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Conclusion: The Power Behind Tourism Development

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Small Town Tourism in South Africa

Part of the book series: The Urban Book Series ((UBS))

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Abstract

In this concluding chapter, the interrelation between tourism and urban developmental processes and themes concerning small towns are reflected on within the context of the urban growth machine theory. In the case-studied towns discussed in the book, it was evident that the local elite (the main drivers and initiators—the wealthy, the power elite, the creative class) are the ones who benefit most; they are the key role players in terms of representation of the driven initiatives; their powerful persuasions have made them the winners in the decisional arena and in most cases they are known to be driven by power motives for small town growth.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The thesis also did not view the understandings of land use “through the new urbanism and the creative class (thereby mobilising governmentality) through a banal rhetoric of economic viability, environmental responsibility, and social meritocracy” (Cochran, 2012: 6).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geography and Environmental Studies, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    Ronnie Donaldson

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  1. Ronnie Donaldson
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Correspondence to Ronnie Donaldson .

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Donaldson, R. (2018). Conclusion: The Power Behind Tourism Development. In: Small Town Tourism in South Africa. The Urban Book Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68088-0_8

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