11 minute read
TREND REPORT
The future of tourism is – and must be – SUSTAINABLE
Sustainable tourism, responsible travel, eco-tourism… ultimately these all speak to the same ethos for tourism to be better for everyone and everything involved. And they couldn’t come at a better time, as the tourism industry looks for ways to build back better.
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Tourism is an economic powerhouse. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) found that, pre-Covid, it contributed 10.3% of global GDP (US$9.6 trillion). Given its magnitude, it’s no surprise that it has a significant impact on people and places around the world.
Sometimes this impact is positive – for example, leading to job creation (globally tourism created one in four new jobs, pre-Covid) and the development of muchneeded infrastructure. But sometimes it isn’t – for example, when it contributes 8% of all global greenhouse gas emissions or when developments damage or destroy unique ecosystems.
It’s not only ethical considerations that are driving the sustainability movement in travel and tourism. Self-preservation is also at stake. Travel and tourism are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Covid is the most obvious example of this. But also consider Cape Town’s brush with Day Zero, a scenario that Nelson Mandela Bay in the Eastern Cape
LET’S GET PRACTICAL: YOUR QUICK GUIDE TO SUPPORTING RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
According to a 2018 study, four of the biggest contributors to tourism’s carbon footprint are: international travel (49%), goods (12%), food and beverage (10%), and lodgings (8%). Here are some suggestions on what you can do to minimise the carbon footprint of each of these.
TRAVEL According to the same study, aircraft and cars are the worst offenders when it comes to greenhouse gases. As a longhaul destination, South Africa sees most travellers enter by air. And once here, our sprawling landscapes and limited options mean automotive vehicles are a popular mode of getting around. It’s therefore critical we find ‘greener’ ways to travel. For example: • Book direct flights. • Book with airlines that are using Sustainable Aviation
Fuel* (SAF). • Book with airlines that have a demonstrable commitment to improving their sustainability score. • Opt for fuel-efficient or electric vehicles. • Educate drivers on eco-friendly driving practices. * The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports that
Sustainable Aviation Fuel generates 80% less CO2 emissions than fossil fuel. It can be produced from multiple renewable and abundant sources such as: waste, rotation crops, and algae and plants that grow in salt water.
Over 450 000 flights have taken to the skies using SAF, and over 50 airlines are using it. IATA anticipates that SAF will replace almost all fossil jet fuel over the coming decades.
GOODS Eco-procurement means choosing to buy goods or services that uphold sustainability principles. This requires you to get to know how your suppliers and service providers operate. Ask to see their environmental policy, and ask questions about it, including how they benefit people and our planet.
Buying local is key, as this supports job creation and keeps money in the country. Several South African NGOs are doing amazing work in this regard, working with local artisans to bring their goods to market. Through this, they are injecting muchneeded money into these communities while tackling a host of social issues. A few examples include Africa! Ignite (africaignite. co.za), African Mamas Crafts (africanmamascrafts.co.za) and Local Conference Solutions (localconferencesolutions.co.za). FOOD & BEVERAGE Eco-procurement principles hold true when selecting food and beverage options for your guests. Some key considerations include the following: • Where possible, always source locally grown ingredients. • Serve traditional dishes native to the region. • Give preference to seasonal and organic produce. • Look out for reputable certification labels, such as Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (BWI), Fairtrade International, and Marine
Stewardship Council (MSC). • To lower the carbon footprint of your meals, limit red meat and dairy, and offer more plant-based options. • Reduce food waste by not over-catering and have a clever reuse strategy in the kitchen. • Donate edible excess food to food programmes. • Inedible food waste can be composted to divert it from landfill. • Reduce single-use plastic packaging. HOTELS The easiest way to pick authentically ‘green’ accommodation is to choose one that has been independently certified, by labels such as Heritage, Green Globe or Fair Trade in Tourism. However, based on his own research, McManus says that pre-Covid less than 1% of hotels were certified.
So, where options are limited, he recommends incentive planners give preference to sustainable accommodation through a vetting process. McManus says, “The first thing to ask is to see their sustainability policy. Next, interrogate it. Ask questions about their initiatives and don’t take anything at face value. If they are truly committed to their policy, they will be able to answer these questions – and likely will be excited to share their successes with you!” OFFSETS Carbon offsetting has gained popularity in recent years as a way to wipe out our carbon debt to the planet. However, it’s not the silver bullet we all wish it could be, simply because it cannot keep pace with unchecked emissions.
“Carbon offsetting has its place in sustainable operations, but its place is firmly at the end of the queue. This means that every business needs to try to minimise their carbon footprint at every stage of their operations. Only once they have done this should they consider offsetting them,” says McManus.
It is also key that credible carbon offsetting projects are used, so always do your homework.
is facing at the time of writing. Or how the flooding in KwaZulu-Natal damaged properties and led to water and power cuts. These impacts are likely to deter most travellers – and, arguably, especially incentive groups.
Fortunately, we know what to do to make tourism have an increasingly positive impact, to benefit the planet, people and business profitability. In a nutshell: sustainable tourism.
WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM?
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation 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”.
Put another way, it is about meeting the needs of today’s travellers and host regions while protecting and even enhancing opportunities for the future.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT
When asked how well the local tourism industry is doing in terms of sustainability, Tessa Buhrmann, founder and editor of Responsible Traveller magazine and chief sustainability officer at Ojimah, says, “Probably not as well as it could be, but at least there is a greater focus from the industry to move towards sustainability and responsible tourism. If Covid
has taught us anything, it is that both the environment and people matter, and that incorporating both these aspects into any tourism operation are key.”
As a result, the three key pillars of environmental guardianship are getting some welldeserved recognition, as the industry strives to conserve energy and water and minimise its waste-to-landfill footprint.
However, while Buhrmann acknowledges this as “all good things”, she believes the social aspect of sustainable tourism is still largely overlooked. “Until we realise that people, especially the communities surrounding tourism operations, need to benefit, our move towards sustainable tourism will be thwarted,” she says.
MAKING THE SHIFT – IT’S EASIER THAN YOU THINK
If you’re wondering how to shift your business to a more sustainable model, Buhrmann recommends you look closely at your business priorities and ask questions like: Is it profit above all? Are local communities involved and do they benefit financially? How do the environment and conservation fit into the business plan? From there you can consider how to improve on these facets of your business.
She adds that involving local communities in an incentive traveller’s experience can be hugely enriching. It’s a way to share the full flavours of what makes a destination unique in a very relatable and (clearly) human way. “As an incentive planner, I would suggest making these meaningful experiences an essential part of their incentive programme – it’s the conversation with the barman that their guests will remember, not just the perfectly chilled chardonnay; that sense of wonder when they pause on a game drive and the ranger identifies the sounds of the bush or explains the cultural significance of a particular tree; and the waft of wood smoke that lingers in their hair after a traditional Zulu dance around the fire…” she illustrates.
If your business is already doing this, Buhrmann argues that you need to share these stories in an engaging way. From conservation success stories to personal success stories (such as the executive chef who started out washing dishes), as well as initiatives to help local communities (like installing a water pump for clean drinking water) or introducing the many people who are behind a successful tourism experience – the entrepreneurs that do your laundry, make your bread and supply the fresh produce.
By doing this, you can share the heart and soul of a place, while helping to raise awareness about sustainability issues and how they can be tackled.
THE BENEFITS TO BE GAINED
For those who get it right, Greg McManus believes the financial and reputational rewards will be substantial.
McManus is a sustainability consultant for the event and hospitality industry, as well as the founder and director of Heritage Environmental Management company, an independent certification label for the hotel and events industry. He says, “Often, hoteliers and venue owners see their operating expenses as a given based on the cost of the services used, whereas they need to understand the savings that can be achieved through smarter, more responsible use of resources and services.” He argues that a hotel can, for example, reduce its energy bill by 40% simply by putting a process in place to prevent the unnecessary use of lights, air conditioning and heating.
On top of this, research has shown that eco-tourists are willing to pay a premium for products and services that support sustainable principles. It’s a niche market looking likely to expand in the coming years, so is a market well worth attracting.
In terms of brand reputation, McManus cautions that it’s crucial that you always communicate your sustainable credentials in an honest and transparent way. This means not overstating your achievements and always being able to prove your claims. Otherwise, you risk being accused of greenwashing, or deceiving your clients about your sustainability, which will harm your credibility. As sustainable tourism grows, so too does an intolerance of greenwashing, as consumers are savvier about sustainability issues and what is at stake.
And then, of course, there are the less tangible but invaluable benefits you will be imparting to the ecosystem in which you operate – from the flora and fauna to the people and economy, all of which also benefit your business through what they can offer. It’s symbiosis at its best.
Adventure Experiences, Safaris, Game Lodges & Outdoor Activities
I don’t believe that a virtual tour can do any justice to our destinations in Africa, because Africa has a rhythm, Africa is a place where you can rest and rejuvenate, it’s the only place in the world where the drums can bring people together, it’s the smells and tastes, it’s the connections between people.”
Zinhle Nzama, Acting Chief Convention Bureau Officer at SANCB
#LetsGoWild
Offering vast silence
when even the sighing of the wind ceases, Giant’s Castle provides a feast of beau�ful mountain scenery, sparkling clear streams, solitude and comfortable accommoda�on ...
Giant’s Castle Resort
Malo�-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site
CONVENTION ON WETLANDS
(Ramsar, Iran, 1971)
Giant’s Castle is situated in the central part of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site, about a six-hour drive from Johannesburg via the N3 and about three hours from Durban. Giant’s Castle, dubbed “the Flower of the Drakensberg” due to its impressively rich floral diversity, rolling grasslands, crags and cliffs, lies in the “Little ‘Berg”, with Giant’s Castle Resort overlooking the Bushman’s River. It offers much for the outdoor enthusiast as well as those searching for the tranquillity of natural surroundings.
Activities: vulture hide, historical sites, rock art sites, mountaineering, hiking/walking trails, game viewing, trout fishing, ice climbing, mountain huts, picnicking, mountain biking, seasonal rock fountain and champagne pool.
