Travel Behaviour and Tourists’ Motivations for Visiting Heritage Tourism Attractions in a Rural Municipality

The study examines the travel behaviour and motivations of tourists visiting heritage attractions in the Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM) in South Africa, as part of the sustainable development of rural heritage tourism. A quantitative approach through a means of a questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample size of 208 respondents at major heritage attractions in the study area. The results indicate that the respondents are primarily motivated by cultural performances, historical stories and sites associated with mining and agricultural heritage. The study identified that tourists are more concerned about the level of crime and environmental degradation as inhibiting factors to their attitudes and behaviours of participation. The study also demonstrates the socio-economic and environmental barriers rural municipalities deal with. The study provides practical recommendations for enhancing cultural engage-ment, addressing safety concerns, and promoting local economic development, thereby fostering a more sustainable and inclusive approach to heritage tourism in the SDM.