http://hdl.handle.net/10500/3015 2013-06-20T06:27:41Z http://hdl.handle.net/10500/4373 International market potential of avitourism in South Africa Conradie, Nicolene Despite rapid growth of avitourism globally, the international market potential of avitourism in South Africa, which has remarkable birdlife, is not fully utilised. This research aimed to profile international avitourists by investigating their behavioural involvement, motivations, preferences, agreement to ecotourism principles, and awareness of avitourism in South Africa. Primary data were gathered by distributing questionnaires at the British Birdwatching Fair and Dutch Vogelfestival. Exploratory factor analyses (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were applied. The results indicated that avitourists differ in terms of behavioural involvement, motivation and preferences for each fair and birder type (casual, active or committed), but agreed on ecotourism principles. A second-order CFA model for avitourist motivation revealed three new constructs – wellbeing, intellectual activity and engagement. Respondents indicated relatively low awareness but high interest in visiting South Africa as a birding destination. The results support the South African avitourism industry potential in product development and destination marketing. 2010-06-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10500/4269 The appraisal of transport infrastructure projects in the municipal sphere of government in South Africa, with reference to the city of Tshwane Schutte, I. C. (Ignatius Christiaan), 1949- The annual budget cycle in urban road/transport authorities by implication requires transport infrastructure projects to be ranked in terms of their relative value, to enable project selection by starting from the most deserving proposal. This follows from the fact that the total cost of feasible projects practically always exceeds available funds, signalling the need for some kind of selection protocol. Cost benefit analysis (CBA), when applied in a narrow sense, is not suitable for this purpose as it focuses on economic efficiency only. Attempts to broaden it have been criticized by some scholars. Although the diversity of impacts points to a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) approach, this is considered unscientific in certain quarters; at best, its practical value needs to be demonstrated. In the case of the City of Tshwane (CoT), problems with current project appraisal are evident in that different methods – none of which is defensible – are used, sometimes resulting in rankings that are contradictory. This thesis therefore attempts the following: (a) to develop a basic approach that combines the best elements of traditional methods; (b) to customize this approach to the specific context and needs of road authorities in the municipal sphere of government, using CoT as an example; and (c) to demonstrate the application of the resulting appraisal framework, utilizing appropriate decision-support software for this purpose. Recommendations include the following: An appraisal framework should combine CBA and MCA by adopting an overall MCA approach with economic efficiency – focusing on the optimal allocation of scarce resources – as one of the decision criteria. For completeness‟ sake, three additional decision criteria are deemed necessary: equity (focusing on income distribution impacts); sustainability (focusing on environmental impacts); and compatibility (focusing on the alignment of projects with stated goals and objectives). This framework may well apply to road authorities in other spheres of government – the optimum application in each case will depend on the composition of the relevant decision-making team. The inherent nature of project appraisal requires a two-phased approach in all cases: the evaluation of mutually exclusive alternatives, followed by the ranking of independent projects. State-of-the-art decision support software is indispensable for implementing this framework. 2010-11-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10500/2376 An investigation into the efficiency of the port / rail interface at the Port of Durban Foolchand, Paris Trade liberalization and resultantly globalization has led to the relative free flow of goods, services, capital and people. The transport system in South Africa must be highly reliable and rapid to contribute to economic development. The focus of this research study is on the Port/Rail Interface in the Port of Durban which critically assesses the transfer of goods particularly from rail transport to and from vessels within the port precinct. Some of the major constraints identified in the study related to poor infrastructure, operations and levels of services; lack of maintenance, availability of rolling stock, locomotives and cargo stacking space. Transnet's role is pivotal in providing efficient port and rail operations and is currently upgrading infrastructure, operations and capacity of the port and rail services. One of the main objectives of the study is to present recommendations to Transnet management that arise out of the shortcomings identified during the course of the research study. 2006-06-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10500/2049 Maximising the economic returns of road infrastructure investment Joynt, Hubert The aim of this study is to explore ways to maximise the economic returns of road infrastructure investment. In order to achieve this objective, the study was divided into five parts involving the following: analysing the nature of road infrastructure, determining the relationship between road infrastructure investment and economic development, considering aspects of economic modelling, developing a formula of road investment, and refocusing road investment practices. In the first part the characteristics of road infrastructure are examined and the demand and supply approaches to road investment outlined. The focus is on the balanced approach versus the unbalanced approach to infrastructure investment. The second part analyses the causal relationship between road investment and economic development. Four components are highlighted, namely the investment component, the network-performance component, the transport economic component and the economic development component. The third part analyses the applicability of modelling techniques. In the fifth part, the formula of road investment and economic development is focused on four markets. Finally, it is argued that road infrastructure investment must be refocused. The following was found: Road infrastructure investment must be demand led. This is because of the characteristics of roads, namely their indivisibility, long gestation period, lumpiness and high cost. Road infrastructure investment can only realise economic development if the four causality components are complied with simultaneously. Input-output modelling is preferred in South Africa. The modelling strategy developed in this study is recommended for transport economic studies. The probability of economic returns of road infrastructure investment is a function of the real estate market, the land development market, the urban economic market and the infrastructure market. An agenda for reform in the road investment industry was also proposed. The study clearly identifies the relationship between road infrastructure investment and economic development, and the proposed formula is an appropriate tool for a first-order priority system. 2009-08-25T10:59:45Z