Tourism Business Capabilities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Nuanced Gender Perceptions

This study explored nuanced gender perceptions on the influences that business capabilities have on
tourism-related business operations in Durban Central Business District, KwaZulu-Natal. A structured
questionnaire survey was used to collect data from purposively selected 150 (75 females and 75
males) tourism-related entrepreneurs and managers. We used descriptive, bivariate and multivariate
data analyses to address research objective. This study did not make a conclusive finding that gender
plays a role in differentiating business success or performance, as mostly perceived. However,
marketing capability is the main factor that influence the business performance or success level. This
study recommends that entrepreneurship training and mentorship programmes should emphasise that
formal education and marketing capability (not gender) support business success. Hence training and
mentorship should focus on building marketing capability, among others.