the innovation rate of SMMEs is relatively high, with small enterprises reporting the highest innovation rate. A limited dependent variable regression, however, determines a negative statistically significant relationship between the probability to innovate and firm size. SMMEs are therefore not more innovative than large enterprises in South Africa. This paper identifies innovative entrepreneurs and micro enterprises as important foci for entrepreneurship and innovation policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism is increasingly regarded as a viable avenue for local economic development. Small towns on the urban fringe have benefitted from tourism development in South Africa, the town of Parys being one of them. Parys has experienced tourism development over the past few years which has resulted in local economic growth, as especially reflected in the trade industry, amidst the decline of sectors such as manufacturing and mining. The study focusses on the factors that gave rise to the development of tourism in this town, as well as on opportunities and barriers to further development. A profile of tourism, small, medium and micro enterprises, is provided along with other main findings regarding the nature of the tourism industry in the area which includes the unique selling points of the area, visitor characteristics, demand and target market segments. Strategic development initiatives, in the light of the findings, recommend for the future development of the tourism industry in the area to include tourism product development focussed on attractions; the identification of key market segments such as budget tourists and the family market; destination and product marketing; investment in tourism infrastructure and ensuring the responsible management of tourism development in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the authors offer information on the aim of the South African Department of Science and Technology to drive the country's change to a knowledge-based economy. They state that the strategic policy are based on the concept that knowledge and innovation are essential components for the country's economic growth, development, and global competitiveness. They cite the country's aim to develop indicators to measure and monitor the development of a knowledge-based economy.

Township tourism in South Africa has grown in popularity since 1994 and is considered by some to be an appropriate mechanism for stimulating local economic development. This paper suggests, however, that it is not necessarily a viable or responsible development option, since it does not automatically ensure pro-poor benefits or enhance community development. Primary research conducted in Soweto to understand visitor demand and tourism stakeholder perspectives suggests there is a demand for responsible tourism in townships. The paper contributes to South African debates about the developmental role of tourism, township tourism and local economic development, responsible tourism, and the related policy implications. It calls for responsible township tourism development in which local authorities play a vital role and recommends the development of township tourism attractions, with a focus on culture and heritage, to create unique visitor experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines how black female bed and breakfast (B&B) and guesthouse entrepreneurs in the black townships of Cape Town, South Africa were providing accommodations to black South African domestic tourists that allowed these tourists to 'be near the action' in the townships. 'Being near the action' refers to being able to conveniently attend various life-cycle events, such as weddings, funerals, and circumcision celebrations that involve friends and/or family, or engage in work, business, and other activities in the townships. This research contributes to tourism mobilities studies by explaining how these entrepreneurs impacted and were being impacted by domestic tourism and how the social spaces or 'moorings' of the entrepreneurs' accommodations produced and reproduced social and cultural life. In addition, this study provides an understanding of tourism in Africa, and specifically domestic tourism in South Africa, related to the discretionary mobilities of a growing population of middle-class black South Africans. For this study, data was collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with black female B&Bs and guesthouse entrepreneurs in the townships of Langa, Gugulethu, and Khayelitsha. The article also includes a discussion of the possible implications of the COVID-19 pandemic's halting of travel mobilities on the economic sustainability of these entrepreneurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovation has become critical for many countries in the Global South, particularly in responding to challenges such as slow economic growth, primary commodity dependence, and socio-economic inequalities. Since 1996, the National System of Innovation (NSI) approach has been adopted by policymakers in South Africa in order to address these concerns. There are two distinct and complementary modes of innovation: (1) Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), which focuses on the promotion and commercialization of research and development (R&D); and (2) Doing, Using and Interacting (DUI), which involves business strategies, knowledge sharing among employees, and interactive learning between users and producers. In this article, we analyze the modes of innovation used by small, medium, and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa, and identify their potential to use business model innovation to help tackle social challenges. Based on a Latent Class Analysis of online survey data collected from SMMEs in the Gauteng Province, we found that 82% used the DUI mode, 18% used the STI mode, and 72% expressed confidence that their innovative solutions could help tackle social challenges. We therefore recommend that policymakers further incentivize the STI mode within SMMEs, in order to more effectively address social inclusion problems in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa's situation of financialization, low growth, unemployment, and inequality is linked here to the 'installation phase' of a new technology as described by Carlotta Perez. South Africa's informational economy is examined, and the role of the financial sector is summarized. The article then considers the strengths and weaknesses of the manufacturing and service sectors, and the embeddedness in them of digital technologies. The article concludes by supporting manufacturing as the best route to a new productive economic core while other sites of digital industry take deeper root. The need to shape finance to more national ends is also affirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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