The meaning of sense of place: The community of Vredefort Dome and Parys, Free State
Abstract
The Vredefort Dome was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2005. This status has
led to an increase in tourism to the adjacent town of Parys and the Dome as well as an
increase in developers that could change the character of the area. Therefore, the sense of
place of the residents of, and tourists to the area requires consideration in order to find a
balance when development takes place. Sense of place refers to the unique features that
gives the area its character and the manner in which people relate to these features. This
study investigated the participants’ understanding of sense of place of the area under
study. The participants consisted of residents and tourists from Parys and the Dome.
The non-probability sampling technique, amongst other, was used. The qualitative
research method was utilised to gather data which was analysed through content analysis.
Thereupon, themes were identified and interpreted. The connotation the participants
attached to sense of place was categorised into three broad themes: affective,
anthropogenic and the physical environment. The participants showed a special
awareness towards protecting the character, nature and history of the area. Sense of place
is rarely considered when development is considered. The findings of this study could be
used as a guideline for developers in the area. A better understanding of the relationship
between place and the attributes individuals assign to Parys and the Vredefort Dome
World Heritage Site may help the stakeholders to acquire enhanced approaches to
address, identify and engage the community (both residents and tourists) in conservation
and future planning processes to ensure the well-being of all concerned.