Funeral tourism in northern parts of South Africa

Abstract

Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) accounts for a substantial part of tourism in South Africa, including in the former homeland areas that are not considered as significant tourism destination in the northern part of the country. One reason why people visit their friends and relatives is to participate in funeral rites and services, which is rarely explored in tourism literature. This study focuses on funerals in the northern part of South Africa and their connection to tourism. The patterns of funeral rites demonstrate that several local tourism amenities benefit from the spike in demand for their services by the visitors. In official statistical reports, travelling because of a funeral is reported separately from VFR, and on that basis, it is necessary but not sufficient to classify it as funeral tourism. We make an argument that a sufficient definition of funeral tourism must allow for other people who may not be relatives and friends – that is, tourists – to experience the funerals of these tribes.