AN EXPLORATORY INVESTIGATION OF VISITOR MOTIVATIONS TO THE BARBERTON - MAKHONJWA GEOTRAIL, SOUTH AFRICA

Geotourism is a relatively new tourism niche, representing a distinctive form of nature-based tourism. South Africa has a wealth of geological resources, many of which form the basis for tourism attractions within the country, but limited research has been conducted on the actual geotourism market. By means of a questionnaire informed by the Self Determination Theory, this study aimed to understand the motivations of visitors to the recently developed Barberton Makhonjwa Geotrail in South Africa. The main findings revealed five main motivators including, to escape, for learning and novelty, to participate in activities and networking, for fun, and for personal importance. These findings have important implications for product development and marketing.