Participation of Previously Disadvantaged Groups in the Tourist Guiding Sector: Assessing Barriers and Opportunities

Tourist Guides: Survey

This survey forms part of the data for research being conducted by the School of Tourism and Hospitality at the University of Johannesburg, on behalf of the Department of Tourism. The overall aim of this study is to investigate transformation within the tourist guiding profession within South Africa. The specific focus of the study will be to examine the potential opportunities, challenges, and barriers to transformation within tourist guiding with an emphasis on previously disadvantaged groups including   women and youth. Only persons over 18 years old should complete the survey.
 
The information that you provide cannot be linked to you. Your identity will be kept anonymous, and confidentiality maintained throughout the study. Your participation is voluntary, and you may opt out at any time without consequence. If you agree to participate, please complete the survey which will take approximately 10 minutes.
The results will be made available to the National Department of Tourism. and will be used for academic purposes with no reference to any individual, business or organisation.
This research has been granted ethical clearance by the UJ Ethics Committee and follows all guidelines for the conduct of ethical research involving human subjects. If you have any concerns about the ethical aspects of the research please call 011 559 1597 or email tembit@uj.ac.za Prof Tembi Tichaawa is the lead researcher at UJ.  
1.What is your gender? (Required.)
2.What is your age?(Required.)
3.What is your race?(Required.)
4.What general highest academic qualification do you possess?(Required.)
5.Which category/categories of the tourist guiding do you operate in? (multiple responses permitted)(Required.)
6.How would you classify your tourist guiding operations?(Required.)
7.Which province are you originally from?(Required.)
8.In which province do you operate from?(Required.)
9.Do you reside on site /in staff accommodation or in private residence?(Required.)
10.What qualification for tourist guiding specifically do you possess?(Required.)
11.In what year did you obtain your qualification?(Required.)
12.How would you classify your work as a tourist guide?(Required.)
13.What is your average working hours per day? (Required.)
14.How long have you been practicing as a tourist guide?(Required.)
15.Which best describes your income type?(Required.)
16.What is your average monthly income (after tax)?(Required.)
17.This section explores perceptions on the main barriers to the growth and development of the tourist guiding sector, with a focus on transformational aspects. Please indicate your level of agreement with each of the statements below, where 1 = ‘strongly disagree’; 2 = ‘disagree’; 3 = ‘neutral’; 4 = ‘agree’; 5 = ‘strongly agree’(Required.)
SD
D
N
A
SA
Due to the qualification requirements involved in the tourist guiding sector, there are often difficulties in terms of entry into tourist guiding within this field
There has been a concerted effort by relevant governing bodies to try and transform tourist guiding in the sector
There has been some transformation in the tourist guiding sector with a significant proportion of Black South Africans who have become tourist guides, particularly
There is a severe lack of female tourist guides participating effectively in the subsector
There are many barriers to gender transformation within the guiding sector.
There are many barriers to racial transformation within the guiding sector.
There are many barriers to transformation within the tourist guiding sector for youth and people with disabilities
Transformation in the sector should include locals from surrounding communities of tourism products (e.g. parks, attractions), allowing locals to draw on their indigenous knowledge as tourist guides.
The disparities between the urban and rural contexts are a challenge for tourist guides
The historical exclusion of previously disadvantaged people still exists in the tourist guiding sector
The regulation and licensing requirements of being a tourist guide prevent/hold back the growth of the sector
Resistance to changing requirements for registration by current tourist guides inhibits the growth of the sector
Long-operating tourist guides are resistant to change because their opinions have not been considered in the amendments of legislation affecting tourist guides
Inadequate access to training and education (no near-by facilities or only in-person courses) hinders opportunities for previously disadvantaged groups to develop as tourist guides
The cost of training and education hinder opportunities for previously disadvantaged group to develop as tourist guides
Seasonality within the sector poses significant economic challenges for tourist guides
The lack of fixed income within the sector poses significant economic challenges for tourist guides
Economic challenges (increased cost of living) serve as a deterrent for tourist guides to remain in the profession
Tourist guides have not yet financially recovered from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
High crime rates in the country serve as a deterrent for women and other previously disadvantaged groups to become tourist guides
High crime rates pose a threat to all tourist guides
The working conditions of tourist guides are poor
Pairing experienced tourist guides with new tourist guides will have a positive impact on the growth and development of the sector
Having networks and associations that new tourist guides can join for mentorship and support will encourage more people to become tourist guides
Increasing awareness of tourist guiding as a profession at secondary/high school level will contribute to the growth and development of the sector
It is essential for tourist guides to undertake constant upskilling and capacity building programmes to remain employable in the competitive sector
Many tourist guides don’t have the money to be able to afford registration or renewal
Illegal tourist guides pose a threat to the tourism sector, safety of touristsand to the financial sustainability of registered tourist guides
Cross-border guiding conducted by tourist guides from other countries into South Africa are taking up guiding economic opportunities for local guides
The difficulty of tourist guiding qualifications training content is an inhibitor to the sector’s growth
The fast pace of facilitators during training poses a challenge in understanding the content
There is not enough time allocated to complete the content during training
The registration process by CATHSETA for the qualification takes to long
The delays in CATHSETA issuing the qualification causes delays in the registration process for tourist guides
The cost of obtaining relevant tourist guiding qualification is a barrier
Tourist guides qualifications should be on a national level, to encourage growth and development of the sector
Tourist guides should be permitted to gain credits for courses studied when changing their guiding specialisation
Expired qualifications that were previously earned by tourist guides should be recognised in some manner, to prevent these guides from having to re-qualify
Tourist guides are an important aspect of the tourism product offering and should therefore be supported in upskilling and continued education.
The tourist guide subsector in South Africa is over regulated
The complexity of the tourist guiding registration process is an inhibitor to the sector’s growth (provincial registrar)
The process of renewing registrations is time consuming for tourist guides, resulting in lapsed registration and thus non-compliance
The process of renewing registrations is difficult for tourist guides to understand, resulting in lapsed registration and thus non-compliance
It is essential that all tourist guides are registered, as this ensures that the guides are qualified and competent to carry out tours
The process of obtaining registration and being compliant excludes a significant number of people from becoming tourist guides
It is simple and uncomplicated to register/renew registration at the Provincial Registrars guide office
The requirements for tourist guides registration is a barrier to the development of the sector
Having to re-train or re-qualify will result in many guides leaving the sector or continuing without doing so (i.e. illegally)
The amount of experience a tourist guide should be recognised in the process of recognised prior learning (RPL) , with certain requirements waived in lieu of evidenced experience
Learning foreign languages is a barrier and challenge for tourist guides, who often interact with international (non-English speaking) tourists
The qualification and registration requirements to become a tourist guide are easy to understand
The qualification and registration requirements to become a tourist guide are easy to meet and obtain
It is important that a comprehensive and publicly available database of all registered and compliant tourist guides is created and continuously updated, for tourist guides to offer their services directly to tourists
18.Indicate which of the following factors will create opportunities for previously disadvantaged groups to access and participate within the tourist guiding sector: (Please answer by ticking in the appropriate box for either yes or no)(Required.)
Yes
No
Information sessions with prospective guides in communities
Subsidised or funded qualifications
Assistance with completion of administration/registration/renewals
Creating traineeships for new tourist guides
Establishing partnerships with the private sector tourism operations (guiding) companies to facilitate access for guides
Incentivising seasoned tourist guides and companies participation in the sector, through mentorship
Providing a more stable base income for tourist guides
Ensuring that the working conditions of tourist guides are decent
Incentivising upskilling of tourist guides
19.What do you think can be done to encourage participation of previously disadvantaged individuals in the tourist guiding sector?(Required.)
20.How can the sector be made more accessible for people from previously disadvantaged groups to join / become tourist guides and ultimately grow the sector?(Required.)
21.What do you think the future of the tourist guiding sector is?(Required.)
22.Would you recommend tourist guiding as a profession? Please explain your answer(Required.)
23.Please rate your level of job satisfaction.(Required.)
Very unsatisfied 
Unsatisfied 
Neutral 
Satisfied
Very satisfied 
24.What can be done to increase your job satisfaction?(Required.)
25.Please provide any comments that you would like to contribute, that were not covered in this survey.(Required.)