There has been an increase in research tourism and community empowerment. Yet, most of the research has denied local people an opportunity to be heard concerning their views and perspectives on tourism's ability to empower communities. This article examines the views and perspectives of local rural people in Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe regarding tourism and community empowerment. In-depth interviews, direct observations and informal conversations were used to collect data from 43 local people in the province's four districts. The article argues that while tourism development in Manicaland empowers local people economically, socially, politically , and psychologically, signs of disempowerment are still visible. This research contributes to the alternative approach in tourism studies which seeks the perspectives, expectations and loved experiences of local communities.

The Kruger National Park (KNP) one of the largest conservation areas in South Africa, attracts in excess of one million visitors a year and is regarded as an icon destination in international tourism. Since this park attracts more tourists than any other park in South Africa, the purpose of this article is to determine the reasons (the travel motives) why tourists visit the park. Little research has been done on travel motives to national parks and this was the first of its kind in South Africa. The research was conducted by means of questionnaires. A factor analysis was used to determine the travel motives. Six factors were identified, namely nature, activities, attractions, nostalgia, novelty and escape from routine. Some of these motives were confirmed by similar research in other countries, although the similarities are not significant. This research confirmed that different attractions and destinations fed different travel motives, hence the need for more studies of this nature to be conducted.