Re: Stakeholder meeting and Survey - Kruger Self-Drive Day Visitors
Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2017 8:51 pm
Lesley Nyawo to SANParks - Kruger National Park
10 hrs ·
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT STUDY
The Kruger National Park, (KNP) as a wildlife watching destination, has become increasingly popular with local and international visitors. Whilst the mandate of SANParks is to conserve biodiversity, the rise in visitor numbers has created challenges which need to be addressed.
One of these challenges is the increased traffic congestion in the South of the Park experienced on certain days of the year (most notably on public holidays, long weekends and school holidays), particularly at the entrance gates and at wildlife sightings.
SANParks has partnered with the University of Queensland in Australia to investigate potential solutions for a range of traffic-related problems in Kruger. As part of the research process, SANParks will engage in open discussions with various stakeholders of the Park.
Together with the researchers, the Park has identified 9 different stakeholder groups from which we will gather ideas and suggestions for solutions.
These include: Camping overnight visitors; Non-camping overnight visitors; Tour operators; Self-drive day visitors; Managers of large tourist accommodation establishments in close vicinity of the Park who host guests that enter KNP as day visitors (either on OSV’s or private vehicles); SANParks Honorary Rangers; OSV guides; Senior staff of the KNP Management team; and relevant Taxi Associations.
Ten focus group discussions will be conducted over a period of two weeks in November. Opinions and suggestions are gathered from each stakeholder group separately. Focus group methodology was chosen as it allows for in-depth discussions and presents the researchers with an opportunity to ask follow up questions. This also encourages researchers to enter the process with an open mind without preconceived ideas. The aim is to come up with a list of potential solutions which represent the views of different stakeholder groups. For this reason, SANParks opted to make use of a third party to increase the objectivity of the study.
A randomly selected sample of overnight and day visitors have been invited by email to participate as we can only accommodate a maximum of 20 per group, however, we have a few seats left and would like to give you an opportunity to RSVP.
The focus group discussions will then be followed up with a quantitative approach (survey) to gain consensus on which solutions are preferred.
The results will be communicated to SANParks Management to guide their decision making in drafting vehicle traffic management interventions.
Regards
Lesley Nyawo
10 hrs ·
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT STUDY
The Kruger National Park, (KNP) as a wildlife watching destination, has become increasingly popular with local and international visitors. Whilst the mandate of SANParks is to conserve biodiversity, the rise in visitor numbers has created challenges which need to be addressed.
One of these challenges is the increased traffic congestion in the South of the Park experienced on certain days of the year (most notably on public holidays, long weekends and school holidays), particularly at the entrance gates and at wildlife sightings.
SANParks has partnered with the University of Queensland in Australia to investigate potential solutions for a range of traffic-related problems in Kruger. As part of the research process, SANParks will engage in open discussions with various stakeholders of the Park.
Together with the researchers, the Park has identified 9 different stakeholder groups from which we will gather ideas and suggestions for solutions.
These include: Camping overnight visitors; Non-camping overnight visitors; Tour operators; Self-drive day visitors; Managers of large tourist accommodation establishments in close vicinity of the Park who host guests that enter KNP as day visitors (either on OSV’s or private vehicles); SANParks Honorary Rangers; OSV guides; Senior staff of the KNP Management team; and relevant Taxi Associations.
Ten focus group discussions will be conducted over a period of two weeks in November. Opinions and suggestions are gathered from each stakeholder group separately. Focus group methodology was chosen as it allows for in-depth discussions and presents the researchers with an opportunity to ask follow up questions. This also encourages researchers to enter the process with an open mind without preconceived ideas. The aim is to come up with a list of potential solutions which represent the views of different stakeholder groups. For this reason, SANParks opted to make use of a third party to increase the objectivity of the study.
A randomly selected sample of overnight and day visitors have been invited by email to participate as we can only accommodate a maximum of 20 per group, however, we have a few seats left and would like to give you an opportunity to RSVP.
The focus group discussions will then be followed up with a quantitative approach (survey) to gain consensus on which solutions are preferred.
The results will be communicated to SANParks Management to guide their decision making in drafting vehicle traffic management interventions.
Regards
Lesley Nyawo