Apleni Lwazi

# A Node For African Thought

Research and Innovation

To achieve and maintain the University’s vision and mission, the research and innovation division contributes mainly by promoting the research related goal of the institution which is: to drive growth in UNIZULU research and Innovation

Faculty: Humanities and Social Sciences

Department: Recreation and Tourism

Discipline: Tourism

Contact details

Email: ApleniL@unizulu.ac.za

Campus: KwaDlangezwa

Research Interest Areas

Local economic development (LED), sustainable/responsible tourism

Research Niche Area(s) of current projects

They are more focused on the resilience, recovery, and the future of tourism in South Africa. These all stem from the Covid-19 pandemic conundrum.

Collaborations– (Research Project, Institution)

Firstly, I am currently collaborating with Prof Acha-Anyi (Walter Sisulu University) about the impact of the previous African Cup of Nations (AFCON) which was held in Cameroon in 2022. Ours is to focus on its socio-economic impact on the people of Cameroon. This is one of the mega-events that was held by the Global South community in the post-Covid-19 era hence we found it very interesting.

Secondly, I am involved in another LED project with Prof Peter Baur (University of Johannesburg). This project focuses on the how Eastern Cape municipalities could use tourism as a catalyst for LED. This is a comparative research project between OR Tambo District Municipality and Joe Gqabi District Municipality.

Active Research Projects

The book chapter is to be published with Edward Elgar and is due for 15th of Sep 2023. Collaborating with senior colleagues (Dr Nkosi and Dr Nkwanyana) from the Department, our chapter is titled “Bridging cultures through tourism: a case of KwaZulu-Natal”

I am collaborating with Prof P Baur (my PhD supervisor) on a book chapter to be published with GoodFellow Publishers. The closing date for submission of the full chapter is 15 Nov 2023. The title of our book chapter article is “Emerging technologies and their impact on consumer behaviour in South Africa”.

Impactful Research Publications

(Author(s); Year; Title; journal / publisher)

The impact of Covid-19 pandemic on tourism and religious destinations: A case of Catholic pilgrimages in KZN, South Africa;

Inducing domestic tourism through stokvels in South Africa: Post-Covid-19 tourism recovery in the global South;

The impact of events in boosting local economic development: A case study of Port St Johns, South Africa.