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This paper explored the impact of vacation travel on the 'self' using a questionnaire survey and interviews. Vacation travel emerged as a form of learning about the self, a journey of self-discovery rather than self-recovery. Travel impacts are predominantly self-centered, producing changes that provide opportunities for personal growth. Experiences leading to these changes are mainly infl uenced by interactions with the 'other'. Importantly, no signifi cant association was found between personality type and being impacted, and no difference was found between a pleasurable and a miserable experience and being impacted. Both fi ndings offer a contribution to knowledge and a platform for further research.

Rural tourism in South Africa has undergone fundamental change since the advent of political democracy in 1995. Previously perceived as a 'white man's thing', rural tourism is increasingly finding a home amongst South Africa's formerly marginalised rural communities. The country has considerable potential in attracting tourists in search of new, exciting experiences in areas of unexploited natural beauty and rich cultural resources. The concept of rural tourism has mushroomed to include adventure tourism activities, cultural tourism and, lately, a new phenomenon in rural communities known as 'township tourism'. There are, however, substantial challenges to be overcome if the rural tourism sector is to achieve its goals. These include a lack of capacity at local government level, the difficulties involved in operationalising community-based rural tourism and the dearth of entrepreneurial expertise, management skills and capital with which to expand the rural tourism infrastructure. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. INTRODUCTIONT his paper considers the development of rural tourism in South Africa. It examines the challenges faced by government in the governance and management of the rural tourism sector, explores the opportunities presented by tourism as a catalyst of development in rural communities and investigates its primary constraints in achieving government objectives. The paper is based on qualitative data collected during the autumn of 2002. It is also informed by the researcher's personal observations and experiences over a period of 20 years. One of the key findings of the research is the lack of capacity at local government level to assume its responsibilities in the rural tourism sector. The difficulties in actualising community-based rural tourism development also emerged from this study as a key constraint. In addition, the dearth of entrepreneurial expertise, management skills and capital with which to expand the tourism infrastructure appears to present a significant challenge. One of the conclusions to emerge from the research is the importance of cooperation, as opposed to competition, between rural tourism operators. A BACKGROUND TO RURAL TOURISM IN SOUTH AFRICAWith the advent of political change in South Africa in 1995, the country's potential to develop her considerable tourism assets was significantly increased. The new government was faced with considerable challenges, not least of which were mitigation of the rampant unemployment and historic underdevelop-