Latest news with #AndreaSaayman
IOL News
17-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
How private land is outpacing national parks in supporting South Africa's wildlife
Simbavati Hilltop Lodge. Image: Supplied Private land now hosts more of South Africa's wildlife population than national parks. This is according to a new study led by Professor Peet van der Merwe and Professor Andrea Saayman from the North-West University titled, 'Assessing the contributions of hunting tourism to the South African economy: a post‑Covid analysis,' which calculates hunting tourism's annual contribution to South Africa's economy at a staggering USD2.5 billion(about R44.03 billion). They said the figure is not just large, but transformative. The study argues that hunting revenue has underwritten significant rewilding efforts. The researchers also point to a powerful conservation dividend. They said, contrary to popular belief, regulated hunting creates financial incentives for landowners to protect and repopulate wild species. Without such incentives, they said, many might revert to traditional farming, leading to habitat loss and diminished biodiversity. The analysis said hunting tourism's lifeblood flows into rural economies, often bypassed by mainstream tourism. It said provinces like Limpopo benefit enormously from the inflow, with private game farms-many converted from struggling livestock operations-thriving through sustainable use. The professors said perhaps the most striking finding is employment, as approximately 95 000 jobs in South Africa depended on hunting tourism. Many of these roles, such as trackers, farm hands and cleaners, require limited formal education, making the sector a vital source of income in a country grappling with a 32.9% unemployment rate. Over 60% of these jobs fall within low-skilled categories, underscoring hunting tourism's outsized impact on South Africa's most vulnerable workers. While to some, hunting remains morally fraught, this study emphasises that economic survival for many rural communities hinges on this industry. Importantly, its authors said the research does not gloss over ethical concerns. Instead, they said it calls for measured policy, recognising hunting tourism's proven contribution to jobs, conservation and poverty alleviation. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Moreover, they said the sector's resilience post-Covid is telling as international travel resumes, South Africa has found in hunting tourism a niche that not only endures but thrives. They said this speaks to a broader shift in post-pandemic tourism: towards immersive, exclusive, and at times, controversial experiences. With sectors like agriculture, hospitality, and logistics all feeding off the hunting economy, the study urges policymakers to acknowledge and protect this value chain. It said that legislation around land use, conservation and hunting quotas must be grounded in economic realities and not mere ideological preferences. They said that missteps in that regard could jeopardise both wildlife and livelihoods. 'Hunting tourism may not be everyone's idea of a sustainable economy. Yet, in South Africa's post-pandemic landscape, it is delivering where others have faltered. It supports rural economies, funds conservation, and employs tens of thousands, many of them low-income workers with few alternatives.' The professors said that in a world seeking green growth with social equity, the rifle may be a more unexpected ally than critics cared to admit. Local hunters, who are mostly middle-aged men from provinces like Gauteng, make up the bulk of this economic activity. With each local hunter spending an average of USD3,594 per season, their collective annual spend tops USD718 million. International hunters, often affluent retirees from the United States, spend far more per trip, an average of USD32,663. primarily on game, trophies, accommodation, and daily rates. Though fewer in number, their spending adds another USD169 million to the tally. But the study said the significance goes beyond raw expenditure. It said that employing a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM), the researchers found a production multiplier of 2.97. In lay terms: for every USD1 spent, an additional USD1.97 is generated in economic activity. The ripple effect spreads across agriculture, trade, accommodation, transport, and personal services. Delivering the Department of Tourism Budget Vote last week, Minister Patricia de Lille said over the past financial year 2024/25, South Africa experienced an upswing in tourism, with an increase in international visitors, reaching a peak of 9.1 million. She said domestic overnight travel continued its upward trajectory, with 40 million trips recorded, up from 37.7 million in the previous year. International tourists contributed a total foreign direct spend of R92.8 billion in the previous financial year, while domestic tourism grew by 7.6%, reaching R133.1 billion in the 2024/25 financial year. On a policy level, the department said it completed and implemented the Tourism Master Plan and finalised the Tourism White Paper and Tourism Route Development Marketing Plan.
TimesLIVE
16-07-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
'The rifle is boosting South Africa's rural economy': NWU study on hunting tourism
Hunting tourism may not be everyone's idea of a sustainable economy, yet, in South Africa's post-pandemic landscape, it is delivering where others have faltered. It supports rural economies, funds conservation and employs tens of thousands of people, many of them low-skill workers with few alternatives. This is according to a North West University (NWU) study led by Prof Peet van der Merwe and Prof Andrea Saayman, titled 'Assessing the contributions of hunting tourism to the South African economy: a post‑Covid analysis'. They calculate hunting tourism's annual contribution to South Africa's economy at about R44.03bn. Local hunters, who constitute mostly middle-aged men from provinces such as Gauteng, make up most of this economic activity. With each local hunter spending an average of R64,410 per season, their collective annual spend tops R12.86bn. International hunters, often affluent retirees from the US, spend far more per trip — an average of R585,375 — mainly on game, trophies, accommodation and daily rates. Though fewer in number, their spending adds another R3.02bn to the tally. But the significance goes beyond raw expenditure. Employing a social accounting matrix, the researchers found a production multiplier of 2.97. In lay terms: for every $1 (R17.92) spent, an additional $1.97 (R35.30) is generated in economic activity. The ripple effect spreads across agriculture, trade, accommodation, transport and personal services. Perhaps the most striking finding is employment. About 95,000 jobs in South Africa depend on hunting tourism. Many of these roles such as trackers, farm hands and cleaners require limited formal education, making the sector a vital source of income in a country grappling with a 32.9% unemployment rate. More than 60% of these jobs fall within low-skilled categories, underscoring hunting tourism's outsize impact on South Africa's most vulnerable workers. Hunting tourism's lifeblood flows into rural economies, often bypassed by mainstream tourism. Provinces such as Limpopo benefit enormously from the inflow, with private game farms — many converted from struggling livestock operations — thriving through sustainable use. Notably, South Africa's wildlife population on private land now exceeds that in national parks and the study argues hunting revenue has underwritten significant rewilding efforts. The researchers also point to a powerful conservation dividend. Contrary to popular belief, regulated hunting creates financial incentives for landowners to protect and repopulate wild species. Without such incentives, many might revert to traditional farming, leading to habitat loss and diminished biodiversity. To some, hunting remains morally fraught, but the study emphasises economic survival for many rural communities hinges on this industry. Importantly, the research does not gloss over ethical concerns. Instead, it calls for measured policy, recognising hunting tourism's proven contribution to jobs, conservation and poverty alleviation. Moreover, the sector's resilience post-Covid is telling. As international travel resumes, South Africa has found in hunting tourism a niche that not only endures but thrives. It speaks to a broader shift in post-pandemic tourism: towards immersive, exclusive and, at times, controversial experiences. With sectors such as agriculture, hospitality and logistics feeding off the hunting economy, the study urges policymakers to acknowledge and protect this value chain. Legislation around land use, conservation and hunting quotas must be grounded in economic realities, not just ideological preferences. Missteps could jeopardise wildlife and livelihoods. In a world seeking green growth with social equity, the rifle may be a more unexpected ally than critics care to admit.
Mail & Guardian
16-07-2025
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
R44 billion: The big bucks of hunting tourism
* Approximately 95 000 jobs in South Africa depend on hunting tourism.* Hunting tourism contributes USD2.5 billion, or about R44.03 billion to South Africa's economy. * Hunting tourism massively benefits rural communities.* South Africa's wildlife population on private land exceeds that in national parks. Amid global debates on ethical travel and wildlife preservation, a new study from North-West University shines a spotlight on an often-overlooked sector that quietly props up South Africa's rural economy: hunting tourism. In the aftermath of COVID-19, tourism economies the world over struggled to recover. But in South Africa, hunting tourism, both domestic and international trophy hunting, has not only rebounded, it has emerged as a critical economic driver. A new study led by Prof Peet van der Merwe and Prof Andrea Saayman from the North-West University, titled: Assessing the contributions of hunting tourism to the South African economy: a post‑COVID analysis , calculates hunting tourism's annual contribution to South Africa's economy at a staggering USD2.5 billion, or about R44.03 billion. The figure is not just large, it's transformative. Local hunters, who constitutes mostly middle-aged men from provinces like Gauteng, make up the bulk of this economic activity. With each local hunter spending an average of USD3 594 per season, their collective annual spend tops USD718 million. International hunters, often affluent retirees from the United States, spend far more per trip – an average of USD32 663 – primarily on game, trophies, accommodation and daily rates. Though fewer in number, their spending adds another USD169 million to the tally. But the significance goes beyond raw expenditure. Employing a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM), the researchers found a production multiplier of 2.97. In lay terms: for every USD1 spent, an additional USD1.97 is generated in economic activity. The ripple effect spreads across agriculture, trade, accommodation, transport and personal services. Perhaps the most striking finding is employment. Approximately 95 000 jobs in South Africa depend on hunting tourism. Many of these roles, such as trackers, farm hands and cleaners, require limited formal education, making the sector a vital source of income in a country grappling with a 32.9% unemployment rate. Over 60% of these jobs fall within low-skilled categories, underscoring hunting tourism's outsized impact on South Africa's most vulnerable workers. Hunting tourism's lifeblood flows into rural economies, often bypassed by mainstream tourism. Provinces like Limpopo benefit enormously from the inflow, with private game farms – many converted from struggling livestock operations – thriving through sustainable use. Notably, South Africa's wildlife population on private land now exceeds that in national parks, and the study argues that hunting revenue has underwritten significant re-wilding efforts. The researchers also point to a powerful conservation dividend. Contrary to popular belief, regulated hunting creates financial incentives for landowners to protect and repopulate wild species. Without such incentives, many might revert to traditional farming, leading to habitat loss and diminished biodiversity. To some, hunting remains morally fraught. But the study emphasises that economic survival for many rural communities hinges on this industry. Importantly, the research does not gloss over ethical concerns. Instead, it calls for measured policy, recognising hunting tourism's proven contribution to jobs, conservation and poverty alleviation. Moreover, the sector's resilience post-COVID is telling. As international travel resumes, South Africa has found in hunting tourism a niche that not only endures but thrives. It speaks to a broader shift in post-pandemic tourism: towards immersive, exclusive and, at times, controversial experiences. With sectors like agriculture, hospitality and logistics all feeding off the hunting economy, the study urges policymakers to acknowledge and protect this value chain. Legislation around land use, conservation and hunting quotas must be grounded in economic realities, not just ideological preferences. Missteps could jeopardise both wildlife and livelihoods. Hunting tourism may not be everyone's idea of a sustainable economy. Yet, in South Africa's post-pandemic landscape, it is delivering where others have faltered. It supports rural economies, funds conservation and employs tens of thousands, many of them low-income workers with few alternatives. In a world seeking green growth with social equity, the rifle may be a more unexpected ally than critics care to admit. • Follow the link to the article here:
The Citizen
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Hunting tourism pumps R44 Billion into South Africa's economy,
Amid global debates on ethical travel and wildlife preservation, a new study from North-West University shines a spotlight on an often-overlooked sector that quietly props up South Africa's rural economy: hunting tourism. In the aftermath of COVID-19, tourism economies the world over struggled to recover. But in South Africa, hunting tourism, both domestic and international trophy hunting, has not only rebounded; it has emerged as a critical economic driver. A new study led by Prof Peet van der Merwe and Prof Andrea Saayman from the North-West University titled Assessing the contributions of hunting tourism to the South African economy: a post‑COVID analysis, calculates hunting tourism's annual contribution to South Africa's economy at a staggering USD2.5 billion, or about R44.03 billion. The figure is not just large, it's transformative. Local hunters, who constitutes mostly middle-aged men from provinces like Gauteng, make up the bulk of this economic activity. With each local hunter spending an average of USD3,594 per season, their collective annual spend tops USD718 million. International hunters, often affluent retirees from the United States, spend far more per trip – an average of USD32,663 – primarily on game, trophies, accommodation, and daily rates. Though fewer in number, their spending adds another USD169 million to the tally. But the significance goes beyond raw expenditure. Employing a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM), the researchers found a production multiplier of 2.97. In lay terms: for every USD1 spent, an additional USD1.97 is generated in economic activity. The ripple effect spreads across agriculture, trade, accommodation, transport, and personal services. Perhaps the most striking finding is employment. Approximately 95 000 jobs in South Africa depend on hunting tourism. Many of these roles such as trackers, farm hands and cleaners require limited formal education, making the sector a vital source of income in a country grappling with a 32.9% unemployment rate. Over 60% of these jobs fall within low-skilled categories, underscoring hunting tourism's outsized impact on South Africa's most vulnerable workers. Hunting tourism's lifeblood flows into rural economies, often bypassed by mainstream tourism. Provinces like Limpopo benefit enormously from the inflow, with private game farms – many converted from struggling livestock operations – thriving through sustainable use. Notably, South Africa's wildlife population on private land now exceeds that in national parks, and the study argues that hunting revenue has underwritten significant rewilding efforts. The researchers also point to a powerful conservation dividend. Contrary to popular belief, regulated hunting creates financial incentives for landowners to protect and repopulate wild species. Without such incentives, many might revert to traditional farming, leading to habitat loss and diminished biodiversity. To some, hunting remains morally fraught. But the study emphasises that economic survival for many rural communities hinges on this industry. Importantly, the research does not gloss over ethical concerns. Instead, it calls for measured policy, recognising hunting tourism's proven contribution to jobs, conservation, and poverty alleviation. Moreover, the sector's resilience post-COVID is telling. As international travel resumes, South Africa has found in hunting tourism a niche that not only endures but thrives. It speaks to a broader shift in post-pandemic tourism: towards immersive, exclusive, and, at times, controversial experiences. With sectors like agriculture, hospitality, and logistics all feeding off the hunting economy, the study urges policymakers to acknowledge and protect this value chain. Legislation around land use, conservation, and hunting quotas must be grounded in economic realities, not just ideological preferences. Missteps could jeopardise both wildlife and livelihoods. Hunting tourism may not be everyone's idea of a sustainable economy. Yet, in South Africa's post-pandemic landscape, it is delivering where others have faltered. It supports rural economies, funds conservation, and employs tens of thousands, many of them low-income workers with few alternatives. In a world seeking green growth with social equity, the rifle may be a more unexpected ally than critics care to admit. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Daily Maverick
13-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Hunting tourism's hidden value: $2.5 billion boost for South Africa's economy and conservation efforts
A new study shows the local hunting industry's important economic footprint. South Africa's hunting sector generates about $2.5-billion for the economy annually, creating badly needed jobs while conserving habitat and wildlife, according to the findings of a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Wildlife Research. This is a significantly larger sum than previous estimates, underscoring the importance of hunting to a barely growing economy that faces many challenges. The study's findings come at a time when the hunting industry in Africa is in the cross hairs of animal welfare and rights organisations and Western public opinion, with campaigns in the UK and elsewhere to ban the import of trophies from hunts. Hunting is a hot-button culture issue. Critics maintain that it is a needlessly cruel activity, that its economic and conservation contribution is often inflated by its backers and that it endangers a number of species. This strikes a chord with the educated, middle-class people who tend to spearhead anti-hunting campaigns. But such views have little traction in Africa outside the urban middle class, and African governments such as Namibia, Botswana and others have lobbied against trophy hunting bans in large part because of the economic benefits hunting brings for their developing economies and the rural communities who must live alongside dangerous wildlife. There is a growing body of objective, peer-reviewed research in academic journals that highlights hunting's economic and conservation importance. And pointedly, there are no such studies that suggest that properly regulated hunting is driving any species to extinction. This study is the latest in this vein to objectively assess the economic impact of hunting and its conservation spin-offs. Titled Assessing the Contributions of Hunting Tourism to the South African Economy: A Post-Covid Analysis, it was written by Peet van der Merwe and Andrea Saayman, professors focused on tourism management and economics at North-West University. It does not address the thorny issues of animal welfare or cruelty, which are legitimate concerns beyond its scope, but provides a clinical and dispassionate dollars-and-cents examination of the issue. The authors used surveys of international and domestic hunters to reach an estimate of their expenditure. They then applied a 'production multiplier', an economic tool that tries to measure the snowball effects of expenditure and investment. 'The result revealed that hunting tourism's total impact on the South African economy is $2.5-billion. Hunting represents a production multiplier of 2.97, indicating that for every $1 spent by hunting tourists, production increases by an additional $1.97,' they write. 'Agriculture, trade, accommodation and personal services are the industry sectors most dependent on hunting tourism.' The questionnaires for the survey were sent between August 2022 and October 2023, and 414 international and 1,864 domestic hunters completed them. From this sample, the authors used other sources such as Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment data to estimate the total number of hunters from both categories – about 200,000. 'It is evident that the typical local hunter spends approximately $3,594 during a season on hunting. Game hunted by hunters accounted for $2,033. […] Accommodation, transport and meat processing are also significant hunting categories for local hunting tourists,' the authors write. The total spending of an international hunter was estimated to be $27,170. This includes gear, ammunition, transport, food and beverages, guiding fees and costs related to taxidermy and trophies. The total expenditure was estimated to reach $888-million, with the production multiplier bringing the total to about $2.5-billion. The authors noted several broad findings. 'The first finding of the research is that hunting tourism makes a significant economic contribution to the South African economy. […] The findings imply that hunting tourism drives production, household income and employment across various sectors, particularly for the agriculture and services delivery sectors,' they write. 'Any disruption or decline in this activity would significantly impact dependent industries and the economy of the country.' The second finding 'is that hunting tourism plays an important role in income generation and poverty reduction in South Africa. The implication is that hunting tourism has a high income multiplier, generating substantial income gains for the country's low- and middle-income households.' The study highlights the role that hunting plays in job creation for low-skilled workers, because it is a labour-intensive sector. 'The reduction of hunting tourism could disproportionately harm these workers, thus exacerbating the unemployment challenges in South Africa,' the authors write. Another key takeaway is the linkages of hunting to various sectors, including agriculture – South Africa allows private ownership of wildlife, and game farming is big business – as well as trade, accommodation and personal services. Beyond its economic spoor, the hunting sector has also blazed conservation trails as former farmland has been transformed to wildlife habitat. 'Hunting tourism contributes to the rewilding of previously crop and livestock farming areas as these are replaced with wildlife reserves. Reduction in hunting tourism activities will negatively impact land use for wildlife as landowners will revert back to alternative agricultural activities,' the authors write. At about R45-billion in local currency, hunting is clearly material to the economy and not far behind the wine industry's estimated contribution to GDP of R56-billion, according to data compiled by Wines of South Africa. Critics of hunting in South Africa and Africa more widely often insist that it can be replaced with photographic tourism, which also creates jobs and economic value. But many hunting areas are ill-suited to game viewing, defined by a dull landscape, thick bush and the difficulty of providing the amenities that such clients typically demand. Debates about hunting will continue to rage. Many people simply detest hunting, and unscrupulous operators involved in canned hunting and other questionable practices have done the industry a great deal of harm. But the tracks of its economic and conservation value are in plain sight. There is a reason South Africa's government and other African governments oppose trophy hunting bans sought by mostly non-Africans up north. DM
