Suppliers perceptions of the significance of local community demand in sustaining township tourism in Atteridgeville

The world has become a big corporation that is driven by profit. In the 1980s, embracing sustainability as a response to social, economic, and environmental challenges meant that development no longer had to be driven by economic objectives only. In tourism, this development paradigm meant that the needs of local communities and their environment should be placed at the centre of development strategies. The reality is that it is difficult to pursue societal gain in areas that are not economically viable. This situation has resulted in many third-world countries being locked in the vicious circle of poverty. This study addresses the issue of poverty by investigating the significance of local demand in sustaining township tourism in the township of Atteridgeville. Descriptive statistics were used to present the sustainable tourism variables identified for the 144 tourism suppliers, which were then tested for relationships using Freeman-Halton’s extension of the Fisher’s Exact Test. The study found that local demand as opposed to tourist demand, provides a more significant and reliable source of income and community support, which are fundamental to the continued existence of township tourism in Atteridgeville. The study presents local governments with insights that could assist in pursuing township tourism primarily from a social perspective.