Catering for large numbers of tourists: the McDonaldization of casual dining in Kruger National Park

Ferreira Sanette L.A. () and W. Van Zyl Gesina ()
Additional contact information
Ferreira Sanette L.A.: CFMR, Stellenbosch University, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
W. Van Zyl Gesina: DFMR

Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series, 2016, vol. 33, issue 33, 39-53

Abstract: Since 2002 Kruger National Park (KNP) has subjected to a commercialisation strategy. Regarding income generation, SANParks (1) sees KNP as the goose that lays the golden eggs. As part of SANParks’ commercialisation strategy and in response to providing services that are efficient, predictable and calculable for a large number of tourists, SANParks has allowed well-known branded restaurants to be established in certain rest camps in KNP. This innovation has raised a range of different concerns and opinions among the public. This paper investigates the what and the where of casual dining experiences in KNP; describes how the catering services have evolved over the last 70 years; and evaluates current visitor perceptions of the introduction of franchised restaurants in the park. The main research instrument was a questionnaire survey. Survey findings confirmed that restaurant managers, park managers and visitors recognise franchised restaurants as positive contributors to the unique KNP experience. Park managers appraised the franchised restaurants as mechanisms for funding conservation.

Keywords: tourism product; eating experiences; franchised restaurants; service levels; Kruger National Park (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://doi.org/10.1515/bog-2016-0023 (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:vrs:buogeo:v:33:y:2016:i:33:p:39-53:n:3

DOI: 10.1515/bog-2016-0023

Access Statistics for this article

Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series is currently edited by Daniela Szymańska

More articles in Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series from Sciendo
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Peter Golla ().