245-348 Tourism 2016 03EN.indd

Th e quest for improved self-revenue generation and reduction of the fi nancial burden on government prompted the adoption of public private partnership (PPP) in the management of South African National Parks (SANParks). Accordingly, this paper examined the revenue and conservation implication of PPP in SANParks. Using a statistical t-test of diff erence in means, before and within the PPP, results show a signifi cant increase in sales revenue and conservation (with signifi cant increase of rare and threatened species) during the PPP period. Additionally, the PPP has supported poverty alleviation through a strategic use of small, micro and medium enterprises with associated local job creation and concomitant increasing support for dependent local family members. Th is paper thus off ers a practical evidence for conservation managers that public private partnership can enhance revenue and conservation of national parks in a developing country. Ascertaining that PPP could enhance revenue and conservation in a national park should motivate conservation managers to improve PPP strategies for reinforcing future revenue streams and attendant conservation in protected areas.