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Impact of piracy on cruise tourism in East and West Africa

- Jonas, Lynn

Authors: Jonas, Lynn
Date: 2025-04
Subjects: Ocean travel , Cruise lines , Tourism
Language: English
Type: Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/72768 , vital:79259
Description: Maritime transport has become essential to international trade as approximately 90% of world commodities are carried by sea. Maritime security has thus become a critical issue to consider, and security efforts have intensified considering the rise of modern piracy. The global impact of piracy is far reaching as it includes inflated labour and fuel costs because of diversions and the use of alternative routes to avoid pirates. Piracy along East Africa was rampant between 2008 and 2012, but then moved predominantly to West Africa. The threat of piracy to passenger vessels is of great concern as the global cruise tourism industry has grown tremendously over the past few decades. The reaction of the shipping industry to piracy is avoidance of the affected routes, and this study considered the prevalence of piracy and how it affects the cruise tourism industry on the African continent. The four research objectives were to determine the extent of cruise tourism in Africa, to evaluate the prevalence of piracy on East and West Africa, and to ascertain the maritime safety and security measures put in place to combat piracy. The study utilised an interpretivist paradigm, following a qualitative research approach with document analysis as the data collection method. Forty-one publicly available documents were selected through purposive and subsequent snowball sampling from the International Maritime Bureau, International Maritime Organisation, and Cruise Line International Association. Documents were analysed with the aid of Atlas.ti through a thematic analysis process. The findings of the study indicate that there is a lack of available information about cruise tourism in Africa and the continent receives approximately 1% of the world cruises. East Africa has seen growth in cruise tourism, but West Africa is still struggling with security concerns, hampering cruise tourism. Moreover, piracy in East Africa had been reduced to no reports of attacks, while West African piracy has continued to flourish with highly dangerous and violent, organised gangs operating in the region. All vessels are fair game during attacks and pirates are well armed with sophisticated weapons and mundane weapons such as knives. Theft, hijacking, and kidnapping are most common, with West Africa accounting for nearly all instances of pirate kidnappings worldwide. In combating piracy, regional and international collaboration has contributed significantly to the reduction of piracy in East Africa. Reporting agencies continue to issue warnings and recommendations to shipping companies and ship masters to be on high alert as pirates continue to have the ability and willingness to attack. The study findings assert that piracy has a negative impact on cruise tourism and further studies may consider additional reasons for the slow growth of cruise tourism in Africa. , Thesis (MPhil) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 2025
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Date Issued: 2025-04

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The impact of the Consumer Protection Act, 2008 on the accomodation segment of the tourism industry

- Tait, Andrew Mark

Authors: Tait, Andrew Mark
Date: 2012
Subjects: South Africa -- Consumer Protection Act, 2008 , Consumer protection -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Tourism
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Doctoral , LLD
Identifier: vital:10247 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019922
Description: The tourism industry is critically important for the economic well-being of South Africa. This realisation elicited a greater focus on the industry, including greater government regulation thereof. Although the concept of a tourist (consumer of tourism services) will not readily conjure up someone in need of protection, tourists are often exposed to exploitation through unfair business practices. Tourists, by definition, are outside their normal places of residence and often strangers to the environment within which they find themselves. For the important tourism industry to achieve its economic potential the protection of the tourist must be paramount. The introduction of the Consumer Protection Act, 2008 in 2010 was heralded as a new dawn for consumers. The CPA provides consumers, including domestic and foreign tourists, with extensive consumer rights. As the CPA is the first comprehensive legislation aimed at consumer protection the impact of the Act is far from known. The CPA caused considerable uncertainty in the tourism industry establishing a clear need to determine its impact on the segments of the industry. This study focuses on the accommodation segment. The aim of the study therefore is to ascertain the impact of selected consumer rights on the accommodation segment of the tourism industry. An overview of the tourism industry reveals that tourists are becoming more experienced, demanding and discerning. The regulation of the industry is explained. Particularly relevant are latest developments in South Africa, particularly the Draft Tourism Bill, 2011 and the National Tourism Sector Strategy. The consumer protection regime applicable prior to the coming into effect of the CPA was characterised more by ad hoc legislative arrangements than any systematic programme of consumer protection. Consumers were reliant on the common law. However, as part of a larger scheme to improve the socio-economic well-being of the people of South Africa, the government introduced a number of statutes including the CPA. The CPA introduced wide-ranging rights for the protection of consumers and mechanisms to provide effective redress. Selected consumer rights are critically analysed to assess the impact of these rights on the accommodation segment. These include the consumer’s right to equality in the market place; the right to privacy; the right to cancel advance bookings; the right to documentation in plain language; the right to quality service; and the right that a supplier having possession of the property of guest must account for such property. Another important aspect relates to the use of exemption provisions. The use of exemption provisions by suppliers is severely curtailed by the CPA. The use of prepaid vouchers, trade coupons and similar promotions, and customer loyalty programmes are also considered and the rights and obligations for consumers and suppliers respectively are elucidated. Many of the rights considered will have a significant impact on accommodation establishments. Elsewhere the impact may not appear to be as significant as the CPA is merely codifying an existing right or remedy. However, codifying the right, providing examples of the conduct prohibited and providing enforcement mechanisms will increase the efficacy of these rights.
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Date Issued: 2012

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