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Evaluating the socio-economic benefits of the critically endangered african penguin (spheniscus demersus) : a case study of the point colony
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613783355031552 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Tembe, Skhumbuzo Richard |
| author2 | Crookes, Douglas |
| author_browse | Crookes, Douglas Tembe, Skhumbuzo Richard |
| author_facet | Crookes, Douglas Tembe, Skhumbuzo Richard |
| author_sort | Tembe, Skhumbuzo Richard |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134834 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:41:37.777Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134834 Evaluating the socio-economic benefits of the critically endangered african penguin (spheniscus demersus) : a case study of the point colony Tembe, Skhumbuzo Richard Crookes, Douglas Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership Wildlife-related recreation -- South Africa Tourism -- Economic aspects -- South Africa Ecotourism -- South Africa African penguin -- Conservation -- South Africa Wildlife conservation -- Economic aspects -- South Africa UCTD Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Tembe, S. R. 2025. Evaluating the socio-economic benefits of the critically endangered african penguin (spheniscus demersus) : a case study of the point colony. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/21cb6e75-2466-4c6e-9e03-1a128ed4a572 ENGLISH SUMMARY: African penguin ecotourism has shown remarkable growth in South Africa while the species' population is declining dramatically and nearing extinction. Although a substantial body of literature exists on the ecology of the African penguin, the topic of the socio-economic benefits conferred by the species has been largely unexplored. Consequently, this study aimed to investigate the socio-economic benefits derived from the African penguin ecotourism, using the Stony Point colony as a case study. It assessed the impact of the colony on the local population, employment opportunities, local businesses, economic growth, and examined residents' perceptions to determine the presence of any human-wildlife conflict. The study also identified areas for improvement and provided recommendations to enhance the socioeconomic prospects of the colony. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data on tourist visitation and expenditure with qualitative interviews with tourists, tour operators, local businesses, and residents to gauge the perceived socio-economic impacts of the Stony Point African penguin-based ecotourism. The Travel Cost Method (TCM) was employed to determine the visitor expenditure, while a single-question Willingness to Pay (WTP) approach was employed to explore potential consumer surplus associated with the colony. The study found that the colony has become a significant tourist attraction and represents a valuable economic activity that offers both conservation advantages and community development outcomes. The TCM revealed that the direct expenditure attributable to the colony was substantial and ranged from R42,6m (lower bound) to R85,5m (upper bound) per annum. However, this estimate accounts for only 38% of the average annual visitation, suggesting that total expenditure would be significantly higher if extrapolated to the full visitor population. The WTP results indicated potential for increased revenue generation, with approximately 74% of respondents willing to pay a higher entrance fee than the current rate. Furthermore, 90% of visitors were unaware of the severity of the species’ population decline and extinction risk. Notably, 50% of participants revised their willingness to pay after receiving information about the species’ conservation status. The estimated annual economic value of the colony, based on average visitation rates and maximum WTP before and after information disclosure, ranged from R5,6m (lower bound) to R17,8m (upper bound). This significantly exceeds the colony's current annual revenue, highlighting a strong economic incentive for conservation efforts. While these results suggest potential for increased revenue generation, the limitations of the single-question WTP approach are acknowledged. The colony emerged as a key attraction for tour operators, with most clients specifically requesting to visit. Tour operators generated over 781 employment opportunities for the local population, although this figure likely underrepresents the true impact due to sample size limitations and incomplete employment data. Findings revealed a positive association between local businesses and the colony. A majority (83%) of business respondents viewed proximity to the colony as advantageous, and 79% reported receiving direct benefits. Respondents cited financial gains and job creation, with 21% of the sampled businesses indicating the colony contributed to at least 358 employment opportunities. Residents were generally not concerned by the penguins’ presence, and expressed favourable attitudes across all six measured factors. The colony was widely regarded as the main tourism asset in the Overstrand, contributing to the local economy and enhancing the value of the local communities. Nonetheless, residents expressed serious concern over the potential extinction of the African penguin and the associated socio-economic and ecological consequences. Overall, the colony was highly valued by both visitors and the community for its socio-economic contributions. Finally, five key recommendations emerged from respondents: enhancing awareness campaigns; improving infrastructure and amenities; implementing differentiated pricing and alternative payment mechanisms; extending operating hours and offering interactive activities; and fostering community participation. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Afrika-pikkewyn-ekotoerisme het merkwaardige groei in Suid-Afrika getoon terwyl die spesie se bevolking dramaties afneem en na aan uitsterwing is. Alhoewel daar 'n omvattende literatuurkorpus oor die ekologie van die Afrika-pikkewyn bestaan, is die onderwerp van die sosio-ekonomiese voordele wat die spesie verleen, grotendeels nie ondersoek nie. Gevolglik was hierdie studie daarop gemik om die sosio-ekonomiese voordele van Afrika-pikkewynekotoerisme te ondersoek deur die Stony Point-kolonie as gevallestudie te gebruik. Dit het die impak van die kolonie op die plaaslike bevolking, werksgeleenthede, plaaslike besighede, ekonomiese groei beoordeel asook inwoners se persepsies ondersoek om die teenwoordigheid van enige konflik tussen mens en dier te bepaal. Die studie het ook gebiede vir verbetering geidentifiseer en aanbevelings verskaf om die sosio-ekonomiese vooruitsigte van die kolonie te verbeter. Die studie het 'n gemengde metodebenadering gebruik, wat kwantitatiewe gegewens oor toeristebesoeke en -uitgawes kombineer met kwalitatiewe onderhoude met toeriste, toeroperateurs, plaaslike besighede en inwoners om die waargenome sosio-ekonomiese impak van die Stony Point Afrika-pikkewyn-gebaseerde ekotoerisme te meet. Die reiskostemetode (TCM) is gebruik om die besoekersuitgawes te bepaal, terwyl 'n enkelvraag bereidheid-om-te-betaal (WTP) benadering gebruik is om potensiele verbruikersurplus wat met die kolonie geassosieer word, te ondersoek. Die studie het bevind dat die kolonie 'n belangrike toeriste-aantreklikheid geword het en 'n waardevolle ekonomiese aktiwiteit verteenwoordig wat beide bewaringsvoordele en gemeenskapsontwikkelingsuitkomste bied. Die TCM het onthul dat die direkte uitgawes aan die kolonie aansienlik was en gewissel het van R42,6 miljoen (ondergrens) tot R85,5 miljoen (bogrens) per jaar. Hierdie skatting verteenwoordig egter slegs 38% van die gemiddelde jaarlikse besoek, wat daarop dui dat die totale uitgawes aansienlik hoer sou wees as dit aan die volle besoekerspopulasie geekstrapoleer word. Die WTP-resultate dui op potensiaal vir verhoogde inkomstegenerering, met ongeveer 74% van die respondente wat bereid is om 'n hoer toegangsfooi as die huidige fooi te betaal. Verder was 90% van die besoekers onbewus van die erns van die bevolkingsafname en uitsterwingsrisiko van die spesie. Noemenswaardig het 50% van die deelnemers hul bereidwilligheid om te betaal hersien nadat hulle inligting ontvang het oor die spesie se bewaringstatus. Die beraamde jaarlikse ekonomiese waarde van die kolonie, gebaseer op gemiddelde besoekkoerse en maksimum WTP voor en na die bekendmaking van inligting, het gewissel van R5,6 miljoen (ondergrens) tot R17,8 miljoen (bogrens). Dit oorskry die kolonie se huidige jaarlikse inkomste aansienlik, wat 'n sterk ekonomiese aansporing vir bewaringspogings beklemtoon. Terwyl hierdie resultate dui op potensiaal vir verhoogde inkomstegenerering, word die beperkings van die enkelvraag WTP-benadering erken. Die kolonie het na vore gekom as 'n belangrike aantrekkingskrag vir toeroperateurs, met die meeste kliente wat spesifiek versoek om dit te besoek. Toeroperateurs het meer as 781 werksgeleenthede vir die plaaslike bevolking gegenereer, hoewel hierdie syfer waarskynlik nie die ware impak as gevolg van steekproefgroottebeperkings en onvolledige indiensnemingsdata verteenwoordig nie. Die bevindings het 'n positiewe verband tussen plaaslike ondernemings en die kolonie aan die lig gebring. 'n Meerderheid (83%) van die sakerespondente het die nabyheid van die kolonie as voordelig beskou, en 79% het vermeld dat hulle direkte voordele geniet. Respondente het finansiele winste en werkskepping aangehaal, met 21% van die steekproefbesighede wat aangedui het dat die kolonie tot minstens 358 werksgeleenthede bygedra het. Inwoners was oor die algemeen nie gepla oor die pikkewyne se teenwoordigheid nie en het gunstige houdings oor al ses gemete faktore uitgespreek. Die kolonie is algemeen beskou as die belangrikste toerismebate in die Overstrand, wat bygedra het tot die plaaslike ekonomie en die waarde van die plaaslike gemeenskappe verbeter het. Nietemin het inwoners ernstige kommer uitgespreek oor die moontlike uitsterwing van die Afrika-pikkewyn en die gepaardgaande sosio-ekonomiese en ekologiese gevolge. Oor die algemeen is die kolonie hoog aangeskryf deur beide besoekers en die gemeenskap vir sy sosio-ekonomiese bydraes. Ten slotte, vyf belangrike aanbevelings het na vore gekom vanuit die respondente: die verbetering van bewusmakingsveldtogte; die verbetering van infrastruktuur en geriewe; die implementering van gedifferensieerde pryse en alternatiewe betalingsmeganismes; die uitbreiding van bedryfsure en die aanbied van interaktiewe aktiwiteite; en die bevordering van gemeenskapsdeelname. Masters 2026-01-12T07:43:25Z 2026-01-12T07:43:25Z 2025-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134834 en Stellenbosch University xiii, 137 pages : illustrations, maps, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Wildlife-related recreation -- South Africa Tourism -- Economic aspects -- South Africa Ecotourism -- South Africa African penguin -- Conservation -- South Africa Wildlife conservation -- Economic aspects -- South Africa UCTD Tembe, Skhumbuzo Richard Evaluating the socio-economic benefits of the critically endangered african penguin (spheniscus demersus) : a case study of the point colony |
| title | Evaluating the socio-economic benefits of the critically endangered african penguin (spheniscus demersus) : a case study of the point colony |
| title_full | Evaluating the socio-economic benefits of the critically endangered african penguin (spheniscus demersus) : a case study of the point colony |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the socio-economic benefits of the critically endangered african penguin (spheniscus demersus) : a case study of the point colony |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the socio-economic benefits of the critically endangered african penguin (spheniscus demersus) : a case study of the point colony |
| title_short | Evaluating the socio-economic benefits of the critically endangered african penguin (spheniscus demersus) : a case study of the point colony |
| title_sort | evaluating the socio economic benefits of the critically endangered african penguin spheniscus demersus a case study of the point colony |
| topic | Wildlife-related recreation -- South Africa Tourism -- Economic aspects -- South Africa Ecotourism -- South Africa African penguin -- Conservation -- South Africa Wildlife conservation -- Economic aspects -- South Africa UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134834 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tembeskhumbuzorichard evaluatingthesocioeconomicbenefitsofthecriticallyendangeredafricanpenguinspheniscusdemersusacasestudyofthepointcolony |