INSTITUTE OF TOURISM AND LEISURE STUDIES - Potchefstroom

Activities in 2008 came both fast and furious. After the usual busy start to the year, by the middle of 2008 the University had granted us NICHE status (SEIT). This resulted in our research projects submitting the largest number of publications yet to national and international journals. Our original aim of submitting 12 articles translated into 24 articles submitted for publication. In my view, this was a major achievement. During the course of the year, the tourism programme was "divorced" from the research program, or vice versa, with Dr Elmarie Slabbert coordinating the academic programme. To split the two directions was the right choice since the demands of the research programme have grown significantly. Regardless of this, the synergy between the two programmes has remained.   

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This made me proud of my association with a group of people who are committed to making the tourism programme, and specifically SEIT, an internationally competitive programme. This is taking place despite the backdrop of challenges we face, e.g. more funding is needed, and clarity of reporting structures required. The relationship with individual researchers in economics and business management has improved significantly. Hence, we are forging ahead and making enormous progress. Major achievements include the highest number of publications (articles and textbooks).