Authors : Simbarashe Murima

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 8 - August

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/47phv9t8

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/4crhfdhy

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25aug470

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Note : Google Scholar may take 30 to 40 days to display the article.

Abstract : This paper proffers a comprehensive four (4)-stage model framework that is free from prejudice or discrimination but supports and promotes equitable tourism stakeholders' collaboration and participation in Namibia. The framework is, however, developed with an orientation to the challenges tourism stakeholders face when participating in policy and decision-making processes. A qualitative research method was employed, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 purposively sampled stakeholders from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), Namibia Tourism Board (NTB), Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN), and Emerging Tourism Enterprises Association (ETEA). The study results showed that some stakeholders experienced exclusion from decision-making and policy formulation initiatives, leading to resentment towards some tourism stakeholders. This resentment hinders valuable collaboration amongst strategic tourism stakeholders within Namibia. Consequently, the study has implications for tourism policymakers and other stakeholders to strengthen the industry using an integrated framework of collaboration that encourages cooperation and harmony among the stakeholders involved. This study contributes to existing and new literature by exploring effective stakeholder frameworks that should enhance policy coherence, create amicable decision- making processes, reduce conflict, and heighten support for tourism growth in other Southern African countries.

Keywords : Stakeholder Collaboration; Framework; Tourism Stakeholders; Equitable; Participation.

References :

1. D. Airey, D, “Developments in understanding tourism policy”. Tourism Review, 70(4):246- 258,2015.J. Clerk Maxwell, A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism, 3rd ed., vol. 2. Oxford: Clarendon, 1892, pp.68-73.
2. D.I. Akintayo, O.A. Shadare, I.A. Onikoyi and T.S. Olaniyan, “Impact of emotional intelligence on diversity management in Nigeria Breweries in Oyo State”, Nigeria. Management Science and Engineering, 14(1), 34–43,2020.
3. F. Ali, K. Hussein, V. Nair and P.K. Nair, “Stakeholders’ Perceptions & Attitudes” T01/03/198001/03/1980 towards T01/03/1980 Tourism Development in a Mature Destination. Tourism: An International Interdisciplinary Journal, 65(2), 173–186,2017.
4. A.D. Alonso, S. Kok and S. O'Brien, “Sustainable culinary tourism and Cevicherías: a stakeholder and social practice approach”. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 26(5), 812-831,2018.
5. C.Baah, D. Opoku-Agyeman, I. Acquah, Y. Agyabeng-Mensah, E. Afum, D. Faibil and F. Abdoulaye, “Examining the stakeholder pressures, green production practices, firm reputation, environmental and financial performance: Evidence from manufacturing SMEs”. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 27:100-114,2021.
6. E.M. Basurto-Cedeño and L. Pennington-Gray, “An applied destination resilience model”. Tour. Rev. Int. 22, 293–302,2018.
7. K.D. Bhatta, “Exploring socio-cultural impacts of ecotourism in Annapurna Conservation Area”. Nepal, Journal of Engineering, Technology and Planning, 1(1), 55-74,2019.
8. K. Bricker and H. Donohoe, “Demystifying theories in tourism research. Wallingford, Oxfordshire. Environmental inputs and outputs in ecotourism: Geotourism with a positive triple bottom line?” Journal of Ecotourism, 2(1), 76–82,2015.
9. A. Caffyn and G. Jobbins, “Governance Capacity and Stakeholder Interactions in the Development and M01/03/1980 management of C01/03/1980 coastal Tourism: Examples from Morocco and Tunisia”. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 11(2-3), 224-245,2003.
10. T. Daniels and T.M. Tichaawa, “Rethinking Sport Tourism Events in a Post-COVID-19 South Africa. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 10(4), 1241-1256,2021.
11. J. Darby,  “The Importance of Cultural Diversity in the Workplace”, 2024.
12. T. Donaldson and L. Preston, “The Stakeholder Theory of the Corporation: Concepts,Evidence, and Implications”. Academy of Management Review, 20, 65-91,1995.
13. L.Errichiello and R. Micera, “A Process-Based Perspective of Smart Tourism Destination Governance”. European Journal of Tourism Research, 29, 2909-2909,2021.
14. N.F. Emtage, “Stakeholder roles and responsibilities in the community-based forest management program of the Philippines”. The University of Queensland, Australia,2018.
15. R.E. Freeman, “Strategic management: A stakeholder approach”. Boston: Pitman,2014.
16. C.Folke, S.R. Carpenter, B. Walker, M. Scheffer, T. Chapin and J. Rockström, Resilience thinking integrating resilience, adaptability, and transformability. Ecol. Soc. 15, 20. doi: 10.5751/ES-03610-150420,2010.
17. R. Goeldner and B. Ritchie, “Tourism: Principles, practices, philosophies” (9th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,2013.
18. E. Gori, S. Fissi and A. Romolini, “A collaborative approach in tourism planning: The case of the Tuscany region”. European Journal of Tourism Research, 29(2021), 1–16,2021.
19. B. Gray, “Collaborating: Finding common ground for multiparty problems”. Jossey- Bass, San Francisco,2019.
20. V.Harilal and S. Nyikana, “Factors Inhibiting Large Enterprises from Establishing Sustainable Linkages with Black-Owned Tourism SMMEs in South Africa”. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 8(3),2019.
21. S.K. Jakhar, S. Mangla, S. Luthra, S. Kusi-Sarpong, “When stakeholder pressure”drives the circular economy: Measuring the mediating role of innovation capabilities”, 57 (4) (2019), pp. 904-920,2019.
22. T.B. Jamal and D. Getz, “Collaboration Theory and Community Tourism Planning”. Annals of Tourism Research, 22, 186-204,2020.
23. T. Jamal and A. Stronza, “Collaboration theory and tourism practice in protected areas: stakeholders, structuring and sustainability”. Sustainable Tourism, 17(2), 169‐189,2009.
24. B.R. Johnson and L. Christensen, “Educational Research Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Approaches”. Fifth Edition. Sage Publisher,2020.
25. H.W. Lane and M.L. Maznevski, “International Management Behavior: Global and Sustainable Leadership. Cambridge Core - Business Ethics”- International Management Behavior,2019.
26. L. Makhaola and C.G. Porches, “The Significance of Domestic Tourism in Durban, South Africa”. African Journal of Hospitality Tourism and Leisure 6(4):1-15 6(4):1-15,2017.
27. L.Malan, “A new era for hunting: Government takes the reigns for the future”. Windhoek Venture Media. ISSN: 2026-7258,2019.
28. B. Martinez, “Domestic Tourism. The Analysis of Malaysian Domestic Travelers”. London: Prentice Hall,2016.
29. J. Mazimhaka, “Diversifying Rwanda's tourism industry: a role for domestic tourism, Development Southern Africa, 24, 491-504,2007.
30. MEFT, “Tourist Statistical Report 2021. Windhoek, Windhoek, Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Forestry, 2022.
31. MEFT, “Tourist Statistical Report 2021. Windhoek, Windhoek, Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Forestry,2021.
32. A. Mena, “The tourism system: An introductory text”. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall,2018.
33. S. Monwabisi, “Stakeholders' involvement in the development and implementation of tourism-related policies in a selected district municipality in the Eastern Cape”,2021.
34. S.Miles, “Stakeholder theory classification: A theoretical and empirical evaluation of definitions. Journal of Business Ethics, 142, 437–459,2017.
35. B. Miller, “19 Advantages and Disadvantages of Qualitative Research Methods. Green Garage,2019.
36. J.R. Mitchell, R.K. Mitchell, R. A. Hunt, D.M. Townsend and J.H. Lee, “Stakeholder engagement, knowledge problems and ethical challenges. Journal of Business Ethics. 175(1), 75–94,2022.
37. S. Murima and N.C. Shereni, “Stakeholders’ Perspectives of Domestic Tourism Revival in Namibia amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic”. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 12(3): 848-862,2023.
38. A.P Muulila, “The role of cultural heritage towards socio-economic development in Namibia: Case of Oshikoto region.” A dissertation for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Adult Education. University of Namibia,2022.
39. J. Nyanjom, K. Boxall, J. Slaven, “Stakeholder collaboration in the development of accessible tourism: A framework for Inclusion”. Routledge,2020.
40. J. Nieuwenhuis, “Qualitative Research Designs and Data-Gathering Techniques”. In Maree, J.G. (Ed). First Steps in Research. 3rd Ed. Van Schaik Publishers: Pretoria,2019.
41. N. Palmer and N. Chuamuangphan, “Governance and local participation in Ecotourism: community-level tourism stakeholders in Chiang Rai province, Thailand”. Journal of Ecotourism, 17 (3), 320-337,2018.
42. M. Patzer, C. Voegtlin and A.G. Scherer, “The Normative Justification of Integrative Stakeholder Engagement: A Habermasian View on Responsible Leadership”. Business Ethics Quarterly, Volume 28, Issue 3, July 2018, pp. 325 – 354,2018.
43.  J. Pinto, “A multifocal framework for developing Intentionally Sustainable Organizations.Author links open overlay panel, 28(3), pp. 17-23,2017.
44. K. Pretorius, A. Potgieter, K. Malherbe, V. Boesak and S. Busch, “The future of tourism in Namibia: Pioneering sustainable investment,2024.
45. J.Pyke, A. Law, M. Jiang and T. de Lacy, “Learning from the Locals: The Role of Stakeholder Engagement in Building Tourism and Community Resilience. In Stakeholders Management and Ecotourism (pp. 4-17). Edited By Diamantis, D. Routledge, London,2021.
46. U.H. Ritcher and K.E. Dow, “Stakeholder theory: A deliberative perspective,2017.
47. C. Rogerson and Z. Lestsie, “Providing domestic tourism in South Africa. Urban Forum, pp. 1188-111,2007.
48. V.Taras, D. Baak, D. Caprar, D. Dowd, F. Froesee, A. Jimenez and P. Magnussong, “Diverse effects of diversity: Disaggregating effects of diversity in global virtual teams. Journal of International Management. 25(4) 100689,2019.
49. M.Taufik, M.A. Ibrahim, B. Ahmad, M. Suni, M. Nur, “Collaborative Government in Tourism Sector Development. DOI: 10.18502/kss. v8i17.14148,2023.
50. A. Thomson, J. Perry and T. Miller, “Conceptualizing and Measuring Collaboration. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 19 (1), pp. 23-56,2017.
51. M.Tjimuku and S.O. Atiku, “Addressing workplace diversity to improve employee performance: Implications for SOEs in Namibia”. Cogent Business & Management 11(1),2024.
52. Tourist Statistical Report, “Tourist Statistical Report”. Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism,2022.
53. M.Sadashiva, “Monitoring & Evaluation of Public Services: Stakeholder Surveys. http://civicus.org › PHX_H_Stakeholder Survey,2015.
54. H. Saito and L. Ruhanen, “Power in tourism stakeholder collaborations: Power types and power holders”. 31(2), June 2017, pp. 189-196,2017.
55. S. Schaltegger, J. Hörisch, R.E Freeman, “Business cases for sustainability: A stakeholder theory perspective Organization & Environment”, 32 (3), pp. 191-212,2019.
56. G.K. Stahl and M.L Maznevski, “Unraveling the effects of cultural diversity in teams: A retrospective of research on multicultural work groups and an agenda for future research. Journal of International Business Studies. 2021; 52(1): 4-22,2021.
57. UNDRR, “Monitoring & Evaluation Framework”. United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction,2016.
58. A. Wanner and U.  Pröbstl-Haider, “Barriers to Stakeholder Involvement in Sustainable Rural Tourism Development-Experiences from Southeast Europe”. Sustainability, 11(12), 3372,2019.
59. D.J. Wood, R.K. Mitchell, B.R. Agle, L.M. Bryan, “Stakeholder Identification and Salience After 20 Years: Progress, Problems, and Prospects. Business & Society, in press.,2021.
60. M. Van Niekerk, “The role of the public sector in tourism destination management from a network relationship approach. Tourism Analysis, 19(6), 701-718,2018.
61. D.Yoon, “How destination image and evaluative factors affect behavioral intentions? Tourism Management, 28(4):1115-1122,2019.