The Development of Tourism and the Accommodation Sector in Malawi Since Independence
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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Wits Institutional Repository on DSPACE The Development of Tourism and the Accommodation Sector in Malawi Since Independence Submitted By: Alice Magombo Supervisor: Prof C.M. Rogerson October 2011 A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts by coursework in Tourism Studies. ABSTRACT This study examines the development of tourism and the accommodation sector in Malawi since attaining independence in 1964. It analyses the factors that have influenced the evolution process of Malawi’s tourism and accommodation sector and discusses the development patterns in context with the Butler’s Theory of Destination Development Area Cycle. The study shows that Malawi tourism and accommodation sector development stages diverged from Butler’s proposed phases of destination development. The tourism and accommodation sector development process from the period Malawi obtained independence went through three stages: the Post-Colonial Development Stage, Fragmented Development and Attempted Recovery. Its divergence is primarily attributed to political changes, which in turn influenced the change in tourism policy ideologies. The other main reason for the divergence is attributed to external factors, most importantly the World Bank’s Structural Adjustment Programme which impacted upon Malawi as a poor indebted country. ii DECLARATION I declare that this research report is my own, unaided work. It is submitted for the degree of Master of Arts by coursework in Tourism Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand. It has not been submitted before for any degree or examination at any other university. Alice Magombo_______________________ Date _______________________ iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the following people who have assisted me along the process: The Director of Malawi National Archives and staff who relentlessly assisted in the research by providing archival materials My family, friends and colleagues. Thank you for all your support and patience To Mrs Wendy Job of the Cartography unit, for the maps. And a special thanks to my supervisor, Prof. C.M. Rogerson. Thank you for your support and tremendous contribution to my growing knowledge of tourism. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................................................... ii DECLARATION .................................................................................................................................. iiii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................. vi LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................................. viii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................1 1.1 Tourism ......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Importance of Tourism in Africa ................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Malawi Tourism ............................................................................................................................ 3 1.4 Research on Tourism in Malawi .................................................................................................... 4 1.5 Aims and Objectives ...................................................................................................................... 6 1.6 Methodology ................................................................................................................................. 6 1.7 The Structure of the Report .......................................................................................................... 7 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................................................8 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 8 2.2 Overview of the Tourist Destination Development Life-Cycle (The Butler Model) ...................... 8 2.3 Experiences of Using Butler’s Model to Interpret Tourism Development in Africa ................... 18 2.4 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 22 CHAPTER 3: TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN MALAWI ........................................................................ 25 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 25 3.2 Historical Emergence of the Tourism Industry ........................................................................... 26 3.3 Tourism Development after Independence ................................................................................ 30 3.4 Institutional Tourism Development ........................................................................................... 31 3.5 Assessing the Tourism Potential ................................................................................................. 34 3.6 Initial Tourism Development ...................................................................................................... 38 3.7 Political Change and Tourism Development After 1994 ............................................................. 52 3.8 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 65 v CHAPTER 4:THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ACCOMMODATION SECTOR IN MALAWI SINCE INDEPENDENCE67 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 67 4.2 Historical Emergence of Accommodation Industry .................................................................... 67 4.3 Accommodation Development since Independence .................................................................. 75 4.4 Organisation in the Hotel Development ..................................................................................... 82 4.5 The Progress of the Hotel Development Programme ................................................................. 85 4.6 Government Hotel Facilities and their General Performance .................................................... 91 4.7 Utilization of Hotels .................................................................................................................... 98 4.8 Proliferation of Accommodation units; Hotels, Lodges and Inns ............................................. 100 4.9 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 103 CHAPTER 5: STAGES IN MALAWI TOURISM AND ACCOMMODATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT ....... 105 5.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 105 5.2 Stages of Development in Malawi Tourism and Accommodation Sector ................................ 105 5.3 The Butler’s Model and the Malawi Tourism ........................................................................... 113 5.4 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 115 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................. 117 APPENDIX A – List of Files from National Archives, Zomba .............................................................. 129 APPENDIX B – List of Interviewees .................................................................................................. 132 APPENDIX C – List of Questions ...................................................................................................... 133 vi LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1 Characteristics of Stages of Resort Developement………………………………………………………………………10 Table 3.1 Total Numbers of Visitors by Reason for Entry.…………………………………………………………………………..48 Table 3.2 Number of Visitors by Country of Residence 1987-1994.…………………………………………………………….51 Table 3.3 Number of Visitors by Reasons of Entry, 1985-1994.…………………………………………………………………..52 Table 3.4 Number of Visitors 1996-2008..…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 56 Table 3.5 Visitors by Country of Permanent Residence 1996-2005.……………………………………………………………57 Table 4.1 Summary of Hotels in the Colonial Era (1871 - 1952)…………………………………………………………………. 70 Table 4.2 Summary of Hotels during the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (1953-1963)……………………73 Table 4.3 Government Hotel Chain Developmental Phases..………………………………………………………..……………82 Table 4.4 Summary of Hotels in the Hotel Development Programme…………………………………………………………85 Table 4.5 Number of Hotels, Lodges and Inns, 1974..…………………………………………………………………………………88 Table 4.6 Available Hotels, Lodges and Inns, both