Africa Travel Week - Responsible Tourism Programme

AFRICA TRAVEL WEEK

Responsible Tourism Programme

AFRICA TRAVEL WEEK

Africa Travel Week (ATW), with its various shows, conferences and award ceremonies, has always been a highlight on the travel industry calendar. The arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 saw ‘in-person’ trade shows the world over disappear, virtually overnight. With the uncertainty around travel restrictions and in keeping with global precautions, ATW went virtual. Initially with informative webinars and online content, and this year in April with a ATW Virtual, complete with dynamic networking and a bumper content programme, featuring trends, insights and speakers from across the globe.

A highlight for Responsible Traveller mag has always been the informative and inspirational responsible tourism programme, and this year was no different. Here’s an overview of some of the great content…

DAY ONE:

Progress in Responsible Tourism – a panel discussion, moderated by Harold Goodwin, Responsible Tourism Advisor, World Travel Market.

Panellists:

• Eugenio Yunis, Member of the World

Committee on Tourism Ethics and independent advisor • Tim Harris, CEO of Wesgro • Manisha Pande,Co- founder and

Managing Director Village Ways • Dr Niki Glen, CEO of Africa!Ignite • Shannon Guihan, Chief TreadRight &

Sustainability Officer for The Travel

Corporation During this session we take look at how far we have come with Responsible Tourism. The following questions will be answered: What solutions can we point to that make tourism better? Solutions that have been tried and tested and proven to deliver results? How much progress have we made? What should be out priorities for the next decade? How can we achieve more? Click HERE to watch this session

AFRICA TRAVEL WEEK What role for certification? - a panel discussion, moderated by Harold Goodwin, Responsible Tourism Advisor, World Travel Market.

Panellists :

• Lee-Anne Bac, Director: BDO South

Africa Advisory • Olivia Ruggles-Brise, Director,

Greenview Andrea Nicholas, CEO Green

Business UK Ltd • Kelly Bricker, Professor and Director of

Parks, Recreation, and Tourism at the

University of Utah The Global Sustainable Tourism Council was established to ensure a consistent baseline across the wide variety of schemes that emerged to empower travellers and holidaymakers to make more informed choices and drive sustainable tourism development. Reflecting on the last two decades, what have we learnt about what works and why? How can we increase the effectiveness of certification in delivering sustainable tourism? Click HERE to watch this session

What transformational travel means

for sustainability – presented by Tom Fels, Founder of Animarem A new wave of travellers is set to spark a change in the future of travel, where the journey itself is once again imbued with meaning and intent. Join those at the cutting edge of reshaping their outlook as Tom Fels unpacked the far-reaching implications of this movement, covering topics such as responsible citizenship and experience design. Click HERE to watch this session

DAY TWO:

Tourism and Biodiversity: Friend or

Foe - a panel discussion, moderated by was Shaun Vorster, Professor at the University of Stellenbosch and member of the Advisory Board, Tourism Forum Lucerne. Shaun also moderated the panel at WTM London where a different group discussed the issues.

Panellists:

• Luthando Dziba, Head of Conservation

SANParks • Prof Emma Archer, Associate Professor,

University of Pretoria • Paul Simkin, Chairman, The Forest (Kenya)Michael Lutzeyer, Owner

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve (Western Cape) • Richard Vigne, Managing Director OL

Pejeta Conservancy (Kenya)

A panel discussion about the relationship between tourism and the maintenance of biodiversity. Africa is still blessed with much of world’ charismatic megafauna, the Big 5 and a host of other species which tourists will pay top dollar to see. There can be no doubt that at least some of Africa’s biodiversity is highly valued - too highly valued perhaps. Some species are worth more dead than alive as trophies, for decoration or “medicine”. There is big money to be made from legal consumptive trophy hunting and illegally from poaching for ivory, rhino horn or lion. Click HERE to watch this session

How can tourism create more value for

local communities? - a panel discussion, moderated by Harold Goodwin, Responsible Tourism Advisor, World Travel Market.

Panellists:

• Glynn O’Leary, Co-founder and Chief

Executive of TFPD • Dr Salifou Siddo, Chief Executive of SME

TradeLinks (Pty) Ltd • James Fernie, Founding Director of

Uthando • Adama Bah, Founder of the Institute of

Travel and Tourism of The Gambia • Rupesh Kumar, State Responsible

Tourism Mission Coordinator,

Responsible Tourism Mission, Govt. of

Kerala

Inclusion and reducing poverty are as crucial as tackling climate change and biodiversity loss as post-Covid we struggle to realise the Sustainable Development Goals’ aspirations. We’ve brought together a panel of practitioners to share their experience of how best sufficient we can

create sufficient value to raise the living standards of local people in the areas that attract tourists. Click HERE to watch this session

DAY THREE:

Whose diversity is it? - a panel discussion, moderated by Harold Goodwin, Responsible Tourism Advisor, World Travel Market.

Panellists:

• Judy Kepher Gona, Director and Lead consultant at Sustainable Travel &

Tourism Agenda • Uwern Jong, Experientialist-in-Chief of luxury & experiential travel journal,

OutThere magazine • Aziz Abu Sarah, Co-founder of MEJDI

TOURS Siyabulela Siyaka,Executive member of Langa Tourism Forum There has long been an academic critique of the ways in which our industry commodifies cultures and cultural artefacts. At the heart of Responsible Tourism is the principle that communities should use tourism for their sustainable development rather than be used by it. We aspire to create meaningful connections between hosts and guests, what does that mean for practice? How can we celebrate diversity better? Click HERE to watch this session

Stories bring experiences alive - a panel discussion, moderated by Harold Goodwin, Responsible Tourism Advisor, World Travel Market.

Panellists:

• Toroga Denver, KHOIKHOI First nations language and cultural activist and writer

JoAnna Haugen, Founder of Rooted • Dirk Hermanus Pienaar, Tourism and

Conservation Officer, Khomani San CPA We need to think about the stories we tell in the itineraries and places we recommend and market. We need to have more diversity in the experiences and stories we tell. We need to take responsibility if travel is to broaden the mind rather than reinforce prejudices. Only through storytelling can we realise the ambition of Responsible Tourism to provide “more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues. Click HERE to watch this session

www.atwconnect.com

What’s New In TOURISM?

After a year during which travellers yearned for restorative experiences in nature, the continent’s most remote wilderness settings offer an undeniable spirit of joy, hope and rejuvenation.The recently reopened Singita Pamushana Lodge* and exclusiveuse villa Malilangwe House, located in the 130,000-acre Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve in Zimbabwe’s remote southeast, are perfectly positioned to provide guests with exclusivity, comfort and connection – and they encapsulate the essence of an African safari. As is the case at all Singita’s other lodges and camps, the health and wellbeing of guests are top of mind, and complete privacy and essential COVID-19 safety protocols ensure peace of mind and a carefree return to nature.

After abundant recent rains, the reserve’s vast landscapes are bursting with new life and greenery and the unparalleled gameviewing in this lush wilderness is now even more exceptional than ever before. For guests who’ve had to postpone special celebrations during COVID-19 lockdowns, or those who long to reconnect with nature, loved ones and themselves, Singita Pamushana provides the ultimate backdrop for shared experiences – and a much-needed sense of grounding and togetherness. From Singita’s locally inspired farm-totable food journey to rejuvenating wellness activities and enlightening bush walks – a stay at Pamushana seamlessly combines the kind of stillness and healing travellers have come to value most.

* Singita Pamushana Lodge was recently featured in the Condé Nast Traveller 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards at No. 5 for Africa Resorts.

As one of Africa’s most remote hideaways, Singita Malilangwe House offers breathtaking views and every conceivable comfort, and this stately African home is now also open. Epitomising seclusion and serenity on the edge of the wilderness, this elegant home features five-bedrooms – each with its own private deck – as well as an interactive kitchen and large rimflow pool overlooking the Malilangwe Dam below. Guests have the relaxed freedom to tailor-make their stay any way they want and Malilangwe House comes with a full staff complement, including a dedicated private Chef, Field Guide and Host catering for every need. Featuring relaxed, light and airy shared spaces, the villa’s free-flowing living areas provide a sense of seamless ease and a convivial setting for a contemporary safari that is both casual and sophisticated. The area’s rich cultural history invites explorations of its vast and captivating

archaeological heritage – including visits to the Malilangwe Reserve’s 107 rare and unique rock art sites. Among these precious records of the past are fascinating San Bushman rock art paintings and three newly discovered archaeological sites, dating back hundreds of years, documenting one of the oldest cultures in Africa.

While Singita has always offered guests the opportunity to draw from the physical and emotional nourishment that comes with wide open spaces, privacy, wholesome food and the unhurried pace the bush, the need for complete restoration is greater than ever. Guests have exclusive access to explore the reserve’s thriving wildlife – including endangered white and black rhino, large prides of lions, wild dogs, elephants and an astounding variety of birds. Days are spent on game drives, fishing on the picturesque Malilangwe Dam and visiting rock art sites, while boma dinners, world-class wine-tasting and stargazing make for magical evenings. Singita Pamushana is an ideal long-stay destination courtesy of the abundance of activities.

www.singita.com