Public bodies' support for the sustainability of small and medium-sized tourism enterprises in The Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

This study examines the role of public bodies in supporting SMTEs. The authors acknowledge that the involvement of public entities in strengthening the capacity and resilience of SMTEs is becoming increasingly critical in today's economic environment. SMTEs comprise a substantial portion of the tourism industry, accounting for over 80% of business activity in many regions. Their growth fosters local economic development, encourages cultural exchange, and promotes innovation within communities. Public bodies play a vital role in facilitating this growth through various strategic actions, such as providing financial support, developing policies, and offering resources essential for the sustainability of these businesses. The research was conducted with the understanding that, although multiple studies have explored the topic, a significant gap exists regarding the role of public bodies in promoting the sustainability of SMTEs, particularly in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A quantitative approach was used, involving a cross-sectional survey of 160 respondents, SMTE owners in the Eastern Cape, to gather insights from key stakeholders knowledgeable about SMTE ownership in the region. To ensure the instrument accurately measured what it intended to, the study tested its validity, specifically using the content validity index technique. A pilot survey was conducted with 45 respondents from a different population than the main sample. Based on this pilot, the content validity index for the entire instrument and individual items was calculated. The validity indices ranged from 0.79 to 0.81 for the overall instrument and for the scales POG, GF, POR, POAI, PORF, and SOTSMEs, respectively. All coefficients exceeded or closely approached the 0.78 threshold, confirming the instrument’s validity. The study tested eight hypotheses, of which four were rejected, and four were supported.