Generating opportunities for tourism businesses through information exchanges with visitor information centres in South Africa

Abstract

Information exchange is a process through which information, experience and skills are exchanged among stakeholders. While previous studies acknowledge that Visitor Information Centres (VICs) exchange information with various stakeholders, it remains unclear how this exchange contributes to economic opportunities for tourism businesses. The objective of the study is therefore to ascertain whether the information that VICs and tourism businesses exchanges contributes to economic opportunities. A survey was distributed to tourism businesses listed in the databases of government-owned VICs in South Africa. The results show that VICs and tourism businesses exchange information and that this exchange generates economic opportunities for businesses. The results also identify factors in the information exchange process that are predictors of economic opportunities. Based on the results, VIC staff should use the exchange of information as a platform through which they may generate economic opportunities for businesses. In their exchange of information, VIC staff should understand the information needs of tourism businesses and provide them with visitor-support information that is extensive, useful and according to their preferences. Consequently, staff can contribute to government’s plan of improving the lives of businesses in areas in which they operate.