The Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Handbook South Africa Volume 5 by GreenEconomyMedia

The Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Handbook South Africa Volume 5 The Essential Guide

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The ruggedly beautiful Madikwe Game Reserve, SA’s fourth largest park at 75 000 hectares, is on the Botswana border and only four hours’ drive from Jo’burg/Pretoria. A malaria free area, Madikwe offers you the opportunity to experience the Big 5, the rare and endangered wild dog and cheetah, most other SA predators, a multitude of fat and healthy plains game, and 478 species of birds. Nestled at its very heart and a real gem in Madikwe’s crown, you’ll discover Mosetlha – owner managed, unfenced, rustic and intimate, it is the only truly authentic bush camp and genuine eco lodge in this magnificent reserve. The simplicity of comfortable beds in raised wood and thatched cabins, traditional bush fare prepared on the open fire, oil lamps, donkey boilers and hot safari showers offers you the perfect mix of comfort and really being in the bush, allowing you to properly relax and appreciate a genuine wilderness experience. Spectacular up close and personal wildlife sightings in comfortable, open 4x4s with our exceptional fieldguides on twice daily game drives throughout the entire Madikwe reserve, give you the opportunity to discover the rich and fascinating secrets of the African bushveld and experience a true eco safari adventure.

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The Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Handbook South Africa Volume 5 The Essential Guide EDITOR Niki Glen

PROJECT LEADER Victor Mutanga

CONTRIBUTORS Niki Glen, Wilna Botha, Sue Snyman, Steve Collins, Jacqui Taylor, Matthew Drew, Francois Viljoen, Malcolm Drummond, Pam McFadden, Richard Wylie, Llewellyn Vance, Lori Voss, Nivashnee Naidoo

SALES TEAM Vania Reyneke, Linda Donough

LAYOUT & DESIGN Shanice Daniels

CHIEF EXECUTIVE Gordon Brown

PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR Shannon Manuel

DIRECTORS Gordon Brown Andrew Fehrsen Lloyd Macfarlane

COVER PHOTO www.essquehotels.com

PRINCIPAL FOR AFRICA & MAURITIUS Gordon Brown

PEER REVIEWER Prof Kevin Mearns

PRINCIPAL FOR UNITED STATES James Smith

PROOF READER Niki Glen, Caroline Ungersbock

PUBLISHER

CLIANT LIASON OFFICER Natasha Keyster DIVISIONAL HEAD OF SALES Annie Pieters

alive2green www.alive2green.com www.sustainable tourism.co.za

The Sustainability Series Of Handbooks PHYSICAL ADDRESS: Cape Media House 28 Main Road Rondebosch Cape Town 7700

ISBN No: 978 0 620 45240 3. Volume 3 First Published February 2012. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any way or in any form without the prior written consent of the publisher. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Publisher or the Editor. All editorial contributions are accepted on the understanding that the contributor either owns or has obtained all necessary copyrights and permissions.

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Partners/ Affiliates/ Media Partners: SOUTH AFRICA’S SHINING STARS Ever wondered what the star insignia behind the counter of your favourite hotel, B&B or self-catering chalet actually means? Well, those stars are probably the reason why it’s your favourite. As the TGCSA, the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa, we have checked in and checked out over a thousand hotels, guest houses and B&Bs to ensure that when you book a room at a star-graded institution you get exactly what you expect. So, when you pay for all the bells and whistles you can rest assured that’s exactly what you’ll get.

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Sustainability and Integrated REPORTING HANDBOOK South Africa 2014

THE TOURISM HANDBOOK

FOREWORD

Daniela Otero CEO Skål International

017 has been declared by the United Nations as International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. In line with this theme, Skål aims to contribute by raising awareness among decision-makers and the general public so that we can work together to achieve tourism as a catalyst for positive change worldwide. Skål currently has a representation in 92 countries, with a professional network of more than 15,000 members. This year during the Skål International World Congress which will be held in Hyderabad, India from 5-9 October 2017, a large number of our members will attend the presentation of the Sustainable Tourism Awards. On this occasion, the best practices of responsible and sustainable tourism worldwide will be recognised. The criteria for the Sustainable Tourism are an effort to reach a common understanding and represent the minimum sustainability principles that a tourism company should aspire to. We must encourage

tourism activities that are respectful of the natural, cultural and social environment and that aligned with the values of the community and permit a positive exchange of experiences between residents and visitors and where the relationship between the tourist and the community is fair and equitable. This balance is where the travellers have a truly participatory attitude in the travel experience. They say that we travel to change, not places, but ideas. Travel transforms the way of thinking, therefore, travelling is a valuable tool for change; change that comprises us in a personal way, which involves changing our way of living, our attitude towards the world and ourselves. Mahatma Gandhi said “Travel is the language of peace”; a peace that we must foster not only among human beings but also with the environment.

Sincerely Daniela Otero

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he United Nations (UN) have declared 2017 as the Year for Sustainable Development in Tourism. The Sustainable Tourism Partnership Programme (STPP) is an Affiliate Member of the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and a partner of UN Environmental Programme (UNEP 10YFP). In support of Sustainable Development in Tourism, the STPP are the co-ordinators of UNWTO Affiliate Members in Africa and we are producing a Sustainable Tourism Implementation Guide for Tourism SMME’s in the SADC region for the Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA). The STPP, in partnership with many partners, is a leader in Sustainable Tourism Advocacy and Education. In 2016, the STPP facilitated the 5th consecutive Responsible Tourism Dialogue for Alive2Green’s Sustainability Week, as well as RETOSA’s first Annual Southern Africa Sustainable Tourism Development Conference. Together with the African Centre for Universal Access, the STPP launched a booklet that assists tourism businesses to implement basic UA practices (the UNWTO theme for 2016 was Universal Accessibility in Tourism). While the STPP has always focussed on changing mindsets, we realise that there is a lot of work to be done in Africa to develop tourism more sustainably. A recent study on the State of Sustainable Tourism in SADC showed that there are significant gaps in sustainable tourism policy, strategies, development and implementation programmes. However, I believe that through initiatives such as the RETOSA Southern Africa Sustainable Tourism Committee (which I chair), we can achieve much greater results. This platform promotes mass collaboration amongst SADC tourism communities, and aims to help increase the uptake of sustainable tourism practices.

FOREWORD

Caroline Ungersbock Chair and Co-founder Sustainable Tourism Partnership Programme On a lighter note, whilst I reflect on the past few years there are some memorable occasions and events that come to mind, putting a smile on my face. In 2013, the attention we received resulted in parliament instantly put smiles on many serious people’s faces. Niki and I were in Parliament to present to the Tourism Portfolio Committee. I had just bought a tablet, which we took along. Niki was working on it when suddenly, whilst the then Minister of Cooperative Governance was giving his speech, the tablet decided to play a tune. We couldn’t switch it off and it became louder and louder. I was about to put my heel through it, when it stopped. After an eerie silence, the Honourable Minister thanked us for our positive contribution and said that he looked forward to further discussion. We also look forward to working with our partners in making Southern Africa a sustainable destination, with sustainable communities, while putting smiles on more people’s faces.

Sincerely Caroline Ungersbock

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Niki Glen Editor

his is our 5th edition of the Sustainable and Responsible Tourism Hamndbook. The Sustainable Tourism Partnership Programme would like to thank Alive2Green and their team for providing us with the opportunity to make a truely significant contribution to raising awareness of Sustainable and Responsible Tourism and its core principles. We would also like to thank all the contributors for agreeing to provide their input to create a collection of perspectives which will have a significant impact on the main-streaming of Sustainable Tourism Practices. Thank you to all the sponsors for their much need contribution in spreading awareness and providing access to products and services to assist tourism businesses to move forward on the Sustainable Tourimsm Journey. Lastly, thank you for our peer reviewers who have worked “behind the scenes” to help us make this handbook series a fantastic success.

Sincerely Niki Glen

THE TOURISM HANDBOOK

CONTRIBUTORS

NIKI GLEN (EDITOR)

Niki Glen co-founded the Sustainable Tourism Partnership Programme (STPP) in 2012. The STPP is a non-profit company established to assist small tourism businesses across South Africa to implement sustainable tourism practices. Niki is also currently the General Manager of the N3 Gateway Tourism Association, which provides marketing and tourism development support for tourism businesses along the N3 route from Tshwane to eThekwini.

WILNA BOTHA Wilna Botha is the founder and CEO of Africa!Ignite, a not-for-profit rural development agency that focuses on development of women and youth, tourism enterprise development and story-telling. She is a former investigative journalist, communications specialist and college lecturer.

SUE SNYMAN Dr Sue Snyman joined Wilderness Safaris (WS), a high-end ecotourism operator, in 2008 bringing with her over a decade of experience in the tourism industry, including guiding, community development and liaison, camp management and environmental impact assessments. Sue is Group Sustainability Manager for WS as well as Regional Programme Director of Children in the Wildernes.

STEVE COLLINS Steve is a rural development facilitator specialising in land reform, local economic development linked to renewable natural resources including biofuels, biodiversity, wind energy and other sustainable land uses. He is passionate about involving communities in their own development and making them the focus of NGO, private sector and government development initiatives.

MATTHEW DREW Matthew Drew is the Strategy and Financial Consultant for the N3 Gateway Tourism Association. He graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics, majoring in Finance, Strategy and Economics. He has also obtained a Diploma in Project Management from Executive Education (Pty) Ltd. in 2009 and a Certificate Course in eMarketing from Stellenbosch Business School in 2011.

FRANCOIS VILJOEN Francois Viljoen is a trained geographer with significant experience in rural tourism and community development. Francois joined Open Africa in 2005 as a route developer before moving into the role of operations manager and finally, managing director in July 2013. He has an MA in Geography and Environmental Science and a MBA with the University of Stellenbosch Business School.

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MALCOLM DRUMMOND

CONTRIBUTORS

Malcolm emigrated to South Africa at the age of 22 and was immediately captivated by the diversity of the fauna and flora. This led him to becoming a part-time Wilderness Leadership trail guide, through growing awareness of birds to becoming Chairman of BirdLife South Africa in 1995. In parallel, Malcolm and a friend started Middelpunt Wetland Trust in 1992 with total focus on the Critically Endangered White-winged Flufftail.

PAM MCFADDEN Pam McFadden grew up in northernÂ KwaZulu-Natal and her fascination with the military history and stories of the area began at an early age. As Curator of Talana Museum since 1983 she has been responsible for the development of this unique museum and battlefield, which is acknowledged as being one of the finest in South Africa.

JACQUI TAYLOR Jacqui Taylor is intimately aware of the concerns and economic restraints in small town communities as she is the daughter of a farm manager who has lived and worked in rural areas. This is one of the primary driving forces behind her tenacious and energetic approach to improving the economic status of these rural communities. She has a keen understanding that Agritourism is about creating destinations and not just focusing on the individual farms to promote responsible tourism.

LLEWELLAN VANCE As a Director of Evolve Technologies Pty Ltd Llewellan is responsible for handling new business development and stakeholder engagement to drive the mass adoption of low carbon technologies into the South African market. Llewellanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience for the past 7 years has been in Business Development and he has successfully secured and architected several mass rollout projects for low carbon technologies, while heading up the Alternate Energy Division for Innovation Group South Africa.

LORI VOSS Lori Voss, is the Marketing Manager of the N3 Gateway Tourism Association. She has been involved in the Tourism industry for the past 18 years, starting in the hospitality industry and working her way through Travel Retail, Inbound and Outbound Tour Operations, Representation of hotels and lodges and now marketing the N3 Gateway. Lori studied Tourism at Natal Technicon, Business Management through the Business Studies Unit of University of KwaZulu-Natal.

TALEB RIFAI Taleb Rifai is Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) since January 2010. Mr. Rifai has an extensive background in international and national public service, the private sector and academia. Mr. Rifai has a Ph.D. in Urban Design and Regional Planning (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia), an M.A. in Engineering and Architecture (Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago), and a BS.c. in Architectural Engineering (University of Cairo in Egypt).

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Capture Africa takes great pride in sharing Botswana’s unspoilt wilderness with its many international guests. Being a mobile operation, it is of utmost importance to leave nothing behind except footprints. NOT a carbon one! Capture Africa are truly leaders in the mobile safari industry, taking great care to protect and conserve our environment. From purifying their own drinking water and carrying it in bulk tanks, to solar powered refrigeration and charging facilities, they are a fantastic example to the industry. Luxury camping in pristine wildlife areas is their forte’, never forgetting how fragile these ecosystems are. Lighting in your beautifully furnished tent runs off solar power and your soaps are biodegradable. All waste is removed and recycled back in town. And being guided by some of the most knowledgeable professionals in Africa, your outlook to conservation of our natural world will change forever. Capture Africa, dedicated to conserving Africa’s delicate environment for our grandchildren and theirs to enjoy!

Email: info@captureafrica.net • hildrene@captureafrica.net • www.captureafrica.net Cell: +267 717 31 356 • Tel: +267 686 1200 • Skype: hildrene.gibson

THE TOURISM HANDBOOK

RICHARD WYLLIE

CONTRIBUTORS

Richard is currently based as a Researcher at Tourism KwaZulu-Natal (TKZN) in Durban. Before moving to TKZN, Richard was based at the University of Pretoria where he was the Chief Researcher on a project with the National Department of Tourism. The project established a harmonized training program for Cross-Border tourist guides across the southern African region. During this time, he also completed his Masters degree in Heritage and Cultural Tourism and his thesis focussed on cross-border collaboration in Transfrontier Conservation Areas in southern Africa.

NIVASHNEE NAIDOO Tourism and Hospitality Sector Specialist, Nivashnee Naidoo is the Founder and CEO of The Collaborative Leadership Group (CLG). She has over 17 years of professional experience in tourism development, which includes quality assurance, business consulting, business development and responsible and sustainable tourism advocacy. Her previous positions include Operations Manager of the Tourism Grading Council (TGCSA) and Managing Director of Fair Trade Tourism (FTT).

PATRICIA ESPINOSA On 18 May 2016, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Patricia Espinosa of Mexico as Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Ms. Espinosa took office on 18 July 2016. Ambassador of Mexico to Germany since 2012 and from 2001 to 2002, Ms. Espinosa was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico from 2006 to 2012, bringing more than 30 years of experience at highest levels in international relations, specialized in climate change, global governance, sustainable development, gender equality and protection of human rights. Born in 1958, she has postgraduate studies in International Law from the Institut Universitaire de Hautes Etudes Internationales in Geneva and is holder of a Degree in International Relations from El Colegio de Mexico.

ERIK SOLHEIM Following an extensive career focusing on environment and development in government and international organizations, Erik Solheim was elected to become Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) on May 13, 2016. Prior to joining UNEP, Solheim was the chair of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In addition to his career as a Minister and at the OECD, Solheim has served as UNEP’s Special Envoy for Environment, Conflict and Disaster since 2013 and a Patron of Nature for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2012. He has also received a number of awards for his work on climate and the environment, including UNEP’s Champion of the Earth award, TIME Magazine’s Hero of the Environment, and an honorary doctorate from TERI University in Delhi, India.

THE TOURISM HANDBOOK

CONTENTS

Introduction Niki Glen

Let’s Make All Tourism Green and Clean Taleb Rifai, Erik Solheim and Patricia Espinosa

Community involvement and ecological best practice in tourism – Case of WOWZULU Tourism Wilna Botha

Engaging local communities in tourism Dr. Susan Snyman

Rights and responsibilities – Contracts between communities and tourism investors Steve Collins

6 7 8 9 18

Sustainable Agritourism Dr Jacqui Taylor

Adventurepreneurs Matthew Drew

Route and destination development as a tool for community beneficiation Francois Viljoen

Conservation links between Ethiopia and South Africa Malcolm Drummond

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CONTENTS 10

Talana Live “Catch the Vibe” Pam McFadden

The economic impact of events on local economies Richard Wyllie

12 13 14 15

16 17

Tladi Lodge – Resource Efficiency Audit Findings Llewellan Vance and Niki Glen

Rainwater harvesting at Forest Lodge in Phinda Private Nature Reserve, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa Hannes Grobler & Kevin Mearns

The ABCD for Local Tourism Associations and Community Tourism Organisations Niki Glen

SKÅL INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARDS Skål International Should I join forces with my neighbour - the competition? The benefits of route marketing to the tourism industry Lori Voss

94 100

Advocating responsible and sustainable tourism through education Nivashnee Naidoo

104

AFRICA TRAVEL DIRECTORY

108

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ADVERTORIAL

NATURE AT YOUR DOORSTEP Situated in the Klein Karoo just two hours from Cape Town is Inverdoorn Game Reserve, filled with a variety of wildlife. The 10 000-ha reserve has made a significant contribution to sustaining the biodiversity of the region. It is also home to the successful cheetah conservation centre and rhino protection organisation.

Through founder Damian Vergnaudâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conservation efforts the endangered cheetah species have a haven. In 2001 Damian founded Western Cape Cheetah Conservation, a successful rehabilitation and breeding programme based at Inverdoorn. It has also rescued several cheetahs from unfavourable circumstances. The cheetahs arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the only animals that have found a home at Inverdoorn Game Reserve. In 2011, the Inverdoorn team also founded Rhino Protect, a wildlife initiative that is dedicated to preserving the endangered rhino species. Inverdoorn has saved a variety of species, including lions from canned hunting pens. The reserve is committed

to providing a safe place for these wild animals to roam free. In 2012 Inverdoorn became a luxury Big Five safari destination, after the introduction of elephants onto the reserve, accompanying the lion, rhino, African buffalo and the elusive leopard. Together with a profusion of wildlife which includes zebras, hippos, giraffes, wildebeest and springbok, guests are sure to have an unforgettable safari experience. The reserve offers exceptional wildlife encounters, great scenery and modern accommodation amenities. There is a range of luxury accommodation options, from charming guest houses for families or bigger groups to chalets, luxury chalets, exclusive ambassador suite and the new addition of the Kuganha tented camp. Surrounded by immaculate succulent gardens and the great expanse of the Klein Karoo, Iziba Safari Lodge provides comfort and respite. Situated just two and a half hours from Cape Town, the drive to Inverdoorn will take you over stunning mountain passes and through famed vineyards of the Western Cape.

THE TOURISM HANDBOOK

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1 Introduction By: Niki Glen

THE TOURISM HANDBOOK

he Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Handbook is in its fifth edition. This year, the handbook provides an overview of the current trends and developments in tourism. The face of tourism is changing as the views and expectations of tourists are changing. Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tourists increasingly ask questions about the places they visit and the people they interact with: how do my activities impact local communities and natural areas? While I am enjoying wonderful natural encounters, and experiencing vibrant cultural activities, are my contributions in the interest of the sustainability of those places I visit? In Southern Africa, tourism stakeholders including local municipalities, existing tourism businesses and community members are becoming conscious of the value that lies locked up within the rich natural and cultural heritage of Africa. Innovative models are emerging that allow new ventures and new participants to enter the tourism value chain. Over the past three decades, there has been a significant growth in community based tourism ventures, which include accommodation, adventure activities, heritage tourism, cultural tourism, and as highlighted in this edition, agritourism. A new generation of vibrant young tour operators is emerging. Operators who create thrilling itineraries, working closely with lesser-known and authentic community-based tourism initiatives and emerging enterprises. Tourists no longer want to know about nature or about culture, they want to be immersed in nature and culture, enjoying close natural encounters and interacting with local people in their own homes and communities.

INTRODUCTION

Wilna Botha sets the scene this year with an overview of the award winning WOWZULU Responsible Tourism, which are currently scattered across KwaZulu-Natal and expanding into other provinces. The goal of WOWZULU Responsible Tourism is to create income for previously excluded community tourism enterprises who are on the doorstep of popular tourist destinations, by linking them into the wider tourism offering of the destination. The WOWZULU team supports the development of these enterprises through sustained training and mentoring, as well as strong international and national marketing and sales support. Dr Sue Snyman then guides us through some of the existing community based tourism models that Wilderness Safaris has implemented around their camps. Wilderness Safaris (WS) is a world-renowned ecotourism company with over 60 camps in seven countries, employing more than 2 600 staff (more than 70% from local communities and only 7% non-citizens). WS engages numerous communities and follows an integrated reporting system which includes comprehensive measuring of the quadruple bottom line. The most basic requirement for success is that the investor has a legal right and obligation to build and run a tourism business. In Africa exactly who has the right to use land can be hard to pin down. It could be a range of landowners from government to private owners or â&#x20AC;&#x153;ownedâ&#x20AC;? and used by the local indigenous community. Steve Collins, the executive director of the African Safari Foundation discusses the legal right and obligation to build and run community based tourism ventures. He highlights the rights of using land in Africa whether they be exercised by government, private owners or the

THE TOURISM HANDBOOK

INTRODUCTION

local indigenous community. The African Safari Foundation was set up to facilitate fair tourism concessions between private investors and community groups who have tourism rights. ““Agritourism” is the heart and soul of rural economic development”, as showcased by Jacqui Taylor. Agritourism provides opportunities for small scale farmers and emerging businesses. Not only do working farms become tourism products themselves, but the local tourism industry can become an offset for local produce. Jacqui Taylor is a founding member of the Association of Agritourism South Africa (AASA), which is an NPO (non-profit organisation) that helps create an environment in which farmers and farming communities can implement Agritourism initiatives. Matthew Drew provides another example of how local community members can become active economic contributors through the tourism supply chain. Matthew, who is the strategy consultant for the N3 Gateway Tourism Association and Hayley Sharpe South Africa, and owns his own consultancy, Next Step Consulting, has been working on a model for creating small businesses around the adventure tourism industry. Matthew cites events such as the Sappi Howick Classic, Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival and Sappi Mankele Challenge, where a formalised programme graduates informal workers on the trails into formal businesses that provide services such as trail building and guiding to both recreational users and race participants. Francois Viljoen, CEO of Open Africa, illustrates how transformation of the industry can only happen at a large scale through the supported growth of new tourism entrepreneurs from disadvantaged communities. Francois provides

THE TOURISM HANDBOOK

an overview of the pioneering new approach to community development through route development that Open Africa has been engaged with over the past five years. This programme taps into a pool of experienced tourism entrepreneurs to provide mentorship. Francois introduces the topic of route development as an important mechanism to support tourism development and transformation. Malcolm Drummond, founder of the Middelpunt Wetland Trust and Chairman of the N3 Gateway Tourism Association sketches an interesting picture of how the conservation of birds such as the White-winged Flufftail not only creates strong linkages between South Africa and Ethiopia, but also helps to open up a vast international tourism industry based on birding and bird research and conservation: Avitourism. Pam McFadden then leads into a discussion of the impacts and opportunities provided by annual events. Pam is the organiser of the annual Talana Live Anglo Boer War re-enactment, that takes place around the Talana Museum in Dundee, situated in the heart of the KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields. She reveals what goes on behind-the-scenes to develop exciting itineraries, provide good visitor information and put the needs of visitors first. Richard Wyllie echoes Pam’s emphasis of the importance of annual events by painting the picture of the value of events that take place within KZN. Sporting events, arts and cultural events and entertainment generate enormous economic impacts. Richard, a Researcher at Tourism KwaZulu-Natal (TKZN) in Durban shows how events have many positive socio-economic benefits across municipal boundaries and help to alleviate the seasonality of tourism, lead to tourism

development, increase the competitiveness of the destination, and assist in the marketing and branding of cities and towns. Niki Glen highlights the role that local tourism associations (LTAs) and community tourism organisations (CTOs) can play to help facilitate local economic development using tourism as the vehicle. Niki is a co-founder of the Sustainable Tourism Partnership Programme (STPP) and the General Manager of the N3 Gateway Tourism Association. Through both organisations, she is working closely with LTAs and CTOs to help build capacity for moving from traditionally marketing organisations into fulfilling a development facilitation role. Niki highlights Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) as one model to use to help make this transition. While the preceding chapters focus on a multitude of valuable opportunities that exist for new ventures, tourism growth, transformation, job creation and inclusive development, Llewellan Vance reminds us that established businesses need to survive to form the foundation of a strong future industry. Through a case study presented for Tladi Lodge in Sandton, Llewellan, the CEO of Evolve Technologies show that changes in behaviour and minimal investment can forever reduce the reliance on the grid for tourism businesses. Lori Voss, the Marketing Manager of the N3 Gateway Tourism Association brings together all the concepts above by illustrating the value of route marketing. New and established tourism businesses can only be successful and sustainable if there is a constant flow of forward-thinking tourists who are sensitised to the impacts they have in the places they visit. Marketing of tourism routes is a more cost-effective means of tourism marketing and also creates additional travel and tourism jobs, boosts local

INTRODUCTION

economies, alleviates poverty lines and sustains tourism businesses. Lori illustrates this by focusing on the cross-marketing and sharing of best practice amongst the tourism organizations and stakeholders along the N3 corridor and into Lesotho. More effective marketing strategies combined with the adoption of more sustainable business practices will pay off for the business that is willing to take the initiative. Nivashnee Naidoo, founder and CEO of the Collaborative Leadership Group (CLG), draws attention to the fact that everything that has been discussed above will become more prevalent in tourism development education systems to help to support the entrenchment of sustainable tourism principles in children in primary and secondary school or university education and learning programmes. These programmes need to link knowledge, behaviours, skills and action that will help these learners identify ways to build healthier ecosystems, social systems and economies toward a more sustainable future for the communities they come from and the planet in its entirety. In conclusion, tour operators, as a critical link between todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tourists and the initiatives that take sustainability theory into practice, need to fulfil their role as sustainable tourism practitioners. They need to educate themselves about the impacts and value that initiatives such as the ones discussed in this handbook bring to communities, whether it be through conservation, agriculture, avitourism, cultural interactions or events and they need to make sure that the nature of their itineraries change to support this new interaction between tourist and tourism destination. And then, when all is done, those who have worked at pioneering this new form of tourism need to be rewarded through initiatives such as SKAL â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an outline being provided in our closing chapter.

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Africa provides everyone with the option of a more environmentally friendly way of travel. The idea is to pool resources by filling empty seats in your car through the webpage, thereby minimising your carbon footprint. At the same time this saves you money, and provides you with the opportunity to meet people with similar interests and maybe even make new friends! Various safety aspects have made RideShareAfrica a popular trusted service across southern Africa. Safe and secure, RideShareAfrica.com is a community-driven project which, besides reducing carbon emission, is quicker and cheaper than public transport, and lots more fun! Join the community at www.rideshareafrica.com

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Chapter 2 Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Make All Tourism Green and Clean By: Taleb Rifai, Erik Solheim and Patricia Espinosa

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hether it is a chic, zero-emission hotel in Milan where toiletries are 99 per cent biodegradable, or Gaansbai in South Africa, where conservation of native flora and fauna is a community-wide priority, sustainable tourism is growing fast across the globe. It is a tribute to the myriad entrepreneurs, companies, creative individuals and communities that the United Nations is marking 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. This means that, throughout 2017, activities and initiatives across the spectrum of those involved in tourism will celebrate its transformational power on our global efforts to create a world that is cleaner and greener, more equal and more inclusive. It is a celebration for each and every one of us: those who work and have interest in the sector and its sustainability, and also those consumers who travel to discover, to experience, and to give something back in return. Research shows that a rising number of travellers want to tread lightly. The modern tourist wants to give back to the countries and communities they visit and reduce their impact on the environment. The campaign â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Travel.Enjoy.Respectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that is linked to the International Year aims at precisely underlining the role of the traveller in amplifying the potential of tourism while avoiding damage on the environment, traditions, culture, heritage and local communities. But what are the options for the wouldbe green traveller? How much of an impact can one person have? The answer is a lot. This is because global tourism is really big business. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), tourist spending swelled from only $2 billion in 1950 to

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$1.2 trillion in 2015. The number of international tourists has grown by orders of magnitude as well, from 25 million travelled in 1950 to 1.2 billion in 2015. Domestic tourism is even bigger. It is estimated that between five and six billion people take holidays at home. In one way or another we are almost all tourists. This is good news. Countless jobs have been created in the process, many for the poor. It also means the potential in tourism going green is massive. But sustainable tourism still only represents a small fraction of the global industry. Tourism generates an estimated five per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. According to UN Environment, that proportion is higher --12.5 per cent--if factors such as energy use at hotels and transporting food and toiletries are included. Other sobering figures include water use. A tourist in Europe will consume more water on holiday than at home. Those staying at luxury hotels use nearly three times as much as a result of the water used for swimming pools and golf courses. Then there is waste generation at resorts or from cruise ships; overfishing on coral reefs to feed visitors; loss of animal and plant species linked with the construction and operation of resorts; and impacts on the culture of local people. Industry growth shows no sign of slowing. By 2020 it is estimated that the number of global tourists will reach 1.6 billion. To reach the targets set by the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals, we need a sea change in tourism. This year, you, the consumer, can make a difference. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re fleeing winter for a tropical beach or uncovering secrets in your own backyard, you can reduce your impact.

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UNWTO

Getting started can be tricky. There can be hundreds of different sustainable tourism standards to choose from. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council has a reliable guide, and maintains recent sustainability criteria for hotels, destinations and tour operators. Next, buy the guidebooks that give you the information you need on green options in the country, city, community and hotel you plan to visit. If guidebooks are encouraged to list more environmentally friendly options, you benefit from choice and green destinations benefit from exposure. Then, find out more about where you choose to go. Ask questions of tour operators and destinations about how they manage water and waste. Do they source fruit, vegetables and meat locally and have clear and positive local employment policies? Are they drawing electricity from renewables? Decide where you spend your money based on these factors. Flying to and from destinations is more problematic. While aircraft are becoming more efficient, air travel is still one of the most damaging modes of transportation to the climate per kilometre travelled. Buying carbon offsets, which many airlines offer during the ticket purchase process, is the best way to reduce your impact if you have to fly. The UN Climate Convention’s Climate Neutral Now provides advice and helps ensure that offsetting generates real and positive benefits.

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At your destination, you can support local artisans and manufacturers instead of buying mass-produced souvenirs. You can eat local. When you visit natural sights, you can ensure you leave no trace. The International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development asks you to consider the impact of your travel on sustainable economies, societies, environments and cultures, along with peace. ‘Travel.Enjoy.Respect Campaign’ outlines how you can carry out some of these actions while inviting you to share your own inspiring sustainable travel tales. Such stories allow you to gain a personal insight into how real lives of people and communities around the globe have been shaped by sustainable tourism. They are reminders that tourism is a power for good. It breaks down walls, brings cultures closer together and reminds us that we all share one incredible, beautiful planet. You can use your holiday to make more than memories. With sustainable choices, you can help make our world cleaner and greener. And you can be a global ambassador for respect – respect for our planet, our culture and the communities that welcome us with open hearts. *Taleb Rifai, Director-General, World Tourism Organisation; Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment; Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

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WOWZULU TOURISM

Chapter 3

Community involvement and ecological best practice in tourism – Case of WOWZULU Tourism By: Wilna Botha

seven destinations. countless adventures. Let WOWZULU take you to seven inclusive tourist destinations across KwaZulu-Natal. Each includes a mix of commercial tourism establishments, natural/wildlife attractions and community-based experiences.

Ndumo/Tembe

Isandlwana Isandlwana Khula Village Emazizini

iLembe

Ballito Inanda

Nyandezulu KwaNzimakwe

he warm smile of Zonke Madwe will melt any tourist’s heart. Zonke and her partner Neli Nzimakwe are the hosts who welcome tourists to experience life in their ‘home’, the friendly KwaNzimake community high on a ‘holy’ Shembe mountain above the beaches of Trafalgar and Mpenjati on KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast. From an attractive ‘welcome centre’, Zonke and Neli take tourists across to a homestead to meet Mr Dlezi, a local elder who shares stories of the area’s history and culture, and proudly introduces visitors to his prized Nguni cows.

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A responsible craft and tourism initiative of Africa!Ignite.

Next, tourists can help pick vegetables in the neighbouring organic garden and cook a traditional meal with the owner; learn to make their own screen prints; and/or consult a local Sangoma. Finally, they walk across grasslands and past the traditional Shembe Church to a view site that looks out across a wide stretch of coastline far below. Here, tourists can learn Zulu dance moves from local youths and enjoy drinks and snacks that have been pushed across the hillside on a wheelbarrow. Further north, on a hillside above the Inanda Valley, the equally radiant smile of Ma Solani Mtshali is like a bright beacon attracting visitors who trudge up the hill to her homestead

3 of picturesque turquoise rondavels. Ma Mtshali, who is a widow and the main breadwinner of her family, heads the Masimbonge craft cooperative of 30 women who have supplied beaded products to Africa!Ignite and other clients for more than a decade. These days, Mma Mtshali also welcomes visiting tourists into her home for tea, while she and group members teach them to make beaded Zulu love-letters. And she is in the process of transforming one of her family’s rondavels into homestay accommodation for tourists. Zonke and Solani are only two of about 400 women, youths and other rural entrepreneurs who have benefited from participation in WOWZULU Responsible Tourism. WOWZULU is a sustainable, community-based tourism initiative of Africa!Ignite, a non-profit rural development agency that provides support to rural women, youth and emerging entrepreneurs across KwaZulu-Natal. The goal of WOWZULU Responsible Tourism is to create income for previously excluded community tourism enterprises who are on the doorstep of popular tourist destinations, by linking them into the wider tourism offering of the destination. The WOWZULU team supports the development of these enterprises through sustained training and mentoring, as well as strong international and national marketing and sales support. The crux of the WOWZULU model is the creation of ‘inclusive tourist destinations’, which fuse the established commercial and emerging community-based tourism components in a tourist destination into a larger, more diverse and more interesting tourism offer. In the process, the community benefits economically and socially, the wider destination benefits from greater tourist appeal, and tourists benefit because they have a greater range of attractions and experiences to choose from. WOWZULU positions a WOWZULU Marketplace at the interface between the ‘commercial’ and ‘community’ components of the destination, as a gateway into the community tourism area. WOWZULU Marketplaces, which

WOWZULU TOURISM

are typically housed in brightly painted, ‘transformed’ shipping containers, become models of ‘green’ environmental practices. The WOWZULU model responds to the needs of a new and rapidly increasing generation of international tourists who want to enjoy ‘authentic experiences’, meet local people and know that their visit benefits the local economy, society and environment. Gary Wilson, Product Purchasing Director of the TUI Group, the world’s largest buyer of tourism products, describes the trend as follows: ‘Customers are clear: They want authenticity and local flavour – authentic engagements with local communities. People love good news stories and tourists love to see that their travels benefit local communities.’ The South African Jobs Fund and a range of other partners have funded the roll-out of the WOWZULU model into seven ‘inclusive’ destinations across KwaZulu-Natal, from the Mozambique border in the north to the Drakensberg in the West and into the Eastern Cape in the South. The map below gives an indication of where these are: Because of KwaZulu-Natal’s wealth of natural beauty and wildlife, almost all of these destinations include a nature/conservation area as the main tourist attraction: game reserves and other conservation areas; beaches or the majestic Drakensberg Mountains. WOWZULU ensures that previously excluded, emerging entrepreneurs in communities on the doorstep of these areas benefit from tourism into the area. Africa!Ignite markets the destinations through a WOWZULU marketing portal and booking agent; social media; brochures and partnerships with tour operators, local hotels and lodges. On-going support includes the development and packaging of marketable craft and tourism products; start-up subsidies for the Marketplaces; and on-going capacity-building, mentoring and support for community tourism and craft. Africa!Ignite only gets involved at the request of local stakeholders, and representative Steering Committees THE TOURISM HANDBOOK

WOWZULU TOURISM

guide developments in each area. Early in 2017, WOWZULU embarked on a process of enhancing the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the inclusive tourist destinations and helping at least one of them to move towards full international certification as a ‘sustainable destination’. This is being done in partnership with the United Nations Environmental Programme’s 10 Year Programme for Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP), the South African National Department of Tourism, Better Tourism and other key partners. WOWZULU’s slogan is ‘Be wowed by the Zulu heartland’. The focus is not on staged ‘cultural villages’, but on opportunities for tourists to get actively involved in aspects of the daily lives of communities. There is no need for large-scale investments in new infrastructure, and most of the tourism experiences are eco-friendly, ‘slow’ tourism.

EXISTING WOWZULU COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM IN 7 ‘INCLUSIVE DESTINATIONS’:

Isandlwana, KZN Battlefields Site of a famed Zulu victory over the British in 1879 and of the Fugitives’ Trail, along which British soldiers fled down to the Umzinyathi River. Community-based tourism experiences centre on Isandlwana Village. The friendly team of the WOWZULU Marketplace in the Isandlwana Museum sell locally-made gifts and run a coffee shop on the veranda outside. From the Marketplace, tourists can go on a village walk, cycle to a neighbouring village, hike along the Fugitive’s Trail or visit Mma Berthina Khumalo’s successful craft cooperative at nearby Nondweni, whose embroidery on recycled mealie bags sells worldwide,. The ‘inclusive tourist destination’ includes the Isandlwana Lodge, Fugitive’s Drift, Rorke’s Drift Hotel and supportive tour operators who bring tourists to the Marketplace.

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KHULA VILLAGE, ST LUCIA, ISIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK St Lucia is a popular resort at the southern tip of the Isimangaliso World Heritage site with its 220 km wild coastline, lake systems and rich wildlife in its lakes and grasslandsw. Community-based experiences in Khula Village, on the main road into St Lucia, include great coffee and story-telling at the WOWZULU Marketplace, bicycle rides through the village and planting trees, bought from local ‘treepreneurs’, to reclaim the forest. THE INANDA VALLEY OUTSIDE DURBAN The Inanda Valley, inland of Durban, is known as ‘the cradle of South Africa’s democracy’. The Inanda Heritage Route takes in the former homes of two renowned human rights activists, first ANC President John Langalibalele Dube and Mahatma Gandhi. The WOWZULU Marketplace is in the grounds of the Ohlange Institute, a school established by John Dube. Beyond the heritage route, Inanda is home to a vibrant peri-urban culture. Tourists can enjoy village walks, eat and drink at local establishments, learn beading at Mma Mtshali’s, stay in a local b&b, or get active on or around the Inanda dam. EMAZIZINI, AMPHITHEATRE, NORTHERN DRAKENSBERG eMazizini Village lies below the 1 km high wall of the Amphitheatre, most iconic section of the 1000 km-long Drakensberg World Heritage Site. From the WOWZULU Marketplace in eMazizini, tourists can go on village walks, learn to weave a basket or join this farming community in activities such as planting, harvesting or herding cattle. They can also take an afternoon tractor-trailer ride up the slopes of the mountain above the village, to enjoy spectacular views over the Amphitheatre

3 and the village below as the sun sets. These activities are a welcome addition to the mountain climbing and hiking for which most tourists come here. The ‘inclusive destination’ includes about 12 neighbouring hotels, lodges and resorts who support the community-based tourism. THE ILEMBE DISTRICT, NORTH COAST The North Coast, also known as the Dolphin Coast, is a popular and rapidly growing coastal resort area directly north of Durban’s King Shaka International Airport. At the WOWZULU Marketplace in iLembe, based at the Sangweni Tourism Information Centre in Ballito, tourists can buy local craft products or enjoy a great coffee and ‘taste of local’ food. iLembe is central to the cultural heritage of both the Zulu King Shaka and first African Nobel Peace winner Chief Albert Luthuli. Tourist experiences include a walk through the area where John Dube lived and died, or a ‘birds and bees’ tour that includes birding in coastal forests as well as a visit to a passionate bee-keeper. THE HIBISCUS COAST ON THE SOUTH COAST (KWANZIMAKWE AND NYANDEZULU AREAS), UGU DISTRICT The Hibiscus Coast is South Africa’s favourite domestic ‘beach holiday’ destination. Traditionally, tourism has been strung out along the coast line, with the N2 and R61 roads separating the coastal tourism zone from impoverished rural communities on tribal lands. WOWZULU has changed that. New tourism experiences include the WILD2SOUTH COAST WALK, a varied 5-day beach walk from Mtentu Lodge on the Wild Coast, Eastern Cape to the Whale View Deck and popular Waffle House in Ramsgate to the north. The KWANZIMAKWE and NYANDEZULU tribal areas both offer authentic connections with friendly communities on high hills and ‘holy mountains’ above the sea.

WOWZULU TOURISM

THE FAR NORTH AROUND TEMBE ELEPHANT PARK AND NDUMO GAME RESERVE This wild Far Northern part of KwaZulu-Natal, south of the Mozambique border, stretches from the Swaziland border in the West to coastal Kosi Bay and the Isimangaliso Wetland Park in the East. Community-based experiences are focused around Tembe Elephant Park, home to Africa’s largest tuskers, and Ndumo Game Reserve, prime destination for bird-watchers. The dynamic fusion of Zulu, Thonga and Swazi culture in this corner of KZN has also provided exciting opportunities for cultural tourism and story-telling. In all of these areas, supportive established hotels, lodges and other tourist establishments form part of the ‘inclusive destinations’. The statement that ‘rural development is not for sissies’ is all too true. In each of the areas where WOWZULU operates, it continuously faces challenges ranging from long distances and poor infrastructure to the effects of dismally poor rural education and resultant low skills levels, local ‘politics’ and competition over scarce resources. Yet the rewards are huge: Seeing young people and women transformed as they ignite their own potential. And the WOWZULU team’s greatest strength is probably their staying power: they partner with communities for the long haul and continue to be available to cheer local entrepreneurs on and help them work through challenges. Thanks to support from the South African Jobs Fund, the National Department of Tourism and a range of other partners, Africa!Ignite now plans to strengthen the WOWZULU model and venture into other provinces with a transformed South Africa-wide WOWZA inclusive destination model. Our hope is that this will contribute to a transformation of the tourism sector, leading to greater involvement of communities in such a way that local economies, societies and environments across South Africa benefit.

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UNTWO

MONATE GAME LODGE

Monate Game Lodge is a haven of peace and tranquillity just waiting to be discovered. Located an easy 2-hour drive from O.R. Tambo Airport, close to Nylstroom/Modimolle, it’s the perfect venue for a weekend escape or corporate breakaway.

Relax in luxury in one of our 26 modern, open-plan en-suite rooms equipped with all the amenities necessary to make your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Each air-conditioned unit is equipped with DSTV, a mini-bar, electronic digital safe, hairdryer and coffee station. The rooms are tastefully decorated

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in simplistic tones with décor elements reminiscent of the bushveld, which begs exploration, while the superior quality linen and towels tempt you to linger a little longer. For the business traveller, each room has a desk fitted with multi-functional outlets to keep you connected. The lodge also offers Wi-Fi and a wireless telephone system in every room. Ideal for executives and honeymooners are the Shingwedzi Lodge and Skukuza Lodge—two superior units—decorated with a sophisticated blend of both Chinese and Colonial antiques, and offering private splash pools on the deck. Indulge

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in an environment where pampering and attention to detail are absolute. No excursion is complete without a memorable meal. At Monate Game Lodge, the dining experience is designed to tantalise your taste buds. We specialise in everything from venison to vegetarian dishes, served in different settings such as our unique, natural cave, in the bush or around the lodge campfire. For special occasions, we also offer picnic baskets to be enjoyed in a romantic setting with an unsurpassed view. The private game reserve is set in almost 2000 hectares of bush, open plains and a variety of interesting koppies. It is home to lion, buffalo, hippo, crocodile, zebra, and giraffe as well as a large variety of antelope. The birdlife is prolific, with Monate Game Lodge being only 10km from the Nylsvlei Reserve (a RAMSAR site), which is home to 46% of Southern Africa’s bird species. Monate Game Lodge is also proudly recognised as a Birder Friendly Establishment by Birdlife South Africa. Start your day off with a breathtaking sunrise, or admire the golden sunset from the back our game viewing vehicles. Our professional rangers aim to make your experience an unforgettable and enjoyable one by providing educational information on both the fauna and flora. Enjoy a drink and snack at one of our spectacular vantage points and simply revel in the beauty of nature as our rangers show you as much of our awe-inspiring gem as possible. The Monate Bush Spa is the new addition to our establishment, offering a variety of spa treatments. Enjoy a full range of treatments as the highlight of your visit or enjoy a relaxing massage during your leisure time at the lodge. Whichever option you choose, you’re sure to leave

feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. Additional activities include guided bush walks and clay pigeon shooting, or you could opt for something less active and lounge around one of the two sparkling swimming pools. Soak away your stresses in the Jacuzzi or enjoy a drink at the bar. The lounge is a haven of peace and quiet if you’d prefer solitude in which to read a good book, and the bar area is a buzz of activity on the weekends, with the sports being screened on the big screen television. Monate Game Lodge offers a state-ofthe-art conference centre, which is situated close to the lodge, for the discerning delegate to enjoy the tranquillity of the bush whilst conducting business in a productive environment. The centre can accommodate all seating styles and can hold a maximum of 120 delegates, with breakaway areas available. The conference centre includes fixed data projectors and screens, a plug-and-play AV-system, air-conditioning and Wi-Fi. This malaria-free location and setting are also ideal for teambuilding, which can be customised to suit individual needs. Weekend weddings with exclusive use of the premises are also popular. Natural ceremonies under a Marula or Rock Fig Tree, and Bush Boma receptions are the favourite choices for memorable “I do’s”. Come visit Monate Game Lodge and experience our superb customer service, heartfelt hospitality and true bushveld offering. For more information and reservations contact: Telephone: +27 14 718 7000 E-mail: info@monatelodge.com Website: www.monatelodge.com

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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Chapter 4 Engaging local communities in tourism By: Dr. Sue Snyman

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he UNWTO (2005) defines sustainable tourism as “Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities” and states that it should (UNWTO, 2005): 1) Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity. 2) Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance. 3) Ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation. Engaging with, and involving, local communities in tourism is, therefore, a key aspect of sustainable tourism. Communi-

Figure A illustrates the different types of impacts graphically.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

ty-based tourism (CBT) is a term which has been used broadly and means different things in different contexts. Technically, CBT is a product which is based in a community and to which tourists come. The term has, however, been more broadly used as any tourism that includes a community in some way and is thus actually, community-related tourism, not necessarily based in a community. This term will therefore be used in this chapter. Community-related tourism has the potential to contribute to the private sector’s quadruple bottom line, which includes contributions to conservation, community, culture and commerce (Wilderness Holdings, 2016). The inclusion of culture to the traditional triple bottom line of sustainability recognizes the potential positive and negative impacts which tourism can have on culture, including the culture of local communities, tourists and the tourism company. Community-related tourism can affect local communities in different ways. The community could own tourism products and engage other community members as per the below, or they can be involved in other through tourism businesses owned by others. The main impacts are through: • directly – i.e. when community members are employed by other tourism businesses, sell goods and services to tourism or have joint venture partnerships with tourism stakeholders; indirectly – i.e. when community members supply goods and services from related industries (e.g. tourism transfers), and through provision of services, (e.g. water and communication) • induced impacts, i.e. when tourism staff spending their salaries in their home town or when long-term changes in the economy and/or environment occur as a result of tourism.

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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Figure A: Community related impacts of tourism The below case study looks at three different examples of these impacts. It describes the numerous different options available to engage and involve local communities in tourism.

Case Study

Wilderness Safaris (WS) is a world-renowned ecotourism company with over 60 camps in seven countries, employing more than 2 600 staff (more than 70% from local communities and only 7% non-citizens). WS engages numerous communities and follows an integrated reporting system which includes comprehensive measuring of the quadruple bottom line. Three community partnerships which WS engages in are described in Table A

Governance and benefit-sharing

legislation has resulted in relative success for community-related tourism. Example 3: South Africa: a partnership between WS and the KwaMpukane Community Trust exists. Ten percent of the camp is owned by a Black Economic Empowerment company and 17.5% is owned by the KwaMpukane Community Trust. Eight point five percent of revenue, as well as annual turtle viewing fees are paid to the iSimangaliso Wetland Authority: a partnership between the private sector/ community and government. Snyman (2012, 2014) found that in private sector/community partnerships there are socio-economic benefits from the partnership for the community. However, the distribution of these benefits is often limited. This needs to be addressed in order to ensure that benefits are equitably shared and seen to be shared.

Example 1: Botswana. A lease agreement partnership exists between WS and the Okavango Community Trust (OCT). WS pays annual lease fees to the OCT and employs local community members: a community/private sector lease agreement. Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) was officially embraced in Botswana in 1989 with communities being given the right to use natural resources on the land. Originally most of the revenue was retained by the community but in 2008, this policy was revised, which resulted in communities retaining less revenue (Snyman, 2014).

Table A: Wilderness Safaris community partnerships

Example2: Namibia: 20% of ownership was gifted to the Torra Conservancy annually from years 10 to 15 of the partnership. Once they owned 100%, the community elected to sell 60% back to Wilderness Safaris, with the Conservancy keeping a 40% equity share: private sector/community joint venture partnership. In Namibia, enabling policy and supportive

Joint venture partnerships with an equity stake can also, however, present a number of risks to communities, which should be considered and managed. These risks are evident for example when tourism to an area declines or camp infrastructure upgrades are required. It is important to bear in mind that benefits may take a long time

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Table A shows that all the partnerships provide substantial financial, as well as non-financial benefits to local communities. Differences in the standards (e.g. quality, services and rates charged) adopted by the various tourism products, however, result in a different investment in staff numbers. This affects the benefits accrued to the community from the tourism camp. High-end ecotourism can, in this respect, contribute more to local communities through higher employment rates.

Torra Conservancy and WS

Okavango Community Trust (OCT) and WS

Namibia

Botswana

Partnership model

Rocktail Camp

Vumbura Plains, Little Vumbura

Joint venture

Lease partnership

Damaraland 40:60 joint Camp venture

Related Camp/s

34: beds adventurer camp

40 beds: classic and premier camp

28 beds: classic camp

Number of beds

Community Trust, BEE partner, Private Sector and Local Government

ZAR 3 030 210

ZAR 113 520

ZAR 18 485 700 ZAR 2 974 740

Community Trust & Private Sector

ZAR 971 370

Annual value of partnership to community (2015-2016)

ZAR 2 585 160

Annual value spent on staff costs* (2015-2016)

Community Conservancy & Private Sector

Stakeholders

Source: Wilderness Holdings, 2016 *These include wages, bonuses, training, uniforms, transport and food.

South Africa Mpukane Community and WS

Partnership

Country

Benefits to community

Local employment skills; training and development empowerment

Annual lease fee; local employment; skills training and development

Local employment; skills training and development; empowerment

Total payments (2015-2016)

ZAR 3 556 530

ZAR 21 460 440

ZAR 3 143 730

4 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

to be realized, can fluctuate over time and can be impacted by numerous direct and indirect factors. Over and above direct payments and contributions to the local and national economy in all three examples, there are numerous multiplier and indirect impacts resulting from staff spending their salaries in their home villages and expenditures on goods and services, locally and nationally. When setting up a tourism business, the usual questions need to be considered in conjunction with specific community-related tourism questions, e.g.: • Do communities want equity share and joint venture partnerships? • What benefits will the community receive? • What benefits will the private sector receive? • How will benefits be distributed? • What does the community bring to the partnership? • What does the private sector bring to the partnership? • What skills are required by the community? Who will do training? • How will community employees be

selected? • Are transparent and accountable processes and systems in place for all aspects of the partnership, especially benefit-sharing? • How will the community be empowered through the partnership? • What is the long-term succession plan in the partnership? It is important that the community has a clear understanding of the risks, benefits, challenges and opportunities available to them in terms of each option, e.g. with equity share the risks are greater than those related to a pure lease agreement, though the empowerment benefits can, if managed correctly, be greater with an equity partnership. The willingness and desire of the private sector to engage with and make a positive difference to the communities welfare is also important to consider and will impact on the level of benefit to the community. Overall, what is important is that there is a clear link between benefits received by the community and the associated tourism and that all partnerships are mutually beneficial, empowering and sustainable.

References • Snyman, S. (2012). Ecotourism joint ventures between the private sector and communities: An updated analysis of the Torra Conservancy and Damaraland Camp partnership, Namibia, Tourism Management Perspectives, 4, 127-135. • Snyman, S. (2014). Partnerships between private sector ecotourism operators and local communities in the Okavango Delta, Botswana: A case study of the Okavango Community Trust and Wilderness Safaris partnership. Journal of Ecotourism, 13 (2-3), 110-127. DOI: 10.1080/14724049.2014.980744 • UNWTO (2005) Making Tourism More Sustainable - A Guide for Policy Makers, UNEP and UNWTO, 2005, p.11-12. • Wilderness Holdings (2016). Integrated Annual Report.

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Dudubrook Quilting Loft (Pty)Ltd Our History Dudubrook Quilting Loft (Pty) Ltd was established in 2008 and operated as a home-based business for the first 5 years. All the production activities were carried out from Notwane, a settlement located just on the outskirts of Gaborone. In October 2013, we opened shop at Fairgrounds Mall-expanding the scope of services and products-where we still currently operate from.

Our Mission To be the leading manufacturer and exporter of high-quality quilts and related products in Botswana and to empower local citizens with quilting skills and knowledge through our training programmes.

Our Products Quilts We manufacture quilts of any size, shape and to suit any purpose. You may place your orders according to your own design or visit our shop to view our current stock. You may also choose from a wide selection of pre-made patterns and designs. Quilting material We supply a full range of materials that any quilter may require to successfully complete their project, all under one roof. You will find

a wide selection of local and imported fabrics; we also supply batting, all essential quilting supplies and accessories, cutting tools, rulers, books, patterns and magazines. Machinery We are an authorised distributor of the Swiss made BERNINA machines since 2012. Machines range from basic to highly advanced and computer-operated, and are suitable for both domestic and industrial use for sewing, quilting, embroidery and other specialised tasks. All machinery comes with a manufacturer’s quality guarantee, free operational training and machinery maintenance and service support. Training We offer quilting classes from beginners’ level to advanced level. Our training is provided by the Director, who is accredited with the Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA), providing recognised courses in quilting. Most of the training activities are conducted from our Fairgrounds facility, which has ample space and is fully-equipped.

Contact Information Tel I Fax: +lh7 3923287 • Mobile:+26771320171 E-mail: dudubrook@hotmail.com • Web: www.dudubrookguiltingloft.com P.O. Box 25283, Gaborone, Botswana Shop G3,82, Fairground Mall, Plot 28562, Samora Machel Drive, Gaborone

RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT

Chapter 5

Rights and responsibilities – Contracts between communities and tourism investors.

By: Steve Collins

ost tourism investment has a good chance of failing, with successful ecotourism businesses having to overcome numerous challenges to get where they are today. The most basic requirement for success is that the investor has a legal right and obligation to build and run a tourism business. In Africa exactly who has the right to use land can be hard to pin down. It could be a range of landowners from government, to private owners or “owned” and used by the local indigenous community. The African Safari Foundation was set up to facilitate fair tourism concessions between private investors and community groups who have tourism rights.

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Why use community land for tourism?

One of the legacies of Africa’s colonial heritage is that Africans were forced off their ancestral land, some of which was used for conservation of biodiversity. The previously hostile relationship between communities and these protected areas is improving. Communities are having their land transferred back to them or they have been given rights to use the land for tourism and sustainable hunting. Conservationists now realize that the only way they can protect biodiversity indefinitely is to show tangible benefits to neighboring communities. The current scourge of Rhino poaching will only stop in the long term when the poachers’ communities see the benefits that rhino watching tourists bring. In the meantime, a

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law enforcement program is trying to stop poachers but cannot be funded indefinitely. In 2003 South Africa hosted the IUCN’s World Park Congress under the theme “Benefits beyond Boundaries”, the key focus of which was to illustrate the linkages between conservation and community wellbeing. Tourism is one of the few ways a community can benefit directly from conservation. Conservation of land rightfully excludes large scale agriculture and mining. If a community owns land and they can partner with a tourism operator to use their land with its natural assets. Through this relationship, the local community can create jobs, earn lease fees and offer support services to the operator. These benefits build long term support for conservation and tourism amongst rural communities. However, building this relationship requires commitment from both sides. A fair process to set-up good agreements between the tourism investor and the community is essential. The community should be represented by a legally constituted community based organization (CBO) such as a trust, a tribal authority, a communal property association, community conservancy and others. The CBOs should get legal advice in the process and have a third party facilitate the process of discussions, agreements and eventually monitor the implementation of the agreements. The facilitator needs to be

Their removal was a forced one and the community had to settle in their current area next to the Kruger National Park and rebuild their livelihoods. However, in 1998, the land was returned to the Makuleke community, who chose to leave it with the Kruger Park system and use it to generate development funds and jobs. Their 22000 hectares is home to 80% of the biodiversity and one of the few community-owned Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance. There are now world-famous five-star lodges in the area that employ community members and pay rental to the Makuleke Communal Property Association as well as subsidise conservation of the area.

Example of AFS involvement: The Makuleke people’s history dates back to the 1820s, when the Makuleke clan settled on the land between the Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers, which forms the border between Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. In 1969, the apartheid government forced the Makuleke off their land and extended the Kruger National Park northwards to the Limpopo.

The African Safari Foundation (ASF)

Source: http://www.asl-foundation.org/pages/makuleke-kruger-national-park/ trusted by both the CBO and private investor and can be an NGO or the government conservation agency. Typically, these lease agreements need to run for at least 15 years as they are for highend large capital investments and take at least 10 years to recover their building costs. They are often renewable for at least another decade and the contracts need to be well drafted and legally binding as well as being able stand the test of time and the numerous unforeseen events that take place.

The ASF was formed in 2003 out of the experience of the early community/private sector contracts supported by the German and South African Government’s Training and Support for Resource Management (TRANSFORM) program. The ASF was built on work done by Mafisa Research and Development who were a consultancy that

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represented rural communities. The ASF works mainly in South Africa, Namibia and Mozambique, and implements a development program designed to enhance the positive contribution of safari lodges and other forms of tourism to rural livelihoods. Over the last five years, the ASF has facilitated sustainable tourism businesses at 26 rural sites involving: • 28 communities in Mozambique, South Africa and Namibia with more than 50 000 members; • 22 private businesses, 11 government agencies and 25 NGO and donor partners; • New capital expenditure of just under US$54 million; • Over 900 new full-time local jobs with an annual payroll of just over US$4,4 million; and • Annual income of more than US$3,4 million for the partner communities. This has given us wealth of experience and real cases where we have learnt some useful lessons.

Lessons learnt

4.1) Community rights are the starting point Negotiations with a community should only commence when you can clearly illustrate the involvement of a CBO that has a written right to discuss use of the potential tourism facility. By 2014 the Namibian communal conservancy tourism sector had attracted more than N$145 million in 29 joint venture businesses. The sector generates more than US$5,7 million in annual income for rural communities and supports more than 1000 jobs in some of the country’s poorest districts. This was made possible by the Namibian government, devolving tourism

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rights to properly constituted community conservancies. In South Africa, the successful community linked projects only occurred after a settled land claim e.g. in Makuleke, or where a government conservation agency gave concessions they could have awarded directly to a private sector to two neighboring communities in eg. in the Madikwe Game Reserve. 4.2) An ethical and engaged private investor is essential Community/private sector agreements require more work when compared to straight government/private sector concessions. The investor will need to engage with the community to understand the issues leadership face in poor rural areas. If the operator does not make the effort to attend regular meetings and deal with community dynamics when hiring staff or looking for services, then a different type agreement may be required. On the plus side if investors can rightly claim having a positive social impact on community lives if they pay the lease fee when they are due, pay good wages and highlight the community link to guests. Tourists are happy to hear that a part of their money is going to help improve schooling, help with bursaries and increasing community support for conservation. Unfortunately, we have had experiences with unethical operators that see the community as a weak partner and do not pay the lease fees claiming the business is not doing well. These same operators did find money to pay for their management cost. This highlights the need for ongoing monitoring by a third party like the conservation agency or a supporting NGO.

4.3) There are tangible and intangible benefits The community/private sector partnership model produces tangible benefits such as local jobs and lease fee income, which the CBO can use for community development. In addition, it attracts donations from investors or guests. These can be accounted for and pointed to by all stakeholders. However, there are a host of “intangible benefits” which the community and those critical of the model often do not consider. Having a functioning CBO that needs to relate to the tourism investor means they are more organized than other communities and can facilitate non-tourism related development. Communities such as the Makuleke have lots to be proud of. They own a piece of valuable high biodiversity land that is sustainably employing 100 community members. Their success story is well known throughout the conservation and environment world. The Makuleke model is included in geography courses of school students in Germany as well as in South Africa. Every year, around 30 conservation professionals from Southern Africa come to the village as part of the Southern African Wildlife College’s CBNRM course. This attention has boosted the self-esteem and pride of individual community members who are confident and capable. 4.4) Agree on a minimum lease fee Most of the agreements are Build-Operate-Transfer agreements, where the private business invests the initial capital to build the lodge, operates it for a set number of years and then transfers the facility in good working order to the community who will now own a functioning lodge. The community can then run the operations themselves or appoint an operator to manage it

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on their behalf. The lease fee agreements currently typically state fees of around 10% of turnover. However, the initial agreements that were set up did not include a guaranteed lease fee. This meant that when the lodges’ performance dropped, through no fault of the community, the community received very little money. This raised questions about whether the investors’ intentions were to own private lodge and were therefore not really concerned about maintaining high occupancies. This also impacted planning of community development initiatives by the CBO, as they received variable and unpredictable income, which in turn created disappointment in the broader community. 4.5 Education is the best long-term investment in social infrastructure In 2016, many of the community partners’ villages are better off than their neighbours’ villages. While they remain close to the poverty line, constant tourism job income has helped to improve their houses and rural lives. Teachers are often part of the CBO leadership and they motivate the improvement of school buildings and facilities. Many of the graduates of the improved schools are now middle class income earners in urban areas, and they send money back to the village.

Conclusion

With confirmed tourism rights, communities have a chance to enter beneficial contracts with private investors. Like most relationships, community/private sector partnerships need improvement and constant communication if they are to succeed. However, when they are successful, they offer a rewarding experience for the community and investor alike, they benefit conservation in the long-term and provide world class tourism experiences.

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AGRITOURISM

Chapter 6 Sustainable Agritourism

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By: Dr Jacqui Taylor

ince 2000 some of the most extensively researched topics within tourism studies have been tourism and local economic development (Hall, Campos, 2014). Although the economic benefits of Agritourism development has been identified as a topic in need of greater research attention (Jeczmyk, 2014), Agritourism is viewed as a catalyst for revitalizing troubled rural agrarian economies and local employment creation for small town revival. Agritourism plays a vital role in educating adults and children. The Association of Agritourism seeks to promote authentic farm tourism experiences with education as one of its pillars. “Widespread unemployment and poverty, crime and a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS are everyday realities in South Africa. Many of these issues play out at Farm Level. Addressing them and meeting the needs of people is essential in securing a sustainable farming future” (WWF SA) Although governments do budget for tourism initiatives, the overwhelming majority of this activity occurs in cities, towns and on game farms. Farmers are on the whole not benefiting from the tourism boom and each year agriculture sheds approximately 120 000 jobs. Agritourism has the potential to partially reverse this process and put people to work who would otherwise be idle. What is Agritourism? Agritourism is a commercial business at a working farm or agricultural operation conducted for the enjoyment of visitors that generates supplemental income for the owner. It is a form of niche tourism that is considered a growth industry in many parts of

AGRITOURISM

the world, including South Africa. The Association of Agritourism South Africa (AASA) is an NPO (non-profit organisation) that promotes sustainable Agritourism development in South Africa by creating an environment in which farmers and farming communities can implement Agritourism initiatives with the assistance of the Association. This newly established NPO has the enhancement of Agritourism at every level of South African farming as its objective. The AASA assists farmers with advice on how to unlock the tourism potential and farm experience for visitors as well as how to develop accommodation options, whether this be backpacker or guesthouse type accommodation. The AASA will create an information hub highlighting tourism farm experiences across the country allowing tourists (Foreign and South African) to incorporate Agritourism into their travel plans. Each farm that is included in the AASA needs to meet certain criteria or be in the process of meeting certain criteria. These are: • The development of Biodiversity initiatives on their farms. • The promotion of entrepreneurship amongst farm workers so they can benefit from Agritourism. • The development of environmental awareness amongst farming communities. • The promotion of gender equality amongst farm workers. • The promotion of buying and supporting locally made products and produce. • The development of sustainable farming practises. As an example, Botswana’s Department of Tourism is also encouraging Agritourism. It is accepting applications to li-

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cence tourism accommodation on farms, but only legally licensed working farms that allocated 15% of the farm’s entire area would qualify. When the farm does not continue with its farming activities, the licence is revoked. Agritourism in Zanzibar is well established with the Spice route being a major attraction for tourists who want to learn about the many types of spices grown there. Farmers know the importance of using water wisely, of recycling and compost making, of saving energy, of looking after the soil and eating seasonal produce – they have been doing this without any pressure being imposed on them. Farmers can teach urbanites and city dwellers about where their food comes from, what the challenges are, why when there is a drought, food becomes more expensive. Agritourism plays a vital role in educating adults and children. The Association of Agritourism seeks to promote authentic farm tourism experiences with education as one of its pillars. There are many different types of sustainable Agritourism in South Africa. A very good example of Agritourism, where the farmer is involved, is the farm Skeiding near Heidelberg, (featured on agritourismsouthafrica.com website). The farmer and his wife, have tourists coming from around the world, for a farm experience which includes going with the farmer early in the morning for a drive (he has converted a bakkie into a seating ‘game drive’ vehicle) where the agritourists help him with his ostriches, sheep and cattle. The experience is very educational (children and adults), for example, tourists are given the opportunity to ‘blow’ the ostrich egg out of the shell and learn about the bird at the same time. After the tour, breakfast is served (scrambled ostrich egg) and the farmer sits down with the tourist to talk about farming in South Africa. Each Agritourist is then

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given a certificate listing the activities they have participated in on the farm. The farm experience on Skeiding is fully booked for months on end. Another example of a sustainable Agritourism is the farm, Kersefontein, outside Hopefield. Not only has the farmer, Julian Melck, identified the film industry as a steady source of income, but he also offers Agritourists the opportunity to sit down to a formal supper with him in the old manor house (the farm has been in the same family since 1770) where local delicacies and wines are served by the farmer himself. Agritourists really get the feel of a working farm as they see him working with his cattle, sheep, baling wheat etc. For those Agritourists who want to learn about organic agriculture or permaculture, there are several farms that offer an educational experience - Tierhoek, Numbi, Foxenberg (all featured on agritourismsouthafrica.com website) - to name a few. All of these border nature reserves and offer a sense of serenity, that many Agritourists seek. However not all Agritourism needs to include accommodation. Farmers and their staff can show tourists how to milk goats and make cheese, or bake bread. Ideally tourists could encourage sustainability by asking relevant questions, for example, regarding soap, “Why do we need to import soap/shampoo from overseas”? Surely, the farmer can assist by asking crafts teachers to teach those not employed on the farm, how to make local craft/products? The tourist bears the responsibility to ask questions, and should be encouraged to do soto facilitate and encourage sustainable development in all areas. The Agritourist needs to take into account that the farmer is a busy person. Visitors from cities have a very different perspective about farming – farmers do not sit around drinking coffee all day long. They

are busy and do not like to be frequently disturbed. They also value their privacy. The Agritourist should listen very carefully to all instructions at the beginning of the visit. If a farmer asks the tourist not to go near the piglets because of the sow, he means it. The Agritourist needs to respect the Farmer’s requests in order to ensure that no children or adults get hurt – remember Agritourism includes working farms only. The tourist is not entitled to pick fruit from trees or play with the calves without the Farmer’s prior permission. Our farmers are very aware that Agritourists may start fires on their farms and this is a great concern to them that tourists do not understand the danger of leaving braai coals unattended. Agritourism can also be found on farms that have been allocated to emerging farmers by the government. In general, the land is leased from the State for a certain period of time. In this situation, the creation of mountain biking or hiking routes tends to be the only Agritourism option on farms. Sporting bodies should support the development of these routes and assist the emerging farmers. Adventure or active Agritourism needs to be encouraged in rural areas. One of our emerging farmers, Andre Cloete, is farming near Genandendal. Andre is a highly successful and very busy farmer, but he identified opportunities for his sons to become involved in Agritourism on the farm. Many young people in

AGRITOURISM

South Africa cannot find work, including graduates from agricultural colleges and Agritourism can play an important role here as well. Cities in South Africa cannot cope with a continual influx of people hoping for work – this is simply unsustainable. The interest in Agritourism is very noticeable on the Face Book page. “Agritourism” is the heart and soul of rural economic development. You see rural families utilizing their land and offering their experiences for people to come and enjoy, thus producing a better situation economically for these small communities.” Lori Coats, Western Oklahoma Coordinator, United States. International studies show that between 1997 and 2007, nature and agricultural-based tourism was the fastest growing sector of the US travel and tourism industry. Rural tourism growth in Europe is three times greater than the increase in tourism in general. There is no reason for the growth of Agritourism, in South Africa, to be any less spectacular. South Africa cannot afford to have rural towns and communities die off. The trade must participate in rural and agricultural tourism to ensure that visitors, national and international, have the opportunity to meet the ‘real’ South Africa. For more information, contact Jacqui@agritourismsouthafrica.com or view the website www.agritourismsouthafrica.com.

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ADVERTORIAL

PROTECTING AND DEVELOPING THE SOUTH COAST’S BLUE PARADISE

of economic opportunities such as scuba diving operations, shark cage diving, whale and dolphin watching and controlled fishing charters. The South Coast has a well established tourism offering with a number of registered operators experienced in providing these services to travellers. In addition, the blue economy also supports eco-tourism to the hinterland, where the offering turns mainly to adventure and cultural tourism.

South Africa’s South Coast, known as the Paradise of the Zulu Kingdom, is blessed with 39 bathing beaches on a 112km coastline from Scottburgh to Port Edward, the warm Indian Ocean, and a subtropical climate that allows the sunny region to claim “Your 365 destination”. With the beaches and ocean-related activities the South Coast’s main draw card, tourism forms the primary economic sector in this region. Summer Season alone brings in about R1billion per annum. So it’s not surprising that the blue economy is getting special attention for the purposes of development and growth. Ugu Maritime Strategy In 2016, the Lindon Corporation was appointed to collaborate with all stakeholders in the Ugu district and develop a Maritime Strategy, which would align with key national and provincial maritime initiatives such as Operation Phakisa and the KZN Maritime Strategy. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) offer a number

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Expanded Marine Protected Area Also in 2016, the Minister of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, has proposed an expanded Marine Protected Area (MPA) that will include world-renowned diving sites off the South Coast shore, namely Aliwal Shoal, Protea Banks and Trafalgar, which aims to further safeguard the South Coast’s marine biodiversity, protect critical hotspots and care for the marine and coastal resources. Says Justin Mackrory, CEO of Ugu South Coast Tourism, “With the entire marine economy em-

ADVERTORIAL

ploying some 12668 people and the value of oceanic tourism estimated at 25-35% of the total tourism sector’s tourism revenue yields, we should be appreciative of the innate value our coast has for the economy. To sustain the appeal we clearly have there is an imperative that responsible and sustainable coastal management occurs and it is for this reason that each local municipality has to be responsible for local coastal management plans, partially to ensure that the environmental integrity of our ocean and estuaries continue in a healthy state.” Many of our linefish species are under threat from climate change, pollution, acidification and irresponsible fishing practices. MPAs are used as an effective measure in protecting marine species for future generations, which at the same time benefits tourism. Worldwide less than 4% of the ocean is protected and in South Africa the figure is less than half a percent, with a set target of 15% by 2028.

Aliwal Shoal Divers, including Jacques Cousteau, have celebrated Aliwal Shoal for as long as diving has been around. The site, about 5km off shore from Scottburgh, is where the sailing vessel Aliwal nearly wrecked due to a huge rock on a shoal in 1849. Today, this site is home to hard and soft coral, a rich variety of more than 1200 tropical and subtropical fish species, including rays, eels, dolphins, octopus, turtles, sharks such as ragged tooth and tiger sharks, whales and whale sharks. Two wrecks, the MV Produce and SS Nebo, can be explored nearby.

Protea Banks Only 8km off shore from Shelly Beach, is one of the top shark dive sites in the world. Experience is required due to the depth, 8-40m, and current, but soft cage diving is offered to those who are not as skilled. At least seven shark species aggregate at the reef with frequent sightings of Zambezi, Tiger, Ragged Tooth and Hammerhead sharks. For the ultimate adventure dive, witness the Sardine Run migratory spectacle, when thousands of pelagic predators feast on millions of sardines. Trafalgar Trafalgar extends approximately 4.8km along the South Coast and one nautical mile offshore. Trafalgar MPA was declared primarily to protect a fossilized Cretaceous forest discovered in 1979. Together with adjacent Mpenjati Nature Reserve, the MPA aims to preserve sandy seabeds, seaweed-covered rock reefs, intertidal rocks, sandy beaches, coastal forest dunes, dune forests, estuary, salt marsh, freshwater wetland containing “palmiet” sedge and ilala palm grassland. This reserve may in future be incorporated into the proposed “Pondoland” MPA, which would extend into the northern part of the Eastern Cape. For more information: Justin Mackrory, Ugu South Coast Tourism CEO – ceo@tourismsouthcoast.co.za Fikisa Pupuma, KZN EDTEA GM: Trade & Sector Development – Fikiswa.pupuma@kznedtea.gov. za

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ADVENTUREPRENEURS

Chapter 7 Adventurepreneurs

outh Africa is often described as a country made for entrepreneurs and indeed it is full of them. It is a land of opportunity and adventure, the perfect environment for people willing to take a few risks and get their hands dirty. In line with global trends, the Adventure Tourism (AT) market is growing rapidly in South Africa. Tourism contributed 3% to the South African National Economy in 2014, which was higher than the agricultural sector at 2.5%, and provided employment to an estimated 680 817 individuals in that year (www.statssa.gov.za). Adventure Tourism is a sub-set of traditional tourism, and involves multi-day or single day â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;toursâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (or paid for experiences) that involve some element of outdoor activity. According to the South African

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By Matthew Drew

Adventure Tourism Survey (2014), adventure tourism (excluding safaris and cultural tours) in South Africa generated R4.6 billion. AT, (excluding adventure venues, safaris and third parties) provided 25 000 people with employment - 14 000 were employed on a full-time basis and 11 000 on a parttime basis. Among those employed were 5 283 full-time adventure guides and 5 150 part-time adventure guides. As evidenced by the above statistics, adventure tourism makes up a sizeable part of the tourism economy. However, it is the view of many tourism professionals that the development of the AT market in South Africa is in its infancy. AT represents an excellent space and opportunity through which to facilitate transformation of the tourism sector and to include rural communities in tourism development. Much of the AT

development that has taken place in South Africa has been informal and it has been driven largely by the private sector. The N3 Gateway Tourism Association conducted research into the composition of tourism businesses along the N3 corridor in November 2013. Figure 1 shows the breakdown of the 1 500 businesses by category and illustrates that more than 60% of the 1 500 businesses fall under the accommodation category. N3 Gateway has recognized that to grow tourism along the corridor, it needed to facilitate the development of within the other categories that make up the balance of the businesses. To increase tourism revenue along the route, it is necessary to increase the average number of bed nights per month. To achieve this, tourists need to be encouraged to spend longer periods in the destinations that they visit or to visit the destination more frequently. The N3 Gateway also recognizes the fact that many leisure tourists plan their holidays based on the types of activities they like to do. With this in mind, the N3 Gateway began developing itineraries for a number of activity types and categories including mountain biking, hiking, birding, fishing, history, paragliding and many others. There was a strong tendency towards outdoor or nature-based activities as the route lends itself to these. However, it became apparent that there was a lack of activities, outdoor facilities, guides and tour operators in many of the areas along the route. Based on the gaps that exist and the need for inclusive tourism growth and development along the N3 corridor, the N3 Gateway has included Enterprise Development and Transformation as one of the four pillars of its Revised Strategy for 2016 to 2018. Although the barriers to entry are relatively low when it comes to the adventure tourism market, there is still a need to put

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Origins of the Adventure Tourism Incubator Project: Karkloof: In the case of the Karkloof, Hylton Turvey has followed his passion for mountain biking and trail development into a career as a trail builder. In doing this, he has trained seven local community members to clear and build the trails with him acting as a mentor and employer to the individuals. Hylton employed one woman, who would open new trails by hoeing ahead of the team. Many of the individuals have moved onto other work, and one person passed away, but all gained valuable experience and at times employment through Hyltonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business. One trail building apprentice in particular, Jay Ngubane, has taken to the work, the lifestyle and mountain biking as an activity, and is Hyltonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s permanent employee, travelling with him to Johannesburg and Cape Town as his business grows. Hylton has now trained a crew of six people at the PWC bike park in Johannesburg to facilitate the maintenance and upkeep of the parks trails and built features. The Karkloof MTB Club, for certain types of work, hires Hylton and his team. This system has worked relatively well over the past few years but the opportunity exists to close the gaps that have been identified in the current trail building and maintenance system. in place mechanisms to assist and empower previously disadvantaged individuals in becoming involved. Instead of creating entirely new initiatives, the N3 Gateway has chosen to identify already existing programmes and projects, with a view to creating partnerships. One such opportunity is an Adventure Tourism Incubator (ATI) Project, which is has been identified as a

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ADVENTUREPRENEURS

mechanism for skills development, job creation and social upliftment. The N3 Gateway along with the Sappi MTB Project has been developing this con-

cept for the past year. Essentially it involves the upskilling and development of a team of individuals who can deliver services such as trail building and maintenance. Then, through further training and mentorship, the team would progress to the level of trail guides, bike mechanics, skills trainers and perhaps even tour operators. A pilot of the ATI has been proposed in the Karkloof and Clarens areas where well established trail networks currently exist. These networks have developed over time, in fact in the case of the Karkloof network the development has taken place over a period of more than 25 years. As part of their focus on sustainability and due to the need to formalize the trails that had developed on their properties, Sappi launched its MTB Project in August 2011. The project focusses on the development of both recreational and competitive riding on their properties. Events such as the Sappi Howick Classic, Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail

Table 1: Economic Impact Study/ Assessment of Mountain Biking Tourism This is a good example of adventure tourism development. It has obviously taken a long time, volunteer work and a fair amount of investment from sponsors like Sappi to reach this point but it in 2014 the Karkloof trails were rated the best in South Africa by Bicycling Magazine. In addition, the trails are becoming known amongst the international mountain biking community, which includes 5 million cyclists in the UK and more than 50 million cyclists in the USA. There are now an average of 400 to 500 riders visiting the MTB trails each month. This, coupled with the work required by

Direct Value

R77 054 128

Indirect Value (Multiplier)

R157 349 456

OVERALL ECONOMIC IMPACT

R234 403 584 (excl. induced figure)

Table 1

Festival and Sappi Mankele Challenge all take place primarily on Sappi land and are sponsored by the forestry company. The direct economic impact of the 2015 Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival was R12 million (Tourism KZN Economic Impact Assessment, 2015). The economic impact of events is frequently measured and provides useful evidence of how much value they add to the tourism economy. However, in the case of the Karkloof for example, the event leaves a lasting legacy in the 200km of world class trails that remain accessible throughout the remainder of the year. Sappi’s mountain biking consultants, Next Step Consulting teamed up with Tourism KZN to carry out an Economic Impact Study/ Assessment of Mountain Biking Tourism in the Karkloof Valley. As can be seen from the table 1, the results of the study were thought provoking to say the least.

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events such as the Karkloof Classic Trail Festival has created sustainable employment for a small team of trail builders. But what lies ahead for this dedicated team of individuals in the future? The hope is that the ATI will equip them with the skills and expertise to become guides, bike mechanics and potentially tour operators, in addition to being first rate trail builders. The other opportunity that this opens up is the possibility for the trail builders and maintainers to form their own enterprises, which can then contract to the Karkloof Club and other clubs to do their trail work for events and recreational purposes. Ideally, the N3 Gateway would like to see the creation of an adventure tourism value chain that is inclusive. An example of such a tourism value chain can be found on the Eastern Cape Coast where

ADVENTUREPRENEURS

during the late 1990â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and early 2000â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the European Union invested significant funds into the development of community tourism projects. Amongst these projects was a guide training and development project. The project combined guiding with a stunningly beautiful coast and well developed trail network. This enabled tours operators to package and sell hundreds of tours annually on what has become affectionately known as the Wild Coast. Adventure tourism is arguably the fastest growing tourism sector in the world and if the right steps are taken, South Africa can become an international destination of choice for this market. What is required, however, is to develop the right infrastructure and to support adventureprenueurs to unlock this sleeping giant.

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explore. discover.

INTRODUCING THE NEW LION & SAFARI PARK The Lion & Safari Park, an established tourist destination, well loved by locals and foreigners alike, has become an amazing experience for all over the last 50 years. Having moved to a brand new world class facility in the Cradle of Humankind in July 2016, the Lion and Safari Park ooers guests an incredible day out. Immersed in the beautiful natural surroundings of the area, guests can experience guided game drives, safari drives or self-drives. Time to Explore and Discover the untamed natural bush veld. Guests will be able to engage themselves in the incredible experience of hand feeding a selection of animals including the graceful and serene giraaes. The opportunity to interact with a multitude of amazing animals such as Cheetah is also available at the park. Guided safari drives are one of the biggest attractions at the park, allowing visitors to experience a plethora of wildlife within their natural habitat, the tour options vary in length depending on your time schedule from 45min guided drives to 3 hour safari drives. Self-drive is also now available, drive your own vehicle through the lion and wild dog enclosures. Guests can also enjoy a scrumptious meal at one of their top-class restaurants, while at the same time viewing various wildlife species grazing and drinking in their natural habitat. No visit to the park will be complete without a stop at the Wetlands Bar â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the view overlooking the Wetlands is nothing short of breath taking, while delicious meals fill hungry tummies after a guided tour, at the aptly named Buck â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;n Bull Grill house.

ADVENTUREPRENEURS

Nestled amongst the foothills of the magnificent Magaliesberg Mountains, a mere 10 minute drive from Lanseria Airport, oo the scenic R512 towards Hartbeespoort dam, the park is within the Cradle of Humankind area a UNESCO world heritage site.

The new location, now boasting 600 hectares of open land, allows the animals more space to roam freely. A day visit to the park provides the perfect opportunity and platform for schools and children to learn about the animals and various research programmes that the Lion and child Safari Park are involved in.

Apart from being a world class tourist destination let the Lion and Safari Park turn your next conference, team building or event into something unique. Great packages are available and for the first time on ooers - adventure activities such as River Rafting, Quad Biking and Abseiling. What Wh would the perfect end to the day be without a shopping stop to remember your trip by? Stop in at the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;5 dome shopping experienceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and enjoy a vast selection of unique hand crafted curios, crafts and clothing, which make great gifts for those back home. The park is open 365 days a year, and is certainly an experience not to be missed.

info@lionpark.com | +27 (0) 87 1500 100 www.lionandsafaripark.com R512 Lanseria Road | Broederstroom | South Africa B-BBEE accredited

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DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT

Chapter 8 Route and destination development as a tool for community beneficiation By: Francois Viljoen

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ourism routes have become a popular tool to market tourism destinations, especially in rural areas. Most of these routes have the primary objective of attracting visitors and encouraging them to spend more time and ultimately money in an area. Unfortunately, not many route associations realise the potential of using the platform created through the route to deliver benefits to communities and emerging entrepreneurs in their destination. Open Africa is social enterprise that uses tourism as a vehicle for economic development in rural areas and has been pioneering a new approach to community development through route development in the past five years. Since routes form networks among local tourism enterprises, they provide a number of opportunities to develop a destination, but can also provide unemployed young people from the area with valuable work experience. A pilot project was implemented on six routes in 2015 to test this assumption. The pilot was widely regarded as a success as it resulted in 24 out of 27 youth (88%) moving into formal employment, or establishing an enterprise after the programme. A core focus of the project was building the confidence of young people, providing them work ex-

DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT

perience and exposing them to their local tourism industry. The programme uses an experiential learning approach with monthly contact sessions that cover a variety of topics, including personal goal setting, entrepreneurship, research and marketing and social media. The skills gained through the programme, coupled with the work experience allow young people to confidently sell themselves in the market. An added benefit is the additional resources the route association has at its disposal. The research conducted by the youth and their involvement in social media marketing has proved to be invaluable to routes where this has been implemented. Many small tourism enterprises cannot afford to take the risk of employing inexperienced young people from their immediate vicinity, so they often look elsewhere. However, the programme allows them to work with a number of youth allowing them to find a suitable candidate for their business. A key feature of the programme is matching local talent with local opportunities. Too many of our young people leave our rural areas for cities, in search of opportunity, often with dismal results. This is a great way for routes to invest in the future of young people and at the same time developing their destination.

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DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT

Case Study: Gift Mkhari – The Ribola Art Route

The rhythm of Limpopo is like no other because of its eclectic spirit fusing Tsonga, Venda and Shangaan cultures. The Sights and Sounds of Mbhokota Tour shows visitors just how Mbhokota, like the rest of the province, is a unique place that marches to its own drum beat. The dynamic teacher, musician and sculptor, Lucky Ntimani welcomes us to the Tinyiko Art Centre where his students make music from uniquely carved drums, marimbas, mbiras and a novel instrument made out of upside-down tin plates on the springs of an old chair. Along with a young multi-talented, Gift Mkhari, Lucky has encouraged creativity and originality from this group of youngsters, nurturing their talents and giving them pride in their cultural roots. Lucky, Gift and the group spur us on and ask us to join them as they play on their instruments and belt out some beautiful melodies. The jam session produces our own unique song. The first time Open Africa met Gift Mkha-

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ri in Elim, he was a shy character whose nerves got the better of him at the initial interview for the Ribola Art Route youth programme. But Open Africa staff saw potential in this young man from Limpopo. After 10 months on the programme, Gift Mkhari is a different man. True to his name, he has developed into a dynamic and energised young man filled with ideas and talent to match. A musician at heart, he creates his own style of hip-hop and traditional Shangaan fusion, inspiring other young musicians to keep on reaching for their goals and providing them with a platform to do so. Together with a handful of other local artists, Gift set up a home recording studio where they can produce their own songs for online release. When he’s not working on his music, Gift is also a teacher and mentor at his uncle, Lucky Ntimani’s Tinyiko Art school, where they teach 80 children between the ages of 10 and 16 years old the art of traditional music and dance, as well as hosting visitors who come to visit the school for events and performances. Gift was part of a 10 month youth development programme while Open Africa was working with the Ribola Art Route to develop a series of travel experiences (www.openafricatravel. com). These experiences aim to bring people closer to the community and give them an opportunity to interact with locals in an authentic way. Encouraged through the youth programme, Gift jumped at the opportunity and took on a guiding role whenever he had the chance, proving to be a natural storyteller

and skilled translator of the subtext usually lacking in conventional tours. He has since received the opportunity to become qualified as a local site guide, allowing him to operate legally as a host in the area. He is thrilled with this idea and is looking forward to implementing some of his own ideas in the community with the income that he is generating.

With his mind set, Gift set out to become the best local guide in the area and provides visitors with an engaging cultural interpretation of their experience. Since the development of the experiences in September 2016, Gift has guided 27 tours, earning him an average monthly income of R4,000. As the popularity of the tours increase, Gift will be able to grow this micro-enterprise and take on other opportunities in the tourism sector. We often talk about transformation of the industry. The only way to truly transform the industry at a large scale this is to grow new tourism entrepreneurs from disadvantaged communities. We need more business development programmes for young entrepreneurs and more mentors who are willing to share their experience with the new generation. Mentorship is a critical component of development and routes, or business networks of any kind allow development organisations like Open Africa to tap into the pool of experienced tourism entrepreneurs to provide this mentorship. There are many examples of how mentorship has contributed to the growth of small enterprises and this should be encouraged on a larger scale.

Case Study: Barbara Raats â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Kalahari Red Dune Route

A number of years ago Barbara Raats, a member of the Khomani San community that resides close the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, had an idea to build grass huts

DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT

(similar to that of the San traditional homes) and offer homestays to tourists. Her idea became a reality when Open Africa launched a programme along the Kalahari Red Dune Route in 2013. Through a structured development and mentorship programme, Barbara was able to establish her business in less than two years. She now offers accommodation for up-to 8 people and has plans to build another two units to further increase her capacity. Barbara was one of four female mentees along the route. Each mentee was assigned a mentor with the aim of gaining skills in business management, learning more about the tourism industry and further developing their small business. This support allowed Barbara the opportunity to gain the confidence needed to approach business and other NGOs to secure growth funding for her business. In June 2014, Barbara welcomed her first clients to Boesmansrus Grass Huts on a trial basis with support from her mentor, Retha Stadler. Over the course of 2014 she received basic computer literacy training and business management training. The route continues to provide support to Barbara while she expands and develops her business as she plans to build another large hut that will sleep four guests with en-suite facilities. Routes remain an effective tool to draw visitors and encourage them to spend more time and money in an area, but we shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t overlook the developmental role that a route can play. If business networks in the form of tourism routes, associations, or chambers of commerce can play a more prominent role in the development of entrepreneurs, we can create more jobs, achieve transformation and build a healthy industry that benefits established and emerging businesses and our local host communities.

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ADVERTORIAL

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he Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre at Moholoholo contributes to the conservation of endangered species and the rehabilitation of injured and poisoned wildlife. Moholoholo also facilitates a number of successful breeding programmes. Situated in the shadow of the majestic “Maripeskop”, our unique rehabilitation centre is home to many animals and birds. The centre has a successful Serval Breeding Project. Having bred and releases over 160 back

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into the areas where they have previously become extinct. Wherever possible rehabilitated birds and animals are returned to the wild and those who are not so fortunate due to the nature and extent of their problems are used for educational talks to the, many people who visit each year. Our tours are on an awareness basis and are to awaken us to the critical situation our wildlife is in We invite you to come and share a unique experience with the animals of Africa . . . . .

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Forest Camp

Accomodation and full catering for 22 people at the foot of the Drakensberg ● Birding and guided game walks

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www.moholoholo.co.za

CONSERVATION LINKS

Chapter 9 Conservation links between South Africa and Ethiopia

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By: Malcolm Drummond

t is thought provoking to consider the two countries, compare some of their statistics and ponder upon what could possibly provide grounds for common conservation initiatives or links.

Both countries share a similar land space: Ethiopia covers 1,104 million square kilometres, compared to South Africa’s 1,221. That is the end of comparable numbers: Ethiopia’s population, at about 101 million, is almost double South Africa’s 55 million. South Africa’s per capita GDP is in the region of seven times that of Ethiopia’s. How about different imperatives for conservation management and challenges? It is important to understand some of the dynamics that drive conservation in each country. A high proportion of Ethiopia’s population consists of subsistence farmers, depending upon the central plateau’s fertile soil and high rainfall. The population has more than doubled in the last thirty-five years and, consequently, the subsistence famers’ livestock has also, at least doubled. Although there are a number of national and regional parks/game reserves in Ethiopia, they are not managed with anything like the rigour of those in South Africa. Furthermore, understanding of conservation and its requirements amongst the general public is very poor. The government department responsible for conservation, the Ethiopian Wildlife and Conservation Authority (EWCA), is a small, poorly resourced group and simply does not have the resources and skills necessary to manage the environment effectively. There is a small number of environmentally focused NGOs and funding for them is a major challenge.The situation in South Africa is very different, with a large, well-resourced national Department of Environmental Affairs, as well as departments at provincial level. The existence of tightly legislated environmental impact assessment procedures

CONSERVATION LINKS

is an accepted part of any development and there is widespread acknowledgement of the need for tight controls. South Africa’s extensive network of national, provincial and municipal parks and nature reserves are generally well managed and utilised, both by South Africans and foreign visitors. The demographic broadening of local visitors to these facilities is extending awareness of the need for conservation and the value of the natural environment. South Africa’s parks are a massive resource in terms of tourism and attract ever-growing numbers of overseas visitors. One might well ask why there should be any conservation links between Ethiopia and South Africa: two such diverse countries, about 4 000 kilometres apart at opposite ends of the African Continent. Well, the answer lies in a small, secretive, and critically endangered bird, the White-winged Flufftail, Sarothrura ayresi. As one of only two birds listed for South Africa in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red Data list, it carries the highest possible threat status, that of Critically Endangered. It is estimated that the global population of the bird is about 250. Two keen ‘birders’ and conservationists became interested in the flufftail when they discovered in 1992 that one of only three then-known wetlands that the bird visits in South Africa was in need of rehabilitation. This led to their forming Middelpunt (named after the wetland, which lies between Belfast and Dullstroom in Mpumalanga Province) Wetland Trust (MWT) for the specific purpose of conserving the White-winged Flufftail and its habitat. While the Trust worked to find other sites that the bird visits in South Africa to establish and enhance their conservation status, it soon became apparent that it was essential to extend their efforts to Ethiopia. The flufftail is a summer (November to March) visitor to South Africa and it breeds

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CONSERVATION LINKS

in Ethiopia during the northern hemisphere summer, where it is recorded from July to September. Its whereabouts during the intervening months has always led to speculation that the bird migrates between the two countries: there are a few records of it from Zimbabwe and Zambia. Sceptics of this belief suggested that two populations had developed, north and south. However, recent DNA research has shown that the birds from Ethiopia and South Africa are genetically identical, strengthening the likelihood of migration. It is hoped that advancing technology will solve the conundrum in the next few years. Conservation work in Ethiopia by MWT is conducted in conjunction with the Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society (EWNHS) and is centred on a wetland in a rural community, Berga, about 90 kilometres from Addis Ababa. The flufftail lives, feeds and nests in moist grassland wetland habitat, different from the wetlands it inhabits in South Africa. It requires vegetation of about 30cm in height for it to be able to build a nest, and this is the massive conservation challenge in Ethiopia. The vast majority of the approximately 100-million Ethiopian population are subsistence farmers. The population has more than double in the past 35 years and, the more subsistence farmers, the more livestock (cattle, horses, sheep and goats), all requiring grazing. Ideal grazing is provided by moist grassland wetland. The majority of this ever-reducing habitat has been grazed to the consistency of a billiard table, prohibiting any possibility of a flufftail building a nest. As far as is known, Berga is the only known breeding site of the White-winged Flufftail and its continued existence may well be attributed to the fact that a state-owned dairy research farm owns a 400-hectare farm at Berga in moist grassland wetland. The vegetation is cut for hay in November, and so suitable nesting habitat is available when required in

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July/August. Conservation initiatives rarely succeed without the involved local community receiving meaningful benefits. MWT received a request in 2003 for financial support to build a classroom for Berga communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pre-school children: the nearest school was eight kilometres away. Following the building of this, the community continued to build additional classrooms from wattle and daub (bluegum is as prolific in Ethiopia as in South Africa). Cash plays a negligible role in a subsistence farming community and so the Trust has continued to provide funding for the purchase of cement for the buildings, doors, windows and desks. To date, that funding has amounted to nearly R200 000 and, believe it or not, primary school education is now provided to 1 200 children from Berga and the surrounding communities. The conservation quid pro quo? Being fully aware of the value of the White-winged Flufftail and its continued survival, the local community patrols the wetland in the breeding season to prevent disturbance of the nesting birds. Initiatives are in place to extend protected habitat into community-owned grazing lands. The critical nature of the flufftailâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s survival has ensured its inclusion in the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA). This is an intergovernmental treaty, developed under the framework of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) and administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Following workshops involving South African and Ethiopian national environmental departments and involved NGOs, an International Single Species Action Plan (ISSAP) was developed to guide conservation activities for the flufftail. Whatever has the White-winged Flufftail got to do with tourism? There are many descriptive words for different aspects of tourism, probably

one of the more recent is ecotourism. How about avitourism? A very specific subset, if you will, of nature-based tourism. As a hobby, bird watching, birding, twitching …has a whole vocabulary of its own. Largely unrealised is the fact that birding is the fastest growing hobby in the world; the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the UK has more than one million members. It is estimated that there are 60 million birders in the US. BirdLife International has member organisations in 122 countries around the world with five million direct members and twelve million additional associate members. How does birding classify as a tourism sector? Let’s take a four-time-run initiative (2003, ‘11, ‘14 and ‘17) to raise funds for the Ethiopian project of MWT. Each event involved about 120 ‘birders’ who wanted to ‘tick’ the Whitewinged Flufftail (probably South Africa’s hardest tick). They travelled by car and ‘plane from around South Africa, they stayed in B&Bs and hotels, they ate at restaurants, tipped service providers, bought curios, employed bird guides: just as a start. The really big money in birding? Optics. Binoculars and telescopes, ranging in price from R200 to R40 000. Camera bodies and lenses: as much as you can afford. Four x four vehicles to take you to ‘tick’ those real ‘specials’, together with camping equipment or lodge bills. Indulge yourself in a trip with a specialist bird guiding company (anywhere in the world) and expect to pay up to R100 000. There is a whole industry sub-set dedicated to birders, providing field guides, reference books, courses, paintings, sculptures, and arts and crafts. There have been many studies dedicated to researching tourism and its value, from the national economy down to the most basic rural community and here are some statistics. The USA is one of the larger global markets for avitourism – in 2001 there were 46 million birders and birding was the fastest-growing outdoor recreational activity. More than 18

CONSERVATION LINKS

million of the 46 travelled away from home to watch birds, and annual expenditure on birding in the USA in 2001 was an estimated US$32bn. At the same time, avitourism in Canada was credited with creating 86 000 jobs and generated more than $870 in tax revenue. Avitourism in South and southern Africa probably represents the tourism sector most readily susceptible to rapid growth through targeted marketing. This is not a complicated programme and should include components that include growing domestic and international participation, increasing the per-experience spend. Furthermore, increasing the length of stay for international tourists by diversifying the birding offering and enhancing additional experiences for both the birder and accompanying visitors. Extending the birding and general ecotourism season should also include improved awareness of pelagic (oceanic) birding, cetacean (whale) watching, botanical experiences (South Africa hosts one of the planet’s six botanical kingdoms – fynbos) and experiencing South Africa’s amazing diversity. Becoming rapidly more important in the decision-making process of international tourists (especially those from the ‘first world’) are transformation and sustainable tourism issues. These cannot be ignored and must play an important role in any national, regional and local strategies to market and attract increased tourism numbers from both traditional and evolving markets. Avitourism has historical catchments: the United Kingdom, the USA and Europe. However, these are being rapidly complemented by the growth in disposable income and leisure time in the East, South America, Russia and Australasia. Marketing and appropriate service provision does not require substantial deviation from existing programmes: rather, a better appreciation of a market that demands a greater diversity of offerings, with an emphasis on catering to cultural diversity.

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WHERE WORLD LEADERS CONVENE. WHERE GLOBAL DECISIONS ARE MADE. Your meeting space in Addis Ababa

For booking and enquiries, contact UNCC-AA@uneca.org UNCCAddis

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Lying in the heart of the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, the ECA Conference Center combines architectural elegance with the very latest technology, and sheer practicality to offer the ideal venue for all your meetings and conferences.

The ECA Conference Center (ECA-CC) offers a modern conference facility with professional conference management services. So far, thousands of events were hosted at the Center. For example, in 2016 alone, 5,804 meetings were hosted at the ECA Conference Center. Out of those, 14 were association meetings that had 693 parallel sessions (side events). Seven of the 14 association meetings were ICCA-member association meetings. To reduce the stress of relying on numerous vendors in terms of executing a given event, ECA-CC offers a one-stop-shop type of service. The service starts with a dedicated Planning and Servicing Unit where one focal person is assigned for an event in order to streamline the communication The following products and services are offered by the ECA-CC: • Rooms of varying capacity, which are great for events that require plenary and parallel sessions; • In-door exhibit space with furnitureandspotlights; • Different banquet spaces; • VIProoms; • Rooms that are suitable for various training; • Offices; • Briefing Rooms;

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It also merits to point out that the ECA-CC has two distinct comparative advantages on the supply side of the local market for conference services: • First, a peerless world class conference facility and services - much better than those of the local crowd; and • Second, a cost-recovery or charge-backbased pricing business model, in contrast with the profit-based pricing by the rest of the local market.

Host your next event at ECA-CC! http://www.uneca.org/ecacc https://www.facebook.com/UNCCAddis

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TALANA MUSEUM

Chapter 10 Talana Live “Catch the Vibe” By: Pam McFadden

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very year hundreds of events and festivals are held across South Africa. These provide ideal opportunities for generating awareness of regional destinations and encouraging visitors to include new places in their travel plans. Many people attending events are first time visitors to the region, and they would not have considered visiting the region if it was not for the event. However, they may become regular visitors after that. Visitors to events become ambassadors for your town and area and help to promote your events through word of mouth. Creating a positive experience for visitors and making good first impressions are very important for any tourist destination. Each year, on the weekend closest to the anniversary of the battle of Talana, the Talana Museum organises a weekend of events to “bring history alive”. Talana Live, with the slogan, “Catch the Vibe” is a weekend event showcasing the unique military history of the Talana museum (which is located on the actual battlefield), the town of Dundee and the Battlefields Route. The programme includes battle re-enactments, “wheels thru time” car and stationary engines, food, crafts, military demonstrations and the annual “Ghost Walk” up Talana hill on the anniversary of the battle. However, it also has its serious side as the men and women who made history are remembered, with the wreath-laying ceremony in the museum. Sponsors of the event come from businesses in town, who all appreciate the business that the event brings to the town and the spin-offs for the local economy. Accommodation businesses, food outlets, fuel stations, tour guides, chemists, clothing stores (when the weather changes unexpectedly) and even vehicle parts resellers

TALANA MUSEUM

benefit from the influx of tourists and visitors to the area. Some of the sponsors use the event to showcase their new company products, with free samples and tastings or opportunities to try out new vehicles. When promoting an event, it is important to highlight the range of experiences available, both at the event and in the destination. People are looking for affordability, value for money, a range of interesting activities, opportunities for once in a lifetime experiences, events and initiatives that have positive impacts on the local community, charities or causes, and events that are held in natural settings. By packaging the event with tours, talks and encouraging visits to other attractions in the area, visitors are encouraged to stay longer and spend more money. As an example, the programme for Talana Live includes the following opportunities: • to experience a game drive at Ingudlane Lodge (just across the road from the museum), • to enjoy evening in the local MOTHS Memorable Order of Tin Hats (MOTH) Shellhole; • to meet locals, have a braai and experience good fellowship; • view the unique collection of military memorabilia, and • to enjoy a guided walk along portions of the Dundee Heritage Trail. Visitors are provided with an accommodation list with a short description of type of facilities and distance from the museum. This empowers visitors to book accommodation easily. As the event approaches, the list is refined as the names and contact numbers of establishments that are fully booked are removed – once again making it easier for people to select and book accommodation. The programme at the museum involves

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TALANA MUSEUM

many organisations and individuals in the community. Organisations that need to raise funds, for example churches, welfare groups, the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), old aged homes and local crafters are invited to take up stalls in the exhibition space. Local people are given preference over people from other areas, so that money generated by the event goes back into the local community. The local Rotary Club manages the entrance gate and their fee goes into sponsored school prizes, the READ programme (project to support literacy) and other community projects in which the Rotary Club is involved. The more local buy-in there is to the programme, the better the support is from local businesses and organisations. The annual “Creations” Arts, Crafts and Plant market opens a few days before the weekend. Each year, a theme is set to encourage crafters to think about what they are capable of making. The aim is to create something new and unique, and avoid the “we’ve seen it before so there is no sense in going again this year” from potential visitors and shoppers. The market has therefore become a wonderful space for local crafters to showcase their creations, giving them an opportunity to sell their wares while also attracting many local people to the museum. The market is a good fund raiser for the museum. Friends of the museum are

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involved in assisting with arrangements, manning stalls and handling sales – they also become ambassadors for the museum and spread the word of what is happening and encourage people to visit and support events. Spend the weekend with us at Talana Live and hear stories from days gone by. The programme for the weekend is varied and there will be all sorts of items to interest young and old. Be prepared for “tales of the past”, “ghosts that still walk our grounds”, rifle fire that makes you really think about the effects of war on the men and women who were involved. Learn about the battle of 20 October 1899 – the first formal battle between the Boers and British in the Second Anglo Boer War. Did you know that it was raining early on that Friday morning and the first two Boer shells landed in the middle of the British camp but did not explode? Because they got buried in the mud. Come and hear the full story and much more. Learn about historical events in interesting and different ways. Enjoy food and fellowship that will have you talking about this for years to come. Come and make your photographic memories, after all they do say that a photograph is worth a thousand words. So here are a few thousand words. Refer to www.talana.co.za for this year’s programme.

ADVERTORIAL

GREEN BUILDING CONCEPTS CENTRAL TO MAROPENG’S NEW HOMININ HOUSE Upgrades to Hominin House, the dormitory-style budget accommodation at Maropeng, have been designed, where possible, using sustainable and green building concepts. This includes the use of green materials, reduced energy and reduced waste.

Maropeng, the Official Visitor Centre for the Cradle of Humankind Heritage Site, is as much focussed on raising awareness around the need for environmental conservation as it is on educating the public about our past. The changes to Hominin House are in line with this, adding to the larger sustainability narrative at Maropeng. “We are dedicated to ensuring our business practices promote environmental sustainability,” explains Michael Worsnip, Managing Director of Maropeng. The building was fitted with hardwood timber windows and doors, which has a lower carbon footprint than aluminium and uses less energy to manufacture. Locally sourced and hand manufactured hardwood timber was also used to create the unique furniture. The floor in the new large hall was made entirely from recycled tyres. The new building has been orientated north to ensure maximum solar gain and

sunlight, and the positioning of windows and doors was carefully designed to provide natural cross-ventilation, eliminating the need for air conditioners. The new roofs were also insulated. In addition, photovoltaic cells (PV) and a battery bank were installed, which generates and stores solar energy. This energy is used to power the LED lights in the building. Another key energy-saving initiative is the use of a heat pump for hot water instead of a conventional geyser. “When it’s in use, the heat pump generates cooler air,” explains Worsnip. “We make maximum use of this energy by directing the cooler air into the battery bank that stores the solar energy from the PV cells.” Two 5000l rainwater harvesting tanks and one 4500l grey water harvesting tank were installed, which provides water for irrigation and other non-potable water requirements. Maropeng has introduced sustainable activities, at Hominin House, that serve as an education tool for learners. “We have a vegetable garden, this garden will be irrigated by water from our rainwater and grey water harvesting systems,” notes Worsnip. Other initiatives include the installation of recycling bins. A stay at Hominin House is the perfect base for visits to the Official Visitor Centre as well as the Sterkfontein caves. To make a booking, please email dorcust@ maropeng.co.za or call 014 577 9000.

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ECONOMIC IMPACTS

Chapter 11 The economic impact of events on local economies

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By: Richard Wyllie

he province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is home to a number of world-class events that take place throughout the calendar year. The majority, if not all, of these events take place on an annual basis. Even though many of them are not classified as “mega-events”, they are far more important to the local economies than “mega-events”. This opinion has been backed up by a statement by Dr Clive Coetzee, a General Manager in the KZN Treasury. In referring to the numerous ‘Union Cycliste Internationale’ or International Cycling Union (UCI) cycling events that take place in Pietermaritzburg, he stated that: “The good thing about these events compared to the FIFA World Cup, for instance, is that they are not once off, flashin-the-pan,talk-of-the-month things. There are a continuous, recurring number of events, and every year it gets better. It means that people are now becoming familiar with Pietermaritzburg”. Events that take place within KZN attract thousands of participants and/or spectators. It is important to note that sporting events are not the only ones that are important for economic development. There are a number of other events that fall under themes such as, ‘arts and cultural’ or ‘entertainment’. The four largest (major) events that are hosted in the province are the Midmar Mile, the Dusi Canoe Marathon, the Comrades Marathon, and the Amashova Classic. A brief discussion on these events can be found below: • The Midmar Mile is the “world’s largest open water swim” that takes place at Midmar Dam, just north of Pietermaritzburg. The event attracts over 16 000 people (±10 000 participants and ±6

ECONOMIC IMPACTS

000 spectators), of which 90% are not from the local area – i.e. they are tourists to the area during the event. • The Dusi Canoe Marathon is the biggest canoe race on the African continent. It is described as a gruelling three-day canoe race from Pietermaritzburg (the Msunduzi River) to Durban (the Umgeni River mouth), covering a total distance of 120km both on the river systems and on land. The event attracts over 2 800 people (±1 200 participants and ±1 600 spectators/crew), of which 25% are tourists in the province during the event. • The Comrades Marathon is probably KZN’s biggest event and is known as the world’s largest ultra marathon. It covers a total distance of 89km from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. The race attracts close to 70 000 people (±20 000 participants and over 50 000 spectators), of which 68% are tourists in KZN. The event is growing in terms of international participation with just over 1 700 foreigners participating in the 2016 event – most of which came from Europe and the United States of America. • The Amashova Classic is Africa’s oldest classic cycle race and in 2016, it turned 30. The main race covers a total distance of 106km from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. The event attracts over 22 000 people (±10 000 participants and ±12 000 spectators), of which 41% are visitors in the area during the event. It goes without saying that events are crucial for any destination in terms of image and for economic growth. The brief discussion below attempts to outline the importance of events for any destination. Firstly, events are crucial in helping to alleviate the impacts of seasonality. In other words, events make it possible for destinations to experience an influx of tourists outside the major holiday seasons. Events also have the potential of assisting in the

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ECONOMIC IMPACTS

branding and/or marketing of a destination. Events can play a crucial part in bringing people to destinations for the first time, as well as encouraging repeat-visits when such destinations were not considered otherwise. An event may also increase the competitiveness of a destination. In other words, one must consider whether the destination would be thriving as much as it is or as much as it could be without the events? Events have the potential to increase tourism development and growth. In simple terms, as the events attract a large number of visitors to a destination - normally out of season- increased demand for accommodation, shopping, and entertainment is created Finally, one of the most important aspects of events is the fact that they create a number of economic spin-offs – mainly the creation of jobs as a result of the increased spend by visitors. The hosting of events allows for the creation of many permanent and part-time/temporary jobs. To illustrate some of the economic “spinoffs”, the table below outlines the four major KZN events that Tourism KwaZulu-Na-

tal (TKZN) has studied over the last 10-15 years. The data provided in table 1 covers all of the events that were studied in 2016. It is important to note that these four major events, that all take place within the province of KZN have injected a mean figure of close to R705 million into the provincial economy within one calendar year. These events have also attracted over 100 000 people, with just over 69 000 being visitors to the province – a higher number of visitors is considered to be very important as the economic impact is based on the direct spend of visitors only, while local residents are excluded from the economic calculations. It should also be noted that there are a few events in KZN that are based in one municipality only. Some major events such as the Comrades marathon encapsulates municipalities from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. The Midmar Mile on the other hand takes place at the Midmar Dam in the Howick region (Umgeni Municipality) and it has a mean worth of over R60 million. However, the demand for accommodation

Table 1: Outline of the 4 Major KZN Events Event (2016)

Estimated Total Attendance

% of Visitors

No. of Visitors

Direct Economic Impact (mean)

16 000

14 400

R61.5 mn

Dusi Canoe Mar- 2 800 athon

700

R1.5 mn

Comrades Mara- 70 000 thon

47 600

R605.0 mn

Amashova Clas- 12 700 sic

7 240

R37.5 mn

TOTAL

69 940

R705.5 mn

Midmar Mile

101 500

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spreads outside the municipal boundaries into neighbouring municipalities due to the number of people attending the event. A more suitable example would be the Maritzburg City Marathon, which takes place primarily in the city of Pietermaritzburg or the Msunduzi municipality. This event, in 2016, was estimated to be worth as much as R16 million to the local economy of the city. Even though the province as a whole benefits from this event, the majority, if not all, of the impacts and benefits are believed to remain in the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s local economy rather than spread to other municipalities/regions of the province. From the discussions above, it is clear that KZN has benefitted, and will continue to benefit from the events that are hosted in the province. Not only do these events have many positive socio-economic benefits for the city, but they also help to alleviate the seasonality of tourism, lead to tourism development, increase the competitiveness of the destination, and assist in the marketing and branding of cities and towns. It was also noted that any event, whether big or small, will have a positive impact on the local economy of the area in which it is taking place â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether it is the overall economy of the province or the economy of a local municipality, such as Pietermaritzburg (Msunduzi). Furthermore, the majority of these events are said to leave a lasting legacy within the region in which they are hosted. In other words, locals do not only benefit from the revenue generated from the event but they also receive benefits from the tourism supply chain. For example, when people travel to KZN for an event they will need basic tourism amenities such as accommo-

ECONOMIC IMPACTS

dation, food and drink, and entertainment. Therefore, if these facilities do not exist they are then built for the benefit of both local residents and visitors. These amenities will no doubt need staff in order to operate and thus creating employment and revenue generation for locals. Therefore, these events do not only bring about immediate socio-economic benefits to the local economy but they are also vital in terms of long-term and sustainable economic development. Further to the discussion above, local tour operators, as well as those outside of the local region of an event, may potentially benefit from these events. In other words, if these tour operators sell packages or itineraries to the participants and their supporters, the benefits are then increased due to a growth in the number of visitors within the destination. Also, the overall experience of the visitors has the potential of being enhanced by visiting some the major attractions in the destination while they are in the area for the event. For example, a lot of international, as well as some domestic visitors, book an entire holiday package that revolves around the Comrades Marathon. These visitors will arrive almost a week before the event to acclimatise and train thus spending time, and money, in the destination. Their package also includes a set number of days after the event that includes tours to some of KZNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major attractions. Thus, it is evident that tour operators can not only benefit themselves from selling these sort of packages, but they can also drive further economic growth through increased tourist arrivals and their spend.

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TLADI LODGE

Chapter 12 Tladi Lodge â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Resource Efficiency Audit Findings By: Llewellan Vance and Niki Glen

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e are all well aware of escalating energy and waters costs in South Africa, married with ongoing water shortages. Accommodation establishments are hard hit by these increases, as they are typically highly reliant on electronic and electric equipment to manage their businesses, the use over which they often have little control. For example, depending on the level of luxury or the type of market catered for, to provide for an overnight stay of a guest in a typical Sandton based guesthouse will require a combination of the following: air conditioners, computers, cell phones chargers, credit card machines, decoders, dish washers, DVD players / decoders, electric fences, electric lawn, mowers, extractor fans, fax machines, fridges / bar fridges, geysers, hair dryers, irons, kettles, linen rollers, microwave ovens, ovens, pool/fountain pumps, printers, security cameras, sound systems ,stoves, televisions, towel rails,

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tumble dryers, vacuum cleaners and washing machines. A typical guesthouse utilises between 400,000 and 1 million litres of water a month. But interestingly enough, not a lot of business owners actually monitor and evaluate their consumption. In a 2014 study undertaken by Niki Glen, it was shown that out of 167 small accommodation owners / managers, less than 25 % measured their energy consumption in any meaningful way, while less than 10 % measured their water consumption. It was highlighted in a study by the STPP (2013), that energy costs can be as high as 40 % of a smaller accommodation establishmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operational costs. Another interesting factor is the number of initiatives that business owners have implemented in relation to energy and water saving. In the same study by Niki Glen, the measures that have been implemented by business owners is shown in Table 1. Table 1: Measures implemented by 167 accommodation owners

Energy and water saving measures implemented

Energy Saving Low energy light bulbs

89.3%

Gas cooking

69.0%

Switch off campaign staff

46.4%

Solar geysers / heat pumps

44.1%

Solar panels for general use

17.9%

Water Saving Eradicating invasive plants

32.1%

Rainwater harvesting

26.2%

Grey water recycling

23.8%

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TLADI LODGE

Tladi Lodge Case Study

In late 2015, Tladi Lodge, based in Sandton, requested the Sustainable Tourism Partnership Programme and their resource efficiency partner Evolve Technologies to do an assessment at the lodge. The main concerns highlighted was the escalating energy and costs and high resource consumption, reliance on utility bills to gain insight on where the consumption occurs, and business continuity risks as a result of load shedding and water shedding. Operational costs of the existing generator was too high and Tladi expressed the desire to be less reliant on the grid. Tladi also wanted to implement more environmentally friendly waste practices. The following outlines focuses on the energy assessments undertaken, and is followed by a brief outline of water and waste quick wins that were also addressed over the past 18 months.

Energy Assessment

The Tladi Lodge assessment was focused on the following key areas:

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• Energy - smart energy meter installations and finding green energy solutions; • Water – water harvesting potential and use of borehole water; • Waste - recycling and wet waste conversion into compost • Behavioural changes through staff training and guest education. Thladi had two electricity bills (due to the development of the lodge over time). Consumption based on 8 months of utility bills analysed estimated and average annual consumption that cost the establishment R152 454 (average R12 704,50 pm). Figure 1 shows the total bill breakdown for Tladi Lodge. The majority of utility bill cost was made up of consumption in > 600kWh block, which attracts a higher tariff rate cost of R1,56 (including VAT) per kWh as opposed to the 0-600kWh block, which was charged at R0,8865 (including VAT) per kWh. An average view of each of these areas were obtained for the eight months of utili-

TLADI LODGE

ty bills that were available. When analysing the utility bill further, the following requirements were highlighted: • Maximum demand needed to be reduced; • kWh consumption need to be offset; • Real time insight and control was required; • Load management was required

• Shift peak loads; • Generate energy from the sun; • Reduce carbon footprint • Fridges & Freezers It was noted, however that while there were 8 electrical geysers onsite, no timers have been installed mainly due to challenge in ensuring hot water is available to suit the random guest utilisation times.

An inspection of the premises highlighted major energy consumption areas as follows: • Underfloor heating • 8 Electrical Geysers onsite • 140 Energy Inefficient Lights • Laundry Services • Staff behaviour • Load management • Pumps • Pool pump (on timer) • Borehole pumps

Energy Quick Wins

Energy Action Plan

Meters: To date four smart meter systems have been installed which are managing the following: Six geysers are being managed currently (two with timing management and four with temperature management at 55 degrees down from 70 degrees). A fifth meter will be installed shortly.

A plan of action was drawn up which was aimed at to halving the monthly electricity bill through the following key interventions: • Eliminate penalties resulting from time of use:

The quick wins identified could lead to a potential saving of R70 000 - R90 000 per annum. Interventions identified and costed at R142 200 included items listed in Table 2. In other words, the estimated payback period for the quick win interventions is just over 24 months . Table 2: Energy efficiency interventions – quick wins

Energy progress made

Intervention

PM / 0-12 months

PM / 13-24 months

PM / 24 months

Smart metering installation

R2 500

R300

Lighting Retrofits (~R50,000)

R4 500

Occupancy Sensors (~R20,000)

R 1 900

R2 500

R300

Behavioural changes – staff training R450 – 12 staff @ R450 pp Total cost per month

R9 350

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TLADI LODGE

Lighting: Most lights have been replaced with energy efficient LED Heat pumps: Heat pumps have been installed in staff quarters and in one of the cottages. Generator : The back-up system in the case of a power failure, runs on diesel

Water

During the same period, an assessment was done on the water use. A concern that was raised was the borehole had been installed to ensure water security 5 years ago, and revamped 2 years ago. However Tladi found that the borehole was expensive to run, but that municipal water tariffs had increased six times in six years. In addition, the flow rate in the borehole has dropped due to the water table is dropping, which means it may run out of water in the near future. To counter these issues, the following interventions have been initiated: 4 x 5000 litre storage tanks have been installed; 1 tank is utilised for the house which is filtered; 7 bedrooms are utilising borehole water; Reliance is placed on rain water to irrigate the garden; Water saving shower heads have been installed in all showers;

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Waste

On the waste side, Tladi has commenced with separating all kitchen waste which is then recycled. Wet waste is recycled and composted using the Bokashi system. Over a period of 18 months, Tladi has diverted more than 3,4 tonnes of wet waste from landfill, contributing to a total saving in CO2 emissions of 785,8kg.

Conclusion

Simple measures and behavioural changes can go a long way in supporting tourism SMMEs to become more sustainable. This very brief case study from Tladi Lodge shows that there is a definite business case for making change. Once one change is implemented, catalysts for future positive interventions are created. By prioritising energy efficiency, Tladi has managed to make strides towards reducing operational costs and have managed to review the way in which the business operates. In the process they have reduced costs, lowered reliance on the grid, reduced their carbon footprint and overall reduce the negative impacts of tourism.

ECONOMIC IMPACTS

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RAINWATER HARVESTING

Chapter 13 Rainwater harvesting at Forest Lodge in Phinda Private Nature Reserve, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa By: Hannes Grobler & Kevin Mearns

ainwater harvesting can be an effective alternative to supplementing water supply for the tourism industry. Rainwater harvesting and the challenges associated with the process were investigated by Mwenge Kahinda and Taigbenu (2011). Although their study focussed on rural communities, the same principles can apply in the tourism sector. These authors identified that more than 26 500 households in South Africa use rainwater as their main source of water. Rainwater is collected from rooftops and channelled and stored into water tanks where the water was tapped for domestic use. The results showed that the cost involved in the process to collect and store 30mÂł of rainwater did not exceed R22 800. Some

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of the challenges involved with rainwater harvesting are legal aspects (water use license required), quality of the water, financial affordability of rural communities and theft. The authors concluded that rainwater harvesting is a sufficient and effective alternative for supplying freshwater to rural communities although it should not be considered as the panacea for water supply (Mwenge Kahinda & Taigbenu, 2011). The above discussion illustrates that there is huge potential for rainwater to supplement and contribute towards the water use needs of tourism. As a result, the authors decided to investigated the potential of rainwater harvesting at the Phinda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal. A Davis Vantage Pro2 weather station was installed at Phinda Private Nature Reserve approximately five years ago to record weath-

er data. Rainfall data from 2012 to 2014 was used to calculate the estimate volume of water that can be harvested from rain. Of the six Lodges at Phinda, only Forest Lodge had sufficient roofing available to successfully harvest rainwater, as the other Lodges all have thatch roofs. The length and width of all the rainwater harvestable (non-thatch) roofs at Forest Lodge were measured and the area calculated. According to Kinkade-Levario (2007), a maximum of 90% of rainfall can be harvested and the following formula was used to calculate the estimate volume of water that can be harvested: Area (m²) x Rainfall x 0.9 = Volume in litres (or divide by 1000 = m³) The annual rainfall figures from 2012 (874mm), 2013 (492mm) and 2014 (462mm) were used to calculate the potential rainwater harvest. Forest Lodge had a total harvestable roofing area of 3 419m². Table 1 indicates the maximum volume of water that could have been harvested at Forest Lodge during 2012, 2013, and 2014 and states the contribution it could have made towards the overall water consumption at Forest Lodge during these periods.

RAINWATER HARVESTING

The average rainfall from 1995 to 2014 was also considered to determine if the rainfall during the above-mentioned periods was consistent with the longerterm average which was 777mm of rainfall per year. Figure 1 below indicates the average volume of rainwater that could have been harvested annually based on the average rainfall compared to the potential of 2012, 2013 and 2014 (Mearns & Grobler, 2016). In 2012 the annual rainfall was above the average (874mm) whereas the rainfall in 2013 and 2014 were well below the average. In 2016 Forest Lodge installed meters at the staff canteen, laundry, staff quarters, kitchen, guest rooms and the staff laundry to determine the volume used by each section. The results are displayed in figure 2 below. The percentages from the water distribution was applied to the percentages of rainwater harvesting potential and the following conclusions were determined: • In 2012, rainwater would have sustained the laundry as well as the guest rooms for the entire year. • In 2013, rainwater would have sustained only laundry or the kitchen for the entire year. • In 2014, rainwater would have sustained

Table 1: Potential volume of rainwater that could have been harvested at Forest Lodge. Forest Lodge

2012*

2013*

2014*

Rainwater harvesting potential

Percentage rainwater against annual consumption

1 514m³ / 1 514 000 litre

1 422m³ / 1 422 000 litre

Forest Lodge annual consumption

9 479m³ / 9 479 000 litre

14 697m³ / 14 697 000 litre

18 925m³ / 18 925 000 litre

Percentage rainwater against annual consumption

28.4%

10.3%

7.5%

*1m3 = 1000 litres

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RAINWATER HARVESTING

the staff canteen and the staff laundry for the entire year. Rainwater can certainly be used to supplement water supply at tourism accommodation establishments and can contribute to a more sustainable approach with regards to water supply and management. Although Forest Lodge cannot solely rely on rainwater for its existence, in 2012 the potential rainwater that could have been harvested would have supported the guest rooms and the laundry for an entire year. Due to the below average rainfall in 2013 and 2014, rainwater would have had a smaller positive impact, however the volume that could have been harvested could have still be used to sustain the laundry and the kitchen for an entire year in 2013 or the staff canteen and staff laundry in 2014. Phinda is surrounded by local communities and Forest Lodge obtains its water from the same source as these communities: the Mkuze River. Becken (2014) did a study to

determine the contrast between tourism water use and that of the local community across 21 countries. The results showed that in 12 of the countries that were investigated tourism water usage were more than double that of the local community. In Fiji and Sri Lanka tourism water usage were 8.5 times more per person per night than that of the local community. Becken (2014) stated that such imbalances could lead to water conflict situations and that tourism businesses must integrate their needs with local communities to obtain the best outcomes for businesses, tourists, communities and the environment. Since Phinda has close relations with local communities, such unrest can severely impact on their business as well as their corporate image and reputation. It is of utmost importance for Forest Lodge and the other Lodges in the northern section to use water conservatively and ensure that their impact on the Mkuze River does not affect the livelihood of the surrounding

Figure 1: Potential rainwater harvesting volumes from 2012, 2013, 2014 and the average rainfall from 1995 -2014 (Mearns & Grobler, 2016)

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RAINWATER HARVESTING

Figure 2: Water use at Forest Lodge in 2016 (%) communities. Supplementing water supply at Forest Lodge with rainwater would ensure more water is available for local communities and will reduce the chances of community dissatisfaction. Forest Lodge and Phinda management, with the involvement of local government, could even launch a community social investment project to encourage local communities to do the same and harvest their own rainwater. This will result in even less stress on the present water sources and could serve

as a major conservation step to use water more sustainably in the region. Not only will rainwater harvesting reduce tourism’s water footprint, it can also be used to uplift local communities and enhance their lifestyle by having access to water for their basic human needs. Rainwater harvesting can therefor contribute significantly towards water conservation in the tourism sector and play a major role in the social development of local communities.

References • Becken, S. (2014). Water equity – Contrasting tourism water use with that of the local community. Water resources and industry. 7, 9 – 22. • Kinkade-Levario, H. (2007). Design for water: Rainwater harvesting, stormwater catchment and alternate water reuse. New Society Publishers. Gabriola Island. • Mearns, K.F. and Grobler, J.J. (2016). Managing water for tourism in Phinda Private Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Athens Journal for Tourism. 3(3), 193 – 210. • Mwenge Kahinda, J. and Taigbenu , A.E. (2011). Rainwater harvesting in South Africa: Opportunities and Challenges. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth. 36, 968 – 976.

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LOCAL TOURISM

Chapter 14 The ABCD for Local Tourism Associations and Community Tourism Organisations By: Niki Glen

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ourism associations are critical stakeholders within the tourism supply chain, as they act as a conduit between government and the private sector. Local tourism associations (LTAs) and Community Tourism Organisations (CTOs) provide forums for tourism businesses (formal and informal, emerging and established) to communicate and network, while facilitating market access for members. These associations act as the local tourism industry facilitator who support local project implementation. It provides continuity in tourism development as opposed to short-lived tourism projects and interventions. In 2001, KwaZulu-Natal government made it compulsory for tourism related businesses to register with a local CTO before a business license is granted. The benefits for tourism businesses include shared market access and branding associated with KwaZulu-Natalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s richness as a tourism destination and the ability to provide accurate information to tourists. The establishment of CTOs were also viewed as an ideal vehicle to help facilitate community driven tourism development, as CTOs have a good understanding of local content and context. Through the CTO structures, the province has created a path to receive and address tourist complaints in addition to providing accurate tourism statistics at a national level. In addition, in most instances local municipalities support CTOs financially by providing for in the vicinity of 50% of CTO budgets from municipal coffers. KwaZulu-Natal provides for 17 tourism-related services categories, which include accommodation establishments, conference venues or organisers, recreation and entertainment activities, restaurants, sporting facilities, historic and cultural facilities (TKZN, 2016).

LOCAL TOURISM

The N3Gateway Tourism Association, which represents 32 CTOs and LTAs along the N3 route stretching from the city of Tshwane to Durban, found that businesses that do not fall into the 17 compulsory categories also join the associations. The reasons for this is varied, many associations have found that some business join on a voluntary basis because they see the value that tourism bring to the region and they want to participate in the tourism supply chain. In mid-2016, the Sustainable Tourism Partnership Programme (STPP) conducted a short survey to assess the effectiveness LTAs (eight of the nine provinces) and CTOs (KZN only). The survey showed that only 20 % of the respondents did not belong to an LTA or a CTO, but that they mostly believed that associations have an important role to play in tourism. The main reasons cited for not belonging (even within KZN) includes that the associations did not provide any benefits, that they were costly to belong to or that they simply did not exist in that particular area. On the other hand, those businesses that do belong indicated that they mostly enjoyed good benefits, including market access, access to information and focus in growing tourism in the area. Respondents from KZN believed the CTOs are good for the creation of a partnership between government and the private sector to help grow tourism. They felt, however that due to budgetary constraints, full time staff could not be employed, which inherently leads to unsustainable associations. It was also highlighted that CTOs did not have enough recourse to take on businesses that were trading illegally and did not comply to local by-laws. Lack of support from municipalities were also cited as issues. Other issues included high cost of training, lack of collaboration amongst stakeholders, red tape, weak access for SMMEs to trade shows, lack of useful statis-

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LOCAL TOURISM

tics, high costs of utilities. During four years of workshops in numerous towns and communities across South Africa, the STPP has found that these are common challenges that persist throughout the country. Unfortunately these issues are not going to go away overnight, and tourism associations (LTAs and CTOs) will have to persevere and work around these challenges to help build a more sustainable tourism destinations. The question that should be asked are: whose job is it to make associations work and how can associations leverage off current resources? In relation to the first question, Lori Voss, Marketing Manager of the N3 Gateway Tourism Association, believes that the associations that work the hardest are the ones that enjoy the best benefits and have larger member bases. In other words, those associations who are pro-active in providing relevant information regularly to their members, who take ownership of marketing and developing their destination and who interact in a regular basis with their members are the ones who gain more membership and therefore become more self-sufficient. These associations also generally enjoy greater support from their local municipalities. In terms of the second question, every town and community have a relatively large base of tourism products and other businesses (formal and informal) which can be drawn into the tourism value chain. Every town or community is rich in resources – the challenge is to get the resources to work for tourism optimally. In tourism, as in many other industries, people become despondent when they only focus on those things that do not work. This systemic focus on what does not work comes through strongly in the surveys and is often the starting point in workshops when tourism participants are provided with an opportu-

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nity to share their views on the sustainability of the industry. In moving forward, the application of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) principles approaches are therefore be very useful in mobilising local associations and their members into changing their perspectives and shifting their paradigms. ABCD is an approach commonly practiced by developed organisations and it maps the assets within a community, including human, social, financial, and physical assets (Wu & Pearce, 2014) Where other forms of development methodologies look at ideal scenario’s and identify gaps or short-comings, the ABCD approach looks at what already exists and how to mobilise existing resources. “The principle behind an ABCD approach is that when [tourism stakeholders] recognize their assets and opportunities, they are more likely to be motivated to to take initiative to mobilize and strengthen their asset base” (Coady International Institute and Elamanzi, 2013, p. 1). Let us then start looking at what it is that tourism destinations do have and what they can work with, and the reasons for despondency becomes overshadowed by positivity. Almost all towns within KZN and across South Africa can list many compelling reasons for tourists visiting their destinations, including nature based attractions, community and cultural attractions, events, festivals, adventures and so on. The tourism industries are stocked to the brim with passionate people who want success for their businesses as well as the places they live in. Every town has a good base of local labour, and each town possess a unique and interesting mix of culture and heritage. All towns have good cooks and chefs, landscapers, soap makers, crafters, sewing cooperatives, builders and handymen,

plumbers and electricians, fitness fanatics, cyclists, runners, churches, historical buildings, heritage sites and so on. Many towns have good hospitals and relatively good infrastructure (roads, water, electricity and telecommunication and are located within rich agricultural or natural regions. Many associations are already part of a route that interlinks a multitude of towns, communities or places of common interest, e.g. the N3 route, the N12 route, the Garden Route, the Midlands Meander and the wine routes. Put all of the above into the mix, and most towns and community have a strong foundation to build a sustainable tourism industry. What is required is to look beyond what is holding tourism growth and development back, and focus on improving livelihoods and local economies with what is already in place. “There is a growing dependence on external rather than internal resources and relationships” (Coady International Institute and Elamanzi, 2013, p. 6)

LOCAL TOURISM

i.e. the need for funding and support from municipalities. “Existing efforts, assets, and resources of the community are undervalued and overlooked” (Coady International Institute and Elamanzi, 2013, p. 6) i.e. tourism stakeholders are not always focussed on mobilising for success with what they already possess. New funding models are emerging whereby the resources to support development is extracted from within communities instead of from external 3rd party funders (Matimelo, 2017). The most important assets that a town and a community possess, are people that are willing and able to bring about change. These people can use the tools and assets at their disposal to catalyse tourism development in each town and community across South Africa. Many towns and tourism destinations are already successful despite the ongoing challenges that creates despondency. ABCD needs to become a way of life.

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SKÅL INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

Chapter 15 Skål International sustainable Tourism awards By: Skål International

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occasion, the best practices of responsible and sustainable tourism worldwide will be recognised. The criteria for the Sustainable Tourism are an effort to reach a common understanding and represent the minimum sustainability principles that a tourism company should aspire to. We must encourage tourism activities that are respectful of the natural, cultural and social environment and that aligned with the values of the community and permit a positive exchange of experiences between residents and visitors and where the relationship between the tourist and the community is fair and equitable. This balance is where the travellers have a truly participatory attitude in the travel experience. They say that we travel to

change, not places, but ideas. Travel transforms the way of thinking, therefore, travelling is a valuable tool for change; change that comprises us in a personal way, which involves changing our way of living, our attitude towards the world and ourselves. Mahatma Gandhi said “Travel is the language of peace”; a peace that we must foster not only among human beings but also with the environment. Skål International is the leading organisation of travel and tourism professionals worldwide founded in 1934 promoting networking and business among friends. With over 15.000 members and a presence in 92 countries, it unites all the sectors of the world’s fastest growing industry. Skål is an Affiliate Member of the UNWTO whose mission is to promote the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism and supports other important international organisations such as IIPT, The Code, ECPAT, ICTP, STI. Following the United Nations declaration of 2002 as the Year of Ecotourism and the Mountains, Skål International launched the Sustainable Tourism Awards in the same year, to highlight and acknowledge best practices around the globe. As an international organisation of tourism industry leaders, Skål International is a powerful force in the travel and tourism industry to initiate change and encourage the conservation of the environment in order to promote tourism. Now in its 16th year, the Sustainable Tourism Awards, while highlighting best practices in tourism around the world, also serve the purpose of acquainting the world with this new concept that puts emphasis on the importance of the interaction of the physical, cultural and social environment, the traveller’s responsibility and the need for active community participation for Sus-

SKÅL INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

tainability. A total of 648 companies from all over the world have been submitted since the launch of these prestigious awards in 2002.

Any company from the public and private sector, NGOs and government agencies worldwide are welcome to enter in one of the nine available categories: • • • • • • • • •

Tour Operators Urban Accommodation Rural Accommodation Transportation Countryside and Wildlife Marine Community and Government Projects Major Tourist Attractions Educational Institutions/Programmes and Media There is no entry fee and the only requirement is to complete the online application form before the closing date of 30 June 2017 at 23:59 CET. All sustainable operations and activities must be implemented by the category, NGO or agency applying for the award. Projects that are not yet in operation are not eligible. When completing the application form, participants will be required to enclose a letter of endorsement from a tourism organisation, government or local authorities, information on the entry and a link to a video where the sustainable activities are highlighted. Skål International selects a panel of three judges who are experts in the field of sustainability. They make the evaluation of all the entries received independently based on leadership criteria in sustainability that encompass tangible, measureable benefits to the environment, enhance business and the society and communities in which they operate. Over these years, we have

THE TOURISM HANDBOOK

SKÅL INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

counted on the valuable collaboration of judges representing Green Globe, Rainforest Alliance, UNEP, Sustainable Travel International, Sealed Air/Diversey Care among others. May we particularly highlight the United Nations World Tourism Organisation that has been part of the jury for twelve consecutive years with the valuable cooperation of several Directors from their Sustainable Tourism Development Department. The Skål International Sustainable Tourism Awards Ceremony is held annually during the Skål World Congress that every year takes place in a different site selected by the General Assembly of Skål Club delegates. The President of Skål International presents the awards to the nine winners who are invited to personally collect the trophies.

Why should you enter these Awards?

• To enhance visibility and get recogni-

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•

• •

•

tion of your outstanding performance in terms of sustainable and responsible tourism. To increase your contacts and introduce your products and services to professionals from the tourism industry from all over the world. To obtain media coverage among the entire Skål membership worldwide and our international press contacts. To personally collect the award during the Opening Ceremony of the 78th Skål World Congress on 6 October 2017 in Hyderabad, India. To experience the membership of Skål at first hand.

For full information on Skål International, please visit www.skal.org. For further details on the Skål Sustainable Tourism Awards, visit https://www.skal.org/en/sustainableguidelines. The contact person is Ms. Sandra Vera from the Skål International Headquarters: sandra.vera@skal.org

UGANDA SKÅL INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE AUTHORITY AWARDS

Uganda’s Amazing Tourist Attractions

ganda has a tourism base that any tourist would dream of visiting. The wildlife apart (animal populations have shown remarkably positive trends in recent years), Uganda boasts of the most amazing scenery. Within and outside the National Parks the breathtaking beauty of Uganda’s countryside has been the subject of many conversations, news stories and documentaries. A drive from the Ugandan capital Kampala to the south-west of the country offers grand views of serene terraced hills of Kigezi highlands code-named the Switzerland of Africa. The drive through these hills takes you to the home of the famed Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The park is a World Heritage Site and is host to more than 340 gorillas that are half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population. The spectacular Murchison Falls, in Murchison Falls National Park which stirs all sorts of emotions in everyone that beholds their beauty, are the main reason for the popularity of this park. The mighty River Nile, the longest river in the world drops 45 metres through a narrow gorge of 6 metres wide with amazing force. Uganda is the bird watcher’s paradise. It has over 1,000 bird species representing11% of the

global diversity. Of the 1,500 species of East Africa 72% are found in Uganda. Apart from the rare Shoebill there are several other papyrus swamp and water specialist to look for. The 120km Rwenzori Mountains chain is regarded to the legendary snow capped mountains of the moon described by Ptolemy in AD 150. Reaching an elevation of 5,109m it is also Africa’s tallest mountain range. Rwenzori is rated to be the most challenging and fascinating of all Africa’s mountain. Rwenzori Mountains National Park is a World Heritage Site. The 4,321m Mt. Elgon extinct volcano which in prehistoric times stood taller than Kilimanjaro today has the world’s largest caldera of 40km2. The ultimate excitement of climbing the mountain is the descent into this vast caldera. Game viewing in the savannah parks is another major attraction and activity for visitors. Uganda has over 13 species of primates including our closest relative the Chimpanze. The primate walks in the tropical rain forests are the most rewarding experience. These include chimp tracking and the habituation experience. The habituation experience involves following the chimps during their daily activities thereby getting them used to human presence without altering their natural behaviour. THE TOURISM HANDBOOK

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TLADI LODGE

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ROUTE MARKETING BENEFITS

Chapter 16 Should I join forces with my neighbour - the competition? The benefits of route marketing to the tourism industry By: Lori Voss

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ROUTE MARKETING BENEFITS

y husband and I have often headed to the picturesque farming communities for a holiday and returned to the concrete jungle, with the thought of packing it all in and running a bed and breakfast or lodge in the country. A lifestyle cantered around harvesting local produce, collecting eggs every morning, listening to the cows as they go about their daily business, feeling completely relaxed in the slow pace of life and of course the fact that we would have the most amazing view everyday certainly does excite us. How hard could it be?

the potholes in the area. You also have representation at various trade fairs and exhibitions around the country or the world. Tourism Associations bring together places and activities in a particular geographical area under a specific marketing theme. The length of stay is increased due to a wide range of activities and attractions on offer, which in turn increases average, spend per tourist. Tourism organizations provide tourism providers with education in various marketing platforms, social media courses, guide training, sustainability skills, marketing and creative strategies, which all improve on their tourism product.

Unfortunately, there are numerous dreams acted upon with no strategy in place, too soon after attending the launch party we hear of the business closing. With any business, research, planning, capital, staff and a budget for marketing is always required. The same applies in the tourism industry, we scrimp on the marketing and our wonderful business doesn’t reach the needed turnover to sustain itself. Before you launch your tourism business, it is always in your best interest to research who your marketing partner would be to get your business exposed to the right traveler. Making it on your own requires a large amount of monetary and time investment. However, joining an existing tourism organization of the area, plus your local provincial tourism body is of importance. Once you become a member to your local tourism organization, you have the power of a great voice to travellers researching travel to your area or perhaps travellers researching according to activity or style of accommodation. Being part of a group you have a stronger voice when with municipal issues for example fixing

Tourism organizations assist the traveller with: • • • • • • • • • • •

Niche itineraries; Information on the area; Activities ; Accommodation; Restaurants; Local shops; Attractions to photograph; Local community projects; Volunteer opportunities; Events ; and Off the beaten track itineraries

Tourism Organizations not only provide the tourism provider with a wonderful marketing platform, they also have huge benefits for their members to enjoy. These include: • • • • • •

Greater economic opportunities; Public-private partnerships; Training; Creative strategies; Inter-cultural understanding ; Insight studies on travellers focused on the area;

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â&#x20AC;˘ Equitable distribution of wealth; â&#x20AC;˘ Cross marketing and collaboration with governmental tourism bodies; and â&#x20AC;˘ Co-operative working relationships between different service providers. Through more effective marketing, the tourism industry has a greater likelihood of success and consequently, your business and the communities around you have a greater likelihood to sustain themselves.

Case Study:

The N3 Gateway came about as a result of a clear need for collaboration, cross-marketing and sharing of best practice amongst the tourism organizations and stakeholders along the N3 corridor and into Lesotho. Its purpose is to function as an umbrella association of tourism related entities, fostering a spirit of collaboration and collectively marketing and showcasing the tourism experiences of its 33 members and approximately 1700 Stakeholders (tourism businesses). The N3 Gateway region stretches from Pretoria in the North to Valley of a Thousand Hills in the South, thereby traversing four provinces, namely KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Mpumalanga and Gauteng. The region incorporates cross-border tourism with Lesotho through Phuthaditjhaba, Caledonspoort and Sani Pass and includes the Battlefields Route up to Newcastle. The route has done multiple research studies on their target audience and has aligned themselves with both public and private sector. The N3 Gateway is constantly seeking to empower their members through member engagement workshops, strategic partnerships, and assisting members on mediation with the public sector. Lesotho, a stunning mountainous country, which houses amazing tourism assets, has a low international traveller figure

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compared to South Africa. In 2001 the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfontier Conservation area was founded, comprising of Sehlathebe National Park in Lesotho and uKhahlamba Drakensberg National Park in South Africa. This park allows for visitors to each area to visit the next, thereby both countries enjoying the flow of tourists. For the N3 Gateway the need to partner with Lesotho tourism associations was driven by its followers. An online survey run by the N3 Gateway, which received close to 6 000 survey entrants, suggested that 35% of participants would like to learn more about Lesotho and 69% had not yet visited Lesotho. The N3 Gateway began informing and engaging their followers through blog posts, competitions whilst advising on various itineraries one could experience. The N3 Gateway Social media platforms suggested 192 000 views for the competition. The N3 Gateway constantly looks to combine tourism experiences with Lesotho, through promotion of the Southern Drakensberg with Sani Pass; Clarens and Golden Gate with cross border self-drive options into Lesotho via Caledeenspoort and Maseru. This is done either through blogs, newsletters, itineraries, brochures and competitions. In 2013, Lesotho received 431 000 international tourists, of which 265 000 visited friends and relatives. The leisure tourist accounted for 119 033 travelers, of this number 92 % came from South Africa. The South African market suggested Sani Pass was their number one reason (42% of leisure travelers), Katse Dam was second with 12% of leisure travelers and AfriSki in third place with 9% of leisure travelers. The leisure overnight tourist spent on average M 1 141 per day in Lesotho, with the day visitors spending M400 per day. European tourists spent M 1,250 per day. Ninety-nine percent of leisure travellers,

mentioned they would recommend Lesotho to friends and family, as they found it most enjoyable, with their popular highlights being scenery, mountains, landscape and the friendly people. The majority of entries into Lesotho were through Sani Pass, Caledeenspoort and Maseru. The majority of entrants also mentioned that they had heard about Lesotho through word of mouth, a previous visit and tourism websites. Most households of this landlocked country survive on subsistence farming and migrant labour, with 49% (1999) of the population living below the poverty line. The government has looked to increase industry in the textile, mohair, leather, mining and tourism sector to try alleviate this high percentage. Currently tourism has a direct contribution of 5.5% of Lesothoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (2013). In 2013, travel and tourism in Lesotho supported 25 000 jobs. The World Travel and Tourism Council predict this will increase by 3.2 % each year over

ROUTE MARKETING BENEFITS

the next decade. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) states that by 2030, 58% of all international travel will be to emerging destinations. With the world turning more and more to experiential tourism, Lesotho will benefit hugely by this trend in travel. Including Lesotho in the N3 Gateway tourism route will certainly benefit South African tourism businesses along the N3 Gateway, as more tourists make use of the N3 Toll Concession road and pass through the corridor to enter and experience Lesotho. Marketing tourism routes certainly increases travel and tourism jobs, boosts local economies, alleviates poverty lines and sustains tourism businesses. More effective marketing strategies combined with the adoption of more sustainable business practices will pay off for the business that is willing to take the initiative. So, to answer the question as to whether you should join your competitors in marketing, the answer is very clear!

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TOURISM EDUCATION

Chapter 17 Advocating responsible and sustainable tourism through education By: Nivashnee Naidoo

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ver the past few years, there has been tremendous call for advocacy campaigns around responsible and sustainable tourism, its importance and how it should be implemented. These campaigns have predominantly been aimed at public sector (government) and in my opinion, a limited private sector stakeholder base e.g. communities. The challenges posed and improvement programmes implemented has inadvertently placed too little emphasis on a very important advocacy group i.e. the future generation on this planet, our children! Sustainability is often defined as "meeting human needs today in such a way that future generations can meet their own needs”. As responsible and sustainable tourism advocates, we holler about saving the planet and creating sustainable lifestyles, but we have not taken steps to shout loud enough to gain the support of this said future generation, our children, who are often the key decision makers in our lives. You may ask how they are the key decision makers. Well, ponder on these questions (especially if you have kids) …. (1) The last time you were trying to decide on the best holiday destination, did you not consider what the destination has to “entertain” your children or if the facilities were “child-friendly”? (2) The last time you went grocery shopping; did you not consider a store that stocks all the items your children need? Imagine then if these same children forced us to travel to a responsible destination or to purchase only biodegradable items? Like it or not, our children are key influencers and any form of advocacy needs to include them as key stakeholders. We can ensure this happens by promoting the importance of “Education for Sustainable

TOURISM EDUCATION

Development (ESD)” programmes at every educational institutional level including those at community based level. Having said this though, it is important that any attempt at ESD programmes need to outline the fundamental distinction between education about sustainable development and education for sustainable development. Too often these are used interchangeably and flaw the objective of the programme. Education about sustainable development is more of an awareness campaign in the form of theoretical discussions. Education for sustainable development on the other hand, includes initiatives structured in such a manner that they can be used as tools to achieve sustainability. Unfortunately, there seems to be a trend amongst most stakeholders developing ESD programmes, to steer it toward “education about sustainable development”. This is especially prominent in Community Based Tourism (CBT) initiatives for example and ultimately leads to these communities not having an adequate understanding of “how-to” implement sustainability initiatives that will address poverty alleviation and job creation attempts. Cognisance needs to be taken of the fact that our children are growing up in a world that is quite different from what we are used to. Key social-economic, environmental and technological changes will bring about new challenges and opportunities in an increasingly interdependent world. This will in turn influence the lifestyle decisions they make. It is therefore our opportunity now to start encouraging processes like sustainable consumption through education at all these crucial levels. So, how do we contribute to advocacy of responsible and sustainable tourism through education? It is an undeniable fact that while many individuals have difficulty envisioning a

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sustainable world, they have no difficulty identifying unsustainable practices, even if done so unconsciously. In most social circles common dialogue has recently been centred on topics such as the inefficient use of energy, lack of processes to conserve water, the detrimental effect of increased pollution, abuses of human rights and consumerism. But what have we actually done to convert these challenges into opportunities and to find suitable solutions to addressing them? Very little! As the saying goes, it is better late than never so let us start now. Here are two very practical examples of how the change can start with us now!

Sustainable Education Institutes

Regardless of whether we are referring to children that are in primary, secondary school or university, the learning programmes developed should be those that links knowledge, behaviours, skills and action that will help these learners identify ways of how to build healthier ecosystems, social systems and economies toward a more sustainable future for the communities from where they come and the planet in its entirety. Educational curriculums today have extremely limited content on sustainability. It needs to be more profound with practical course work that makes such an impact on the children and those around then that they will all be influenced in such a manner that embarking on sustainable lifestyles will be second nature to them. Practical homework exercises need to be introduced e.g. going to their local store and identifying non-biodegradable products. They can then embark on their own educational drive by informing the store owner of the benefits of stocking biodegradable products. Their take back could involve a return

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visit at a later stage to the store to establish if that owner has taken their advice. This not only educates the child, but others in their social circle as well. Educational institutes need to implement responsible practices within their own environment e.g. recycling projects. Instead of getting children to just plant trees on Arbor Day, why not get them to do a whole presentation on how the planting of these trees contributes to sustainability. We need to make sure that the professional development tools introduced at these institutions are those that prepare educators and students to commence using sustainability as an integrating theme in their curriculum. These tools need to be the catalyst that brings about change by propelling them toward the efficient use of existing sustainable resources to bring about change. They can then take these self-guided lessons into their homes and social circles to convert the thinking and practices of others bringing about a cultural change toward responsible and sustainable choices.

Sustainable Knowledge Hubs within and amongst communities:

As mentioned previously, CBT is increasingly becoming an essential channel for the advocacy of responsible and sustainable tourism practices. Good community-based decisions, which will affect social, economic, and environmental well-being, ultimately depend on educated individuals. (It must be noted that â&#x20AC;&#x153;educatedâ&#x20AC;? in this context by no means refers to individuals who had to have attended a formal educational institution, but rather those who have been trained in a skill that their livelihood depends on). Many of these individuals have implemented initiatives, but some of these have proven to be unsuccessful because

they have been exposed to information about sustainable development but not on how to implement practices that has longevity and makes a difference toward a sustainable future. Education once again is key. It starts with primary training mechanisms that assist these communities develop practical initiatives that will lead to responsible and suitability of their businesses and ultimately a thriving community. This can be in the form of children sharing ideas with the communities as cited above right through to creating a need for interdependence amongst different communities to share knowledge. The challenge here is that communities, like any other business hub, are often competitive. This may result in them seeing such initiatives as being a risk i.e. if they share their ideas with another community; they expose themselves to the possibility that their ideas will be stolen and implemented elsewhere. The trick here would be to introduce interchangeable Knowledge Hubs amongst communities. It could be for example at a local government level. The idea is to establish an information portal facility, managed by the local government, where communities can share information, ideas, successful practices with one another. This could also serve as a platform for service providers to share information with the communities and educate them on, for example sustainable products that can be used by the communities. In essence, the hub will

TOURISM EDUCATION

serve as a dynamic and interactive educational channel for the collection and dissemination of information relating to community based initiatives, shared experiences, best practices and knowledge about sustainable and responsible tourism products and/or services. The educational lessons can emanate in the form of newsletters, events, information workshops, networking opportunities, etc; all at community level. The relationship between education and sustainable development is undeniably complex. Nevertheless, I hope that through this brief chapter I have impressed upon you the absolute need for education ABOUT and FOR sustainable development. Education is undoubtedly a critical tool for achieving sustainability, irrespective of what level it is offered. Generally, research shows that basic education is key to a country's ability to develop and achieve sustainability targets. Most individuals recognize the fact that existing economic development trends in relation to sustainable development are not sustainable and it is their responsibility to ensure that steps are taken to become more responsible in this regard. Advocacy and awareness campaigns at all societal levels education and training is the key to moving society toward not only understanding but living in a responsible way and contributing to sustainability. An educated nation is vital to implementing informed responsible and sustainable development hence it starts with us by educating ourselves and those around us!

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Conferencing at Msinsi ResoRts and GaMe ReseRves We invite you to breakaway to Msinsi Resorts and Game Reserves situated on KZNs largest and most exquisite dams in spectacular settings.

Our resorts are unique and no more than half hour drive from either Durban or Pietermaritzburg; offering a natural location for conferences and workshops.

Visitors can also indulge in a variety of activities ranging from fishing and water sports, rock climbing, hiking, cycling, bird watching and game drives. No, that is not all... Msinsi Resorts and Game Reserves also offers self-camp, caravan, tented camp, lodges and chalets accommodation.

. e. Welcome to our worltdhrough natur Msinsi – wellness Central booking: Tel: +27 (0)31 765 7724 Website: www.msinsi.co.za Email: msinsi.marketing@msinsi.co.za

inG bRat Cele

25 y e a

Conferences facilities are available in formal or casual settings and are attended by professional staff.

The supreme sense of well-being and the sheer joy of being outdoors, close to the elements – whether its vast expanses of water, mountains, or green open spaces – is the glorious gift for our heads and hearts, just there, waiting to work its magic.

There’s a whole green world waiting out there for you. Come outside and feel the difference.

Travel Directory

TRAVEL DIRECTORY

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;acknowledging the efforts of tourism businesses to maximize their postive impacts and minimize impacts on local communities and the environment.

he modern premium tourist is becoming less interested in the experiencing only the natural beauty of a place and the attraction of a resort. Tourism are looking to experience local culture beyond a handful of performers offering customary dress and song, and a selection of specialties on a menu, they want to be immersed, to not feel so much like tourists, and they want to feel that their presence in that place is having a positive impact. To this end tourism business that demonstrate these positive impacts and efforts to reduce negative impacts will be more successful, especially at achieving return and referral business, and in a time of ultra-connectedness through the internet and social media,

what could be more important? This directory section enables tourism buyers to see the intrinsic tourism value being offered by a the business through their promotional material, but also to get a clear sense of what steps that business is taking towards being more responsible and sustainable. The directory provides an open book, with businesses in this directory saying: Hey there, come to this place because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautiful here, and rest assured that your visit will leave us all better off, so relax and enjoy, and better still send your friends and come back again and again.. Information presented is as supplied by the tourism business featured.

COMPANY

PAGE

African Sun Hotels 122-123Classified Safaris 116 Eningu Clayhouse 110 Gansbaai Tourism 120-121 Inverdoorn Game Reserve 126 Le Franschoek Hotel and Spa 118 Lusaka Grand Hotel 112 Mount Neru Hotel 114 Msinsi Resort 108 Sol Plaatje Municipality 124-125

Energy

Human Health

Management

Water

Social

Resources

Environmental Health

3rd party verification and certification

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Space Space and and tranquillity; tranquillity; creativity, style creativity, style and and inspiration; archaeology and tranquillity; Space and tranquillity; Space and tranquillity; inspiration; archaeology and art; food and good style and creativity, style and inspiration; creativity, style and andcreativity, art; fine fine food and good company… inspiration; archaeology inspiration; archaeology and art; fine food company… archaeology

art; finecompany… food and good and and art; fine food and good and good Eningu –Lodge company… Eningu company… –- The The Lodge in in the the Kalahari Kalahari

Eningu The Lodge inin the Kalahari Eningu –- The Lodge inthe theKalahari Kalahari Eningu -–-The Lodge

Eningu is a window on the Kalahari, a creative view from a place of wonderful Eningu is a window on the Kalahari, a creative view from a place of wonderful style and beauty; a lodge imbued with warmth, handcraft and art, nestled in camel style and beauty; a lodge imbued with warmth, handcraft and art, nestled in camel Eningu is a window on the Kalahari, a creativeof view from a place of wonderful thorn savannah, where the last rocky outcrops the central Namibian highlands Eningu is a iswindow onthe the Kalahari, a creative from a from place aofplace wonderful thorn savannah, where outcrops ofview the central Namibian highlands Eningu a window onlast therocky Kalahari, a creative of wonderfu style andjagged beauty; a lodge imbued with warmth, handcraft and art, nestled in are camel dip their backs into deep red sands, creating theview gentle ripples that the style and beauty; a lodge imbued with warmth, handcraft and art, nestled in camel dip style their and jagged backs into deep red sands, creating the gentle ripples that are the beauty; a lodge imbued with warmth, handcraft and art, nestled in came thorn savannah, wherethe thelast lastrocky rocky outcrops outcrops of of the central Namibian highlands first dunes of thewhere Kalahari. thorn savannah, the central Namibian highlands firstthorn dunessavannah, of the Kalahari. where the last rocky outcrops of gentle the central Namibian highland diptheir theirjagged jaggedbacks backs intodeep deep red sands, sands, creating creating the the dip into red gentle ripples ripples that that are are the the dip their jaggedLodge, backs situated into deep sands, creating 70km the gentle that are th Eningu Clayhouse onred Farm Peperkorrel, from ripples the Airport, first dunes the Kalahari. first dunes of the Kalahari. Eningu Clayhouse Lodge, situated on of Farm Peperkorrel, 70km from the Airport, firstnine dunes of the Kalahari. offers private, individually styled guest rooms, a swimming pool with offers nine private, individually styled guest rooms, a swimming pool with whirlpool, a rooftop sundeck, a lounge, and outdoor dining areas, Eningu Lodge, situated on Peperkorrel, 70km from from theAirport, Airport,an EninguClayhouse Clayhouse Lodge, situated on Farmindoor 70km the whirlpool, a rooftop sundeck, a lounge, indoor and outdoor dining areas, an Eningu Clayhouse Lodge, situated on Farm Peperkorrel, 70km from the Airpor archery range, aprivate, wineindividually cellar, a souvenir shop androoms, much more. offers nine private, styled guest rooms, a swimming pool with off ers nine individually styled guest a swimming pool with archery range, a wine cellar, a souvenir shop and much more. offers nine private, individually styled rooms, adining swimming pool wit whirlpool, a rooftop indoorguest andoutdoor outdoordining areas, whirlpool, a rooftopsundeck, sundeck,aa lounge, lounge, indoor and areas, an an Bookings: whirlpool, rooftop sundeck, a shop lounge, indoormore. and outdoor dining areas, a archery range, aawine cellar, a souvenir and much Bookings: archery range, a wine cellar, a souvenir shop and155 much more. Phone: +264 64 464 144 / Fax: +264 64 464

kalahari creative kalahari kalaharicreative creative

Phone:cellar, +264 64a464 144 / Fax: +264and 64 464 155 more. archery range, a wine souvenir shop much info@eningulodge.com / www.eningulodge.com info@eningulodge.com / www.eningulodge.com Bookings: Phone: +264 64 464 144 / Bookings: Fax: +264 64 464 155 info@eningulodge.com / www.eningulodge.com

Phone: +264 64 464 144 / Fax: +264 64 464 155 info@eningulodge.com / www.eningulodge.com

Lodge direct: Tel +264 62 581 880 • PO Box 11558 • Windhoek • Namibia Bookings: Phone: +264 64 464 144 • Fax: +264 64 464 155 info@eningulodge.com • www.eningulodge.com

Space Space and and creativity, creativity, inspiration Space Space and t inspiration and art; creativity, creativity, andcreativ art; fin fins company… inspira inspiration; archaeolo company…

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Organic farming practices?

% of total electricity?

70-80

International health standards?

Installed SWH/heat pumps? % of water heated this way? Energy Star rated appliances? Gas stoves? LED lights? Natural lighting? Natural ventilation? Efficient air-conditioning? Low flow faucets and WC’s? Grey water recycling? Rain water harvesting? Water from streams, boreholes etc? Water wise planting? Water efficient irrigation? Water efficient pool? Separation at source? Active recycling? Worm farms and/or composting? Veggie gardens etc.? Farming operations?

Y 100 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y N N Y Y Y N

Eco paints, décor and furnishings? Eco cleaning products preferred? Universally accessible for disabled?

Eningu The L Eningu –- Th Eningu -–-The L

Eningu is a window on the Kalah Eningu is a window on the Kalah style and beauty; a lodge imbued w style and beauty; a lodge imbued w Eningu is a window on the Kalah thorn savannah, where the last roc Eningu is a iswindow onthe the Kalaha thorn savannah, where Eningu a window onlast theroc K style and beauty; a lodge imbued w dip into deep re styletheir and jagged beauty;backs a lodge imbued w dip their jagged backs into deep re style and beauty; a lodge imbu thorn savannah, wherethe thelast lastroc roc first dunes of thewhere Kalahari. thorn savannah, first dunes of the Kalahari. thorn savannah, where the las dip theirjagged jaggedbacks backs intodeep deep re dip their into re dip their jaggedLodge, backs situated into de Eningu Clayhouse fi rst du first dunes of the Kalahari. Eningu Clayhouse Lodge, situated first dunes of the Kalahari. offers nine private, individually offers nine private, individually whirlpool, a rooftop sundeck, a Eningu Lodge, situated EninguClayhouse Clayhouse Lodge, situated whirlpool, a rooftop sundeck, a Eningu Clayhouse Lodge, sit archery range, aprivate, wine cellar, a souv offers private, offnine ers nine individually archery range, a wineindividually cellar, a souv sou offers nine private, individu whirlpool, a rooftop whirlpool, a rooftopsundeck, sundeck,aa whirlpool, rooftop sundeck archery range, aawine cellar, a souv archery range, a wine ce Phone: +264 64

Y Y

Unspoilt food waste to staff? Local sourcing of goods? Community projects?

kalaha kalaha kalah

Phone:cellar, +264 64a archery range, a wine info@eningulod

Food and décor themes locally relevant? Are staff given fair terms?

Namibia

Renewable energy?

info@eningulod Phone: +264 64 4 info@eningulodg

Phone: +26 info@enin

Y Y Y

Lodge direct: Tel +264 62 581 Bookings: Phone: +26 info@eningulodg

Gardens conducive for local species? Biome protection/rehabilitation? Operate an active conservation area? If so, are best practices in action? Best practice water and sanitation? Environmental policy?

Y Y Y Y Y Y

Eco procurement policy? Staff training?

Y Y

Customer awareness?

Community awareness? Previously certified?

Y Y

Currently certified? Yes

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% of total electricity? Installed SWH/heat pumps? % of water heated this way? Energy Star rated appliances? Gas stoves? LED lights? Natural lighting? Natural ventilation? Efficient air-conditioning? Low flow faucets and WC’s? Grey water recycling? Rain water harvesting? Water from streams, boreholes etc? Water wise planting? Water efficient irrigation? Water efficient pool? Separation at source? Active recycling? Worm farms and/or composting? Veggie gardens etc.? Farming operations?

N 0 N 0 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N N N N

Organic farming practices? International health standards? Eco paints, décor and furnishings? Eco cleaning products preferred? Universally accessible for disabled? Food and décor themes locally relevant? Are staff given fair terms? Unspoilt food waste to staff? Local sourcing of goods? Community projects?

Biome protection/rehabilitation? Operate an active conservation area? If so, are best practices in action? Best practice water and sanitation? Environmental policy?

Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Y Y N Y Y Y

Eco procurement policy? Staff training?

Y Y

Customer awareness?

Community awareness?

Currently certified? Yes

Gardens conducive for local species?

Previously certified?

N Zambia

Renewable energy?

Y N N

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115

The Mount Meru Hotel which is situated at the foothills of Mount Meru in Northern Tanzania is a 178 room 4 star luxurious hotel. The hotel boasts a magnificent and tastefully decorated Marquee with a capacity of hosting up to 1000 people for various events such as conferences, exhibitions, weddings etc. With 4 beautifully decorated conference halls and 4 restaurants which provide the discerning traveler with a wide choice of dining experiences. It is an ideal venue for all types of functions, weddings and conferences.

Tel: +255 27 297 0256| Fax: +255 27 297 0267 Website:www.mountmeruhotel.co.tz| Email: info@mountmeruhotel.co.tz

N 0 N 0 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y N

Biome protection/rehabilitation? Operate an active conservation area? If so, are best practices in action? Best practice water and sanitation? Environmental policy?

Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Y N N N Y Y

Eco procurement policy? Staff training?

Y Y

Customer awareness?

Community awareness?

Currently certified? Yes

Gardens conducive for local species?

Previously certified?

Tanzania

Renewable energy?

Y Y Y

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117

Classified di

te d

Safaries

To N a t u r e

Classified Safaris is a Botswana registered tour Operator Company based in Kasane, Botswana. We offer tented camping safaris throughout most of Botswana’s national parks and game reserves, which includes the Chobe national park, Savuti, Moremi game reserve, Central Kalahari game reserve, Nxai and Makgadikgadi national parks. Our activities includes, flexible game drives, boat cruises, Victoria Falls day trips, educational tours, cultural activities, bird watching safaris and local and over landing transfers. We also provide for tailor-made safaris to suit your needs.

Contact details: P. O. Box 236, Kasane, Botswana • Tel/Fax +267 6251094 • +267 71691259/71421153/73697601 Email: classiﬁedsafaris@btcmail.co.bw • Email: spokesntshwabi@gmail.com • Web: www.classiﬁedsafaris.com

N 0 N 0 N Y Y Y Y Y N N Y Y Y N N N N N Y N

Biome protection/rehabilitation? Operate an active conservation area? If so, are best practices in action? Best practice water and sanitation? Environmental policy?

N Y N N Y Y Y

Y Y Y Y Y Y

Eco procurement policy? Staff training?

Y Y

Customer awareness?

Community awareness?

Currently certified? Yes

Gardens conducive for local species?

Previously certified?

Botswana

Renewable energy?

Y N N

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119

Room

• • • • • • •

Configuration

Nearby Entertainment

79 Bedrooms in Total 15 Suites 18 Deluxe Rooms 28 Standard Rooms 8 two bedroomed villas 8 one bedroomed villas 2 Lavish Villas

Wine tasting Chocolate Tasting Picnics Museum Cultural

In Room Facilities

Wi-Fi

DSTV Channels

espresso machine

direct dial telephones

Tea & coffee

hair dryers

Airunder floor conditioning heating

Hotel Facilities & Activities

Camelot Spa

Wedding Chapel

Shuttle Service

On-site WIFI

Bar & Lounge

Room Service

3 On Site Restaurants

Parking Area

Sparkling Swimming Pool

Conference Venues

Tennis Court

Food & Beverage Service Times Breakfast

Lunch

La Pavillion 07:00 – 10:30 am

Bar & Lounge 12:00 – 23:00 pm

16 Minor Rd, Franschhoek

www.lefranschhoek.co.za reservations@lefranschhoek.co.za +27 (0) 21 876 8900

Dinner

Dish Restaurant & Le Verger (seasonal) 18:00 – 22:00 pm

Y 40 N 0 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y N N N

Biome protection/rehabilitation? Operate an active conservation area? If so, are best practices in action? Best practice water and sanitation? Environmental policy?

Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y

Y Y Y Y Y Y

Eco procurement policy? Staff training?

Y Y

Customer awareness?

Community awareness?

Currently certified? Yes

Gardens conducive for local species?

Previously certified?

South Africa

Renewable energy?

Y Y Y

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ADVERTORIAL

NATURAL ADVENTURE DESTINATION

From the spectacular cliffs of Gansbaaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s De Kelders to the miles of white sandy beaches of Pearly Beach, you will find one of the most unique and astonishing coastlines teeming with marine life. The surrounding area of Baardskeerdersbos and the Uilkraal valley is full of unique endemic fynbos and forests providing shelter and food for our shy and diverse terrestrial wild animals. To further encourage you to spend some time here there are intriguing places to stay, to eat and of course to have fun. Maintaining to a large extent the original fishing village life-style, Gansbaai has developed with low impact into an exciting natural outdoor destination for foreign and domestic travellers offering a laid back, warm and memorable experience. The main reason that Gansbaai area has become a premier nature

destination in South Africa is the fact that conservation of both the marine- and land-based nature has been embraced by all layers of society. Gansbaai is known for its rich marine heritage and boasts as not only the Great White Shark Capital of the World but also the best whale watching in the world. The three opportunities of whale watching include land, sea and air based. Adding to this is the endangered African Penguin, seals and dolphins around the famous Dyer Island Eco-system. A destination to get active with numerous outdoor activities, mountain bike routes, golfing and cave exploring. Find the best suited accommodation in Gansbaai to match your mood and budget as there is a wide selection from luxurious to affordable holiday establishments available â&#x20AC;&#x201C; managed by friendly locals.

www.gansbaaiinfo.com | Tel: +27(28) 384 2111 122

THE TOURISM HANDBOOK

ADVERTORIAL

Marine Adventure | Heritage & Culture Fynbos & Forest | Sports Adventure Beach Adventures | Food & Wine

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123

ADVERTORIAL

GOING GREEN The Victoria Falls Hotel first opened its doors in 1904, albeit a much simpler affair than what we now know. A simple shed accommodation designed to house bridge engineers who were building the now famous Victoria Falls Bridge. In those far-off days words like sustainable and social responsibility were unheard of – thankfully how far we have all come since then. Tourism in the Victoria Falls region and the Hotel itself have grown from strength to strength over the course its existence and has expanded massively over the years. Alligned to our growth has been the demand by our guests for the finer things while visiting Victoria Falls and particularly the Victoria Falls Hotel. Food and beverage play an important and often overlooked component of any holiday and guests rarely consider the amount of wasteful practices that go into the entire chain of sourcing fresh foodstuffs and also the wastes generated post consumption. When one considers the growing, preparation, packaging and transport of those fresh produce, often from South Africa to Victoria Falls, the mind boggles at how much unnecessary strain and expense on our natural resources the process incurs. As a consumer of large volumes of fresh produce – we decided to do what we could – we began the organic vericompost project on the hotel grounds. A first among the areas’ many hospitality choices. Worms are known to help decompose matter, aerate the soil and leave behind a rich organic fertilizer with their castings. In essence they help immensely to generate nutritious soil – perfect for the cultivation of small to medium size gardens growing a wide variety of healthy foodstuffs. What we did was start our worm farm, feeding the worms with organic waste from our kitchens. Once they have broken down the waste into a viable fertilizer, it is transferred to our controlled pit environment

124

THE TOURISM HANDBOOK

ADVERTORIAL

where we grow seasonal crops for consumption in the hotel. Such items as lettuce, tomatoes and carrots are grown right on sight, reducing a staggering amount of waste from both ends of the food & beverage process. In addition to using waste, the project grows the produce in a mainly pesticide free manner by a system of rotation and careful tending The project team leader is Nelson Sibanda, assisted by community members who rotate working in the project, learning successful techniques at the Hotel and then returning to their homes and putting into practice the vericompost process. The idea of healthy, sustainable and cheap production appeals to every household and is starting to spread into these communities as neighbors and friends witness the success and savings afforded by the process. Our worms consume approximately 20kg of organic waste per day from the kitchens. We manage to cultivate a fair percentage of our total food & beverage requirement onsite in the growing area. As well as supplying our guest kitchens with the freshest and best possible ingredients to our talented chefs to blend

into something scrumptious for our discerning travelers, we also grow a large component of our staff food requirements. Healthy fresh nutrition does wonders for our staff overall health and wellbeing while at work. We like to think of the fresh ingredients as having come full circle through the sustainability matrix. So the next time you tuck into a delicious meal spare a thought as to how far that produce has come to be on your plate. If that meal is at our wonderful Hotel there is a good chance it has been grown in our vericompost project gardens.

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ADVERTORIAL

A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

Explore the city of Kimberley and discover it’s hidden gems… guaranteed to put a twinkle in your eye Dronfield Nature Reserve Dronfield Nature Reserve, a De Beers Wildlife property, is a quality gem nestled comfortably on the outskirts of the Diamond City and is a shining example of long term environmental sustainability and continuous tourism satisfaction. Facets adding value to visitor experience include the opportunity to view and learn about an increasingly rare breeding population of White - backed Vultures, bear witness to successful antelope breeding programs, absorb superbly conserved thorn-veld and enjoy well-appointed accommodation in a peaceful setting.

Insuring fond memories through an educational twist and consistent service is a winning recipe which the Dronfield team has honed over a number of years. The ultimate prize is the potential stimulation of visitor

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awareness in terms of environmental and sustainability issues. Daily sorting of ubiquitous waste for recycling and a multidimensional approach to biosecurity further illustrates the responsible manner in which the business is run. Nooitgedacht Glacial Pavements The Nooitgedacht Gliacial Pavements are a geological feature between Kimberley and Barkley West, dating back to about 300 million years ago. Here the glacially smoothed bedrock was used as panels for San rock ingravings during the Stone Age. There is also a small on-site interpretive centre which provides details of the glacial era. Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre The Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre is a community- based public rock art project, as well as a Provincial Heritage Site on the outskirts of Kimberley, where visitors can experience more than 200 examples of San rock art. The engravings exemplify one of the forms often referred to as ‘Bushman rock art’, or Khoe-San rock art. There is a great emphasis on large mammals such as elephant, rhino and hippo, in addition to eland. Since

ADVERTORIAL

1996 the farm of Wildebeest Kuil has been owned by the !Xun and Khwe communities, who sees the art as link to a broad Khoe-San cultural inheritance in Southern Africa.

The Kimberley Vintage Tram The Vintage Kimberley tram dates back to a time when the town was the “bright lights, big city” of Africa. By 1887, when the tram first started transporting people to the ever expanding Big Hole, the town was flourishing. Now you can take the 20 minute ride on the vintage tram around the Big Hole passing historical features such as the original mining shaft and the authentic West End bar and around the Big Hole to the viewing deck where visitors have a visceral view into it.

reached commercial operations date mid2014. It is one the first solar facilities arising from the South African Government Reneable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme and will generate approximetaly 85 458 megawatt per year, supplying enough clean renewable electrical energy to power more 19 000 average South African homes. With demand for electricity continuing to grow in South Africa, the introduction of this clean energy will have far reaching benefits for the country’s power sector, economy and people. Located 15km outside Kimberley in the Sol Plaatje Municipality in the Northern Cape, the project is constructed on approximately 100 hectares of land leased from the Droogfontein Communal Property Association. Droogfontein Solar Power generates electricity using 168 720 solar (PV) panels, which feeds the 132 kilowatt (kv) Eskom distribution system. The Project has a power purchase agreement with Eskom as an implementation agreement with the Government of South Africa.

Droogfontein Solor Power Photovoltaic Power Project The 50 MW Droogfontein Solar Power photovoltaic (PV) power project, mobilized its construction teams in December 2012 and

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ADVERTORIAL

128

THE TOURISM HANDBOOK

Y 45 Y 80 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N Y Y Y Y Y Y N N Y

Biome protection/rehabilitation? Operate an active conservation area? If so, are best practices in action? Best practice water and sanitation? Environmental policy?

Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Y Y Y Y Y Y

Eco procurement policy? Staff training?

Y Y

Customer awareness?

Community awareness?

Currently certified? Yes

Gardens conducive for local species?

Previously certified?

South Africa

Renewable energy?

Y N N

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COMPANY

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

African Sun Hotels Aquila Private Game Reserve Bike and Saddle Adbikes Capture Africa Classified Safaries Dudubrook Quilting Loft Eningu Clayhouse Lodge Gansbaai Tourism HOSTEX (Specialised Exhibitions Inverdoorn Game Reserve Le Franschoek Hotel and Spa Lion Park Lusaka Grand Hotel Maropeng Moholoholo Monate Game Lodge Mosetlha Bush Camp and Eco Lodge Mount Meru Hotel Msinsi Resort Painted Wolf Wines Ride Share Africa Simplethnic Designs Sol Plaatje Municipality Tourism South Coast Uganda Wildlife Authority United Nations Economic Commission For Africa

PAGE

122-123 4 29 14 116 41 110 120-121 8 18-19; 126 118 56-59 112 75 64-65 IFC; 34-35 2-3 114 85; 108 10 24-25 OBC 124-125 50-51 97-99 70-71; IBC

ECA Conference Centre Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Whenever leaders are looking for a convenient place to hold serious discussions and make important decisions that will have an impact on millions of people, they increasingly choose the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Conference Centre located in Addis Ababa, the political capital of Africa.

Africa Hall

Indeed, the ECA Conference Centre is a completely secure and integrated complex of facilities for all categories of meetings. With its large meeting rooms, an exhibition centre, state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, video conferencing spaces, a broadcasting studio, printing apparatus, wireless Internet connectivity and catering facilities, ECA-CC is the perfect choice for conference organizers. The ECA Conference Centre is minutes away from the international airport and is also within walking distance from renowned five-star hotels.

Africa Hall

Choose ECA-CC for your next meeting and we will see to the planning and follow-up!

Your Conference Centre! ECA Conference Centre, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 3001 • Addis Ababa, Ethiopia • Tel: +(251-11) 544-3545 or +(251-11) 544-3556 Fax: +(251-11) 551-3155 or +(251-11) 551-4874 or + (251-11) 551-0105 • E-mail: uncc-aa@uneca.org • Web: http://www.uneca.org/ecacc