TELLING OUR STORY, HOLDING OUR GROUND: HERITAGE INTERPRETATION AS A TOOL FOR RESILIENCE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM IN A SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL PARK

Current heritage interpretation practices often perpetuate non-participatory interpretive methods that marginalise local voices while undermining tourist engagement and cultural authenticity. This paper examines how heritage interpretation is understood and practised by different tourism stakeholders in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, focusing on how these practices contribute to more inclusive and resilient forms of tourism. Drawing from interviews with park management, SANParks guides, and Khomani San community guides, the study explores shared goals, tensions, and differing priorities in how stories of place, people, and nature are communicated to visitors. While park officials often rely on structured programmes and long-term planning, community guides highlight the importance of lived experience, local knowledge, and emotional connection. For them, interpretation is not only about information but also about presence and inviting visitors to slow down, touch the land, and engage with the environment in a way that respects both culture and ecology. While all stakeholders prioritise conservation, Indigenous knowledge remains underutilised in formal systems. Despite interest in digital tools, place-based, human-centred approaches were deemed most impactful. Community involvement also varies in depth, from surface-level economic inclusion to stronger calls for self-representation and control over what is shared, how, and by whom. The study advocates an inclusive, community-driven interpretation to enhance cultural identity and visitor engagement, offering a low-cost strategy for sustainable tourism. By highlighting these perspectives, the paper shows that heritage interpretation is more than a guiding technique. Integrating lived experience and local ownership can strengthen resilience in ecotourism destinations, balancing preservation with equitable participation and providing a meaningful pathway for transforming how visitors connect with people and place.