The Local Economic Development in the Eden District Municipality, Western Cape Province, South Africa: A Case Study of Emerging Entrepreneurs in Tourism Industry

Abstract

Tourism has been seen as a key strategy that can be used for achieving Local Economic Development (LED) objectives, which are employment creation, poverty alleviation, economic growth and sustainability. In essence, there is a strong linkage between tourism and its ability to create sustainable employment which ultimately results in economic growth that leads to poverty alleviation. Due to the link elaborated above, this study looked LED in EDM, in order to establish whether this could be a strategy for emerging entrepreneurs in the tourism sector to contribute to the objectives of LED. Therefore the paper will assess the businesses of emerging entrepreneurs in contributing to LED objectives in the EDM. The methodology used in the study to collect primary data was quantitative using questionnaires as a survey technique. The statistical tool used for the study was T-test and ANOVA using Statistica software version 9. The study found that businesses owned by emerging entrepreneurs in the tourism industry are making a positive contribution to the LED objectives. The implication of the study is that for businesses owned by emerging entrepreneurs in the tourism industry to make a meaningful contribution to LED; there should be sufficient support from the EDM and local municipalities.