Sustainable tourism offers an alternate view

DID YOU KNOW?

The Cape Town Declaration on Responsible Tourism now guides countries around the world.

 

Sustainable tourism has grown over recent decades to become something of a South African specialty. It's responsible tourism, a kinder way of travelling - gentler on your pocket, sensitive to community hosts and caring towards nature.

For decades, South Africa has led the way in conservation tourism. The country's nature reserves and game parks are the standard by which others are judged.

But since 1995, a new spirit of sustainable tourism has infused the industry. Green tourism, under Government leadership and through private projects, now goes beyond the simply eco-friendly.

The new green is making sure that the people living next to parks benefit from them. South Africa is a world leader in this kind of initiative.

The best example is Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa's North West province, which was set up to create jobs and benefits while enriching conservation efforts.

The six giant Transfrontier Parks South Africa has initiated with its neighbours are also helping to uplift neighbouring communities.

In fact, South Africa has pioneered responsible tourism in many ways. One of the most visible was extending the Fair Trade label to tourism products - a uniquely South African innovation

Fair Trade tourism products run the whole gamut of experiences - from five star game lodges all the way through to adventure operators, bicycle tours, and community-owned guest houses.

And Fair Trade is only one of several labels. Heritage SA also accredits green tourism and social responsibility initiatives, while the Imvelo Responsible Tourism Awards, run by the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa since 2002, has identified and celebrated the efforts of dozens of sustainable initiatives.

Accolades have come from further afield too, including the Green World Travel Awards, the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, the Guardian/Observer Ethical Travel Awards and Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards.