Community-based tourism (CBT) advancement and sustainable tourism enterprise establishments in marginalized rural municipalities: context for ecotourism development in parks-adjacent communities

Purpose The present state of tourist development projects in Musina Municipality, located in Vhembe District, Limpopo, South Africa, is examined in this paper. As a result, it incorporates their possible influence on the improvement of local parks and protected areas as well as the abutting communities’ standard of living. Thus, also including the supply and demand for tourism services in rural neighborhoods and emerging economies. Design/methodology/approach With published and gray literature, surveys, interviews, focus groups and document reviews were employed. Field observations supplement primary sources to a lesser degree. Data were manually sorted and then subjected to cross-tabulation analysis using Microsoft Excel. Findings The analysis of earlier research and respondents’ answers about their expected effects on tourism developments outlines the policy and strategy components that have influenced Musina Municipality’s historical and contemporary tourism statuses. The study’s conclusions indicate that while Musina Municipality has a multitude of tourism options, its local biodiversity-inclined and effective tourism plan is deficient in the study area. A commanding strategy would empower the residents and provide a significant index for rural tourism development. Originality/value In South Africa’s northern Limpopo Province, Musina Municipality is one of the driest areas. Poor rural communities are another feature. Nonetheless, it is situated within the Vhembe District of the Limpopo, a tourism-oriented area. Furthermore, significant resources remain underestimated despite being used to benefit rural communities in most African countries, benchmarking worldwide.