Abstract
Informality is a distinguishing trait of economic life across much of the
global South. In terms of the tourism sector several researchers examine the informal
sector of leisure tourism. In this article the aim is to focus upon business tourism and
more specifically the segment of informal sector business tourism. The growth of
informal sector business tourism is particularly important in sub-Saharan Africa. An
analysis is undertaken of recent research on South Africa’s major city of Johanesburg
where the importance of informal sector business tourism is demonstrated. The
results show Johannesburg is the focus for transnational entrepreneurship in the
form of the growth of cross-border shopping. The organisation of this manifestation
of informal business tourism, the nature of its participants and business challenges
form the focus of discussion. It is argued that despite many benefits that flow to the
city of Johannesburg from informal sector of business tourism the local state has yet
to fully acknowledge the multiple positive impacts of these international visitors upon
the urban economy and plan to accommodate the needs of cross-border shoppers.