North West University researcher Dr Jean Manaliyo’s paper, “Community perception towards cannabis tourism and socio-economic impacts in Mahikeng, South Africa” was accepted for publication by Portugal’s Algarve University.
He has been invited to deliver his findings in person at the TMS Algarve 2025,a major international tourism research and sustainability conference that’s being held at the picturesque Atlantic seaboard town from 12 to 14 November 2025 .
“The study focuses on community knowledge and perceptions of cannabis tourism in Mahikeng,” says Dr Manaliyo, who is from the School of Tourism Management and Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society (TREES). “There are growing calls for the South African government to legalise and decriminalise the use of cannabis, not only for medicinal use but also for recreational purposes, as a tourism product.”
According to News@NWU, Dr Manyilo discovered that many people in Mahikeng were curious about how legalized cannabis tourism could shape their communities and contribute to the economy.
This piqued his curiosity and he has now taken his research across borders where cannabis is already part of tourism activities.
‘People Travel to Consume Cannabis’
“In the USA, the Netherlands and Canada, people travel just to consume cannabis. These countries have facilities where visitors gather to consume cannabis, have fun and then go back to their countries,” Dr Manaliyo says. “The cannabis market is worth more than USD 20 billion, which shows its potential for tourism development.”
Dr Manaliyo says his study was driven by the growing debate around the possible economic and social effects of cannabis legalisation. “Some provinces like the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal already have people who grow cannabis. The government could tap into this and formalise it to create jobs and generate revenue.”
His research involved community members, traditional leaders and the police. He obtained ethics clearance from the Economic and Management Sciences Research Ethics Committee, the NWU and permission from Research Department in the South African Police Service before starting his fieldwork.
As his research findings show, the overall sentiment in the groups who participated in his study was positive, indicating that cannabis tourism could make a real impact on local economies.
One of the key findings of his study is that participants held differing views on the legalisation of cannabis. Some participants supported its legalisation, arguing that cannabis tourism could bring economic benefits, create jobs, and generate revenue from tourists.
Those opposed to legalisation argued that cannabis tourism could lead to an increase in crime. However, others suggested that, like alcohol, cannabis could be legalised under certain restrictions to ensure proper control. In addition, some participants noted that cannabis is used for medical purposes and as an energy booster.
About the TMS Algarve 2025 Conference:
The TMS ALGARVE 2025: Technology and Sustainability Challenges in Tourism, Hospitality, and Management will take place from November 12-15, 2025, in the Algarve, Portugal. Marking its 8th edition, the TMS conference has established itself as a key platform for research and discussion in the field. In its 2022 edition, the conference attracted 615 paper submissions and featured 387 presentations, solidifying its reputation as one of the leading international conferences in Tourism and Hospitality..
TMS combines scientific excellence with vibrant cultural and social events, while embracing core principles of event sustainability and festivalization and memorable experiences.
This conference will focus on the following key research lines:
· Sustainability in Tourism and Hospitality
· Hospitality Management
· Tourism Planning and Management
· Tourism Innovation and Competitiveness
· Cultural Tourism
· Ecotourism/Active Tourism/Health and Well-being Tourism
· Safety and Security
· Social Impacts of Tourism
· Tourism Experiences
· Event Management
· Smart Destinations
· Destination Marketing and Management
· Marketing Management
· Digital Marketing/Digital Transformation
· Artificial Intelligence in Hospitality and Tourism
· Sharing Economy and Tourism
· ICT and Social Media in Tourism and Hospitality
· Tourism Economics
· Education in Tourism, Hospitality & Management
· Human Resource Management and Organizational Behaviour
· Ethics, Leadership, and Corporate Social Responsibility
· Financial Management & Accounting
· Strategy, Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship
· Business Management
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