Domestic tourism is relatively under-represented in tourism scholarship.
This article attempts to analyse the role of domestic tourism in one of the
‘emerging world regions’ of tourism. In the case of South Africa domestic tourism
represents a significant element of the country’s tourism economy. The objectives
are to provide (i) an analysis of the growth, contemporary spatial patterns
and restructuring of domestic tourism in South Africa; and (ii) an assessment of
emerging policy debates issues taking place about domestic tourism. Using a detailed
local level data base on tourism flows this paper provides fresh insight into
the character and changing geography of domestic tourism in South Africa. The
nature and dynamics of domestic tourism are shown to have shifted since democratic
transition. The restructured geography of domestic tourism exhibits a number
of continuities and changes with earlier times. Government is seeking to use
domestic tourism as a basis for addressing spatial unevenness in patterns of tourism
development. In terms of recent spatial change it is revealed the most significant
developments are the strengthening of Ethekwini as the country’s leading
domestic tourism destination and the relative demise of Cape Town as a hub for
domestic tourists.