News > Green Route Supports Responsible Tourism

		Community Development
	– Green Route Supports Responsible Tourism

Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries employing 1 in 8 people globally. Tourism is also the fastest growing industry in developing countries. (Source: World Tourism Organisation).

Growth in the tourism sector can burden local economies, communities and environments and therefore requires responsible management. Engaging in responsible tourism practices also makes good business sense because it maximises the benefits of tourism whilst minimising its negative effects.

Responsible tourism contributes to the development and implementation of stronger economies and greener technologies. It is an effective poverty-reduction tool. It helps to preserve the world’s natural and cultural heritage, by directly funding conservation initiatives, creating economic benefit for local people and placing a value on this heritage to be appreciated by all. Responsible tourism also helps to preserve biodiversity, reduce waste, conserve water and save energy, lending a hand in the fight against climate change.

There are other forces that have contributed to the positive move towards responsible travel. The emerging focus on Corporate Citizenship has placed “responsibility and accountability” at the top of business agendas. The establishment of global tourism initiatives has also lent growing support to sustainable tourism by creating responsible tourism policies and developing indicators to help measure levels of supplier responsibility. Thirdly, travelers and tourists are becoming increasingly vigilant and conscious consumers.

In the last 10 years, South African tourism has shown a considerable shift in market focus towards achieving positive impacts on the “triple bottom line” of economic, social and environmental sustainability.

The Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa organization (FTTSA) was established as part of this process to promote responsible tourism and to encourage the integration of Fair Trade principles and sustainability criteria within the South African tourism industry. The FTTSA facilitates fair and responsible business practices amongst tourism establishments by means of a certification programme. In order to qualify for FTTSA status, certain stringent criteria need to be met.

To date, over 35 service operators in South Africa have been granted this certification. These members range from 5 star hotels, conference and function venues, luxury safari lodges, guesthouses and backpackers to nature reserves and adventure tour operators who provide activities such as shark cage diving, canopy tours and township cycling tours. The FTTSA organization is also spreading its wings with a pilot programme due to start in Mozambique shortly.

As a DMC, Green Route does not qualify for FTTSA status at present but as part of our own sustainability initiative we do support suppliers that are accredited – Spier, the Cape Grace and AWOL to name a few. We also support local industry by engaging craftsmen to make many of the beautiful gifts commissioned for our groups and incorporate visits to disadvantaged communities within our programmes so that they may also benefit. We have recently undertaken a sustainability survey amongst our top suppliers and we encourage the responsible use of resources during group programmes.

“Sustainability” and “Responsibility” may be considered trendy buzzwords by some but acting responsibly will become a matter of survival for the tourism industry in years to come. According to the “Responsible Tourism Handbook”, originally commissioned in 2002 by the Dept of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), “Local communities need to be meaningfully involved in tourism to perceive its benefits. Good economic practices can create jobs, stimulate entrepreneurship and boost regional economic growth. A responsible approach ensures that all sectors of society benefit from a virtuous tourism cycle”.

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