Edition 2 - 2016

R E S P O N S I B L E

edition 2 – 2016

be the difference

#loveAfrica • Celebrating winners in responsible tourism • WTM Africa

w w w. re s p o n s i b l e t rave l l e r. c o. z a

responsible travel

There’s so much to discover in Cape Town & the Western Cape. Why not try and make a difference while you’re here on your adventure? Be part of the “Green Travel” revolution when you choose and buy eco-friendly products. Explore with a tour operator that is socially and environmentally responsible. Research and know the culture of the community you are visiting so that you can respect their dignity and privacy – remember to ask for permission before you take pics. Don’t pick the flowers, or there won’t be any left when you visit again.

Be inspired to help future generations discover more.

www.discoverctwc.co.za discoverctwc @discoverctwc discoverctwc #discoverctwc

Comment Welcome to a very special edition of Responsible Traveller.

This edition is about celebrating champions…

The champions of responsible tourism in Africa – and no better way to do that than by highlighting all aspects of responsible tourism at WTM Africa, starting with a jam-packed responsible tourism programme and then the second edition of the African Responsible Tourism Awards - #ARTA16. We profile programmes and topics of discussion as well as the complete Long List of nominees for the African Responsible Tourism Awards… as well as a link to the winners, to be announced on the 7 April 2016.

Responsible Traveller digital mag has the privilige of being a media partner for both WTM Africa and #ARTA16, and compiling this edition has made me exceptionally proud to be part of this change for good within the tourism industry . I am honoured to be able to learn from the best and look forward sharing this in the next edition. But for now, journey with me across Africa as we take a peek at some of the initiatives of the tourism businesses on the Long List – from champions of conservation, poverty reduction and resource management to the best operators for people with disabilities.

But as I have said on numerous occasions, the responsibility of being a responsible traveller lies ultimately with the person travelling and the choices they make. It’s about choosing to not waste water, to switch off when you leave the room, to stay, shop, experience and eat local… thereby providing employment and contributing to the local economy. By choosing to have conversations with locals and experiencing the ‘real’ destination, you add value and return home with irreplaceable memories.

Enjoy the read… and be the difference.

tessa Magazine Information edition 2 - 2016 Editor Tessa Buhrmann Cell: 083 603 9000 tessa@responsibletraveller.co.za Design & Layout Michele Mayer Cell: 082 934 6940 creativelink@mweb.co.za Advertising & editorial enquiries info@responsibletraveller.co.za Digital Subscriptions info@responsibletraveller www.responsibletraveller.co.za

Responsible Traveller Published by Spotted Mongoose Media CC (CK 2008/178482/23) Contact Details P.O. Box 3, Gillitts 3603 KwaZulu-Natal South Africa Tel: +27 31 7674022 Fax: +27 86 542 9615 Publication details Responsible Traveller DIGITAL is published bi-monthly

Cover Image: Street scene - Beau Vallon Bay, Seychelles pic - Tessa Buhrmann ©

Disclaimer Responsible Traveller is published by Spotted Mongoose Media CC. The information provided and the opinions expressed in this publication are done so in good faith and while every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of its contents, neither the managing editor nor the publisher can be held responsible for any omissions or errors; or for any misfortune, injury or damages that may arise. All rights are reserved and no material from this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers.

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08

Contents Regulars: Comment

03

Being a Responsible Traveller 06

26

Destinations & Places to Stay: Choosing to #TravelWithImpact

08

Gansbaai, a responsible tourism destination 76

Adventures & actrivities: Marine Dynamics Milestones

70

Feathered Beauties of the Seychelles

84

WTM Africa: Tourism and its economic effect 21

62

WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Programme 22

#ARTA16: African Responsible Tourism Awards

24

Best for Beach Tourism

26

Contribution to Cultural Heritage Conservation 32

84

Best Operator for People with Disabilities

38

Best Poverty Reduction

42

Best for Public SectorPolicy/Support

50

Best Hotel for Responsibile Employment

54

Best Responsible Tourism Marketing Campaign

60

Best for Wildlife Conservation

62

People’s Choice

68

News:

A new Spafari in the Zulu Kingdom

83

Green means GO for Hotel Verde & Datacentrix

88

www.responsibletraveller.co.za 04 responsible traveller

Being a

Responsible Traveller

Responsible travel is a way of enjoying the many sights, experiences and memories of the destination you have chosen. It ensures that visitors and local communities alike share the benefits of tourism and travel equally, and it promotes greater understanding of and appreciation for fair and equitable business practice. Responsible travel is about putting back into travel what you get from it, and here are a few considerations that you could make when next you travel.

• Ask to see your tour operator's responsible travel policy.

• Ask to see the environmental policy of the accommodation establishment that you have selected – don’t be fooled by vague and unsubstantiated claims.

• Help the local economy by buying local produce in preference to imported goods.

• Ask your tour operator to establish the extent to which local communities enjoy benefits from your economic spend during your stay at a location.

• If bargaining to buy an item, bear in mind that a small amount to you could be extremely important to the seller – be realistic and fair.

• Realise that often the people in the country you are visiting have different time concepts, values and thought patterns from your own, this does not make them inferior, only different.

• Cultivate the habit of asking questions and discover the pleasure that you can enjoy by seeing a different way of life through others eyes.

• Use public transport, hire a bike or walk where convenient – you'll meet local people and get to know the place far better – always be safe and considerate.

• Use water sparingly – it is precious inmany countries and the local people may not have sufficient clean water – challenge any wasteful practice at your hotel or lodge.

• Switch Something Off – whenever you leave your room, switch unnecessary lights and equipment off and play your part in reducing greenhouse emissions.

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• Don't discard litter when visiting outof-the-way places and attractions, take it with you and dispose of it at your hotel or lodge. Waste disposal is often a major problem at outlying attractions and sites and it leads to litter and unhealthy environments for locals.

• Respect local cultures, traditions and holy places. For example, ask permission before you photograph local people – in some countries it can cause offence.

• Learn more about the cultural experiences that you are exposed to – avoid ‘sound-byte’ tourism and encourage tour operators to provide more insight into the dances, songs and traditionalexperiences that they present to you.

• Do not buy products made from endangered species, hard woods, shells from beach traders, or ancient artefacts (which have probably beenstolen). When visiting gift and curio shops, be aware of the source of the products on sale and if in doubt, don’t buy.

• Read up on the countries you plan to visit – the welcome will be warmer if you take an interest and speak even a few words of the local language.

• When you get home drop your tour operator a note to let them know how you got on.

Essentials: www.heritagesa.co.za www.fairtrade.travel www.trees.co.za www.rhinoafrica.com

Awarded

World’s Best City Hotel World Responsible Tourism Awards l World Travel Market 2014

In the unlikely location of Cape Town’s Airport Industria, Africa’s Greenest Hotel is waiting to be discovered by you. Enjoy the comfort of our 4 star hotel with 5 star services & 3 star prices. Stay at Hotel Verde, the first Hotel in Africa to offer carbon neutral accommodation & conferencing to guests.

An experience like no other By staying one night at Hotel Verde you will personally Offset 27.4 kg of carbon

Save 76 kWh of electrcity

Save 492 liters of water*

divert 2.1 kg waste from landfill

*saving accounts for guest water use across the entire hotel

Carbon Neutral Accommodation & Conferencing l 145 Rooms & 7 Conference Venues l 400m from Cape Town Airport Complimentary Airport Shuttle & Shuttle to City Centre l Complimentary Wi-Fi l Urban Beehives & Urban Farming Restored Wetland l Restaurant with 24hr Room Service l Breakfast from 4h30am l Contemporary Bar 24hr Deli l Indoor & Outdoor Gym l Africa’s First Power Generating Gym Equipment l Jogging Trail, Eco Pool & Terrace

reservations@hotelverde.com l +27 (0) 21 380 5500 l www.hotelverde.com 15 MICHIGAN STREET, CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, SOUTH AFRICA

Choosing to...

#TravelWithImpact words & pics - Katarina Mancama

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ewly launched Swedish tour operator Influence Tours is setting a whole new standard for responsible tourism by donating 100% of profits to development in South Africa.

The operator will offer small group and FIT travel that showcases the best that South Africa has to offer. Focus is on premium travel experiences with a conscience, and products are selected based on their sustainability credentials.

100% of the profits will be donated to development through local partner Township Roots, that provides children in at-risk areas with extra-mural activities as a means to help reduce early dropout in schools and to foster a culture of “striving for excellence”. Says Bulelani Futshane, Director and Founder of Township Roots: “Our goal is to build leaders within the townships by helping young people enjoy school and look towards a life beyond the poverty stricken environment they live in”. Having grown up in a desperately poor household, Bulelani understands the challenges that face these children. He is also a testament to the power of education, and the perfect role model for the children he works with.

Influence Tours will offer travel to South Africa in the Scandinavian market starting in the second half of 2016. However, the impact of its vision is already apparent. Bulelani has been employed

by Influence Tours to run Township Roots (something that he previously did on a voluntary basis outside of a full-time job). Bulelani will also be sponsored to complete his tourist guide credentials in order to develop tourist experiences in the township and thus another line of income for Township Roots and the wider community.

To launch Influence Tours into Sweden, a group of Swedish journalists was invited to experience what both Cape Town and Influence Tours could offer their readers. I am certain none went home disappointed! Below is the account of their trip as told by Influence Tours Product Manager, and My Slow Journey blogger, Katarina Mancama....

Magical misty scenes at Steenberg

DAY ONE As my colleague Johanna and I stood at the airport, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Swedish journalists we had invited to the launch responsible traveller 09

A young boy walking to school in Nyanga

trip of Influence Tours, we reflected on how we had arrived at this point. Her father Jan had retired comfortably a couple of years earlier and he wanted the next step in his life to be about giving back. Since then, he had been searching for a meaningful and long-term way to do this.

During a trip to South Africa, where he fell in love with the country, a dream was born. A dream of starting a travel company that could show off the best of South Africa (and let’s be honest, the best is pretty damn amazing) while also reflecting on, and contributing to reducing, the difficulties that many people (particularly children) are facing each day.

Bulelani, one of the founders of Township Roots

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Jan lives in the same small Swedish town as my parents (one of the smallest in Sweden, with a mere 10,000 people) and sooner or later our paths were bound to meet. It almost gives me goose bumps to think that I have travelled (and studied) far and wide, always looking for someone that shares my passion for using tourism as a vehicle for development and conservation, only to find it in my small home town! We believe that we have a winning concept that will make for awesome holidays and long-term investment in development of deprived township areas around Cape Town (and perhaps even further one day).

Dancing (L) and writing activities for the kids

So it was with anticipation and a bit of fear that we welcomed the journalists. Would they believe in our dream? Would they share our passion? And would they like the trip we had put together?

We decided that as journalists, they would be able to cope with a day of deep contrasts straight upon arrival. So after lunch we drove into Nyanga, headed for Entshona Primary School. The reality of life in the township was there along the way to see - the rickety shacks with no water, sanitation or electricity; the barren land; the dirt and the desperate poverty.

But once at the school, we got a glimpse of the hope that the future holds. We met the founders of Township Roots, two bright and successful young people who grew up there but who have managed, through hard work, to find a way out of the township (it always amazes me how many young people from deprived areas spend a lot of their time trying to uplift others, rather than trying to get even further in their own careers and lives).

And we met the children that are the beneficiaries of Township Roots! These children, who chose to stay after school to participate in literacy, drama and sport. Who work tirelessly to improve their writing and reading skills, and who give themselves

fully to the joy of dance and drama despite the hardships that they face each day.

After our deep dive into South Africa’s reality in the townships, we took our guests to their 5-star hotel in Constantia; Steenberg Hotel (one of the oldest vineyards in South Africa). This may seem like a terrible contrast, but it is a reality in South Africa that we cannot ignore. And it is important to understand that although you are enjoying the best of the best, the people on the other side are not necessarily worse off because of it.

We select our hotels with the greatest of care, and Steenberg Hotel is, just like Influence Tours, deeply invested in making the lives of the less fortunate people of South Africa a little bit better.

The hotel is owned by Graham Beck Wines, who through the Graham and Rhona Beck Foundation work to facilitate skills development for the long term upliftment of the farming community in the Breede River Valley, and who are considered to be a very good employer.

When the founder of the business, Graham Beck (a self-made billionaire), passed away a few years ago it was said that “nobody has done as much good and spread his wealth around as much as Mr Beck” and that “many of the staff in his responsible traveller 11

images - Steenberg Hotel Š

Steenberg Flagship wine - Magna Carta

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Chef Duncan Doherty in presentation

Steenberg Hotel

geraniums and majestic proteas. Steenberg uses predominantly non-toxic, natural formulas of pest control on their vineyards, and also use natural predators to keep the grapes and the surrounding nature healthy. After the walk, we visited the cellar and finally tried some of the wines.

The highlight for most was the Steenberg Flagship wine; Magna Carta, a Sauvignon Blanc – Semillon blend with aromas of elderflower, gooseberries and orange blossom. With an aging potential of 20 years, this is most definitely an investment wine! Steenberg is almost alone in having a white flagship wine, but they feel that this is the wine that represents the particular terroir of the vineyard best.

Next up were the cute African penguins at Boulders Beach. These birds are sadly under threat of extinction, with only about 10% of the population left compared to the early 1900’s.

This is why we believe that it is important to visit Boulders (and pay the entrance and conservation fee to SANParks), rather than the public places further along in Simonstown where you can see them “for free”.

businesses had been there 30, 40 and even 50 years”. This is the kind of business that we trust can deliver luxury with a conscience!

In the evening, we hosted a Welcome Dinner at Jan’s villa in Constantia where we feasted on a 5-course meal prepared by Private Chef Matt Manning (of One Ingredient fame) and excellent wines from Môreson Estate. The dishes were prepared with the freshest, seasonal ingredients, showing off some of South Africa’s amazing culinary treasures.

It was a day of contrasts and painful realities, but also one of hope and of understanding that by visiting South Africa you can be a part of the solution to the problems that face so many – if you choose to #TravelwithImpact”.

DAY TWO In the morning, we were treated to a biodiversity walk on the grounds and vineyards of Steenberg. We were introduced to a variety of fynbos, from dainty little ericas, to mint-smelling

Lunch was a fanciful affair at The Flagship, where chef Duncan Doherty welcomed us into his home and cooked a superb 5-course seafood meal. Duncan uses only the freshest, locally sourced and sustainably produced ingredients in his kitchen. He uses the SASSI guidelines as his bible, and has a keen awareness of the need to support small, local businesses. Wines from Graham Beck complemented our meal perfectly, creating a thread from yesterday.

Later in the afternoon it was time to explore the Cape Town scene. We met up with Matt Manning, who took us on a foodie safari on Bree Street (Cape Town’s foodie mecka). First up: Publik, where we had a superb South African gin (Hope on Hopkins – distilled in Cape Town with a “grain to glass” mindset), a browse in the organic deli and butchery, and a tasting of biodynamic South African wines.

We then set our sights on Chef’s Warehouse, one of the most popular eateries on Bree right now.

They don’t take bookings, and unfortunately it was impossible to find space for a group as big as ours, but we had a nice chat with chef and owner Liam Tomlin. He says he’s too old for late nights and drunken patrons, which is why he closes promptly at 8pm. Personally, I think it adds to the allure of the place and partly explains the long queues outside (I say partly, because the food is obviously the main attraction; scrumptious Asian-inspired responsible traveller 13

tapas in generous portions). Liam has also run a very successful chef training academy, and he is still deeply invested in mentoring young talent.

He introduced us to his sous chef and protegee Angelo Scirocco who was a finalist in the S. Pellegrino Young Chef Awards 2015.

Dinner was at newly opened Charango, a PeruvianJapanese inspired eatery (apparently called Nikkei cuisine). We started off in style, with rose & elderflower Piscos, and then feasted on a spread of dishes. My absolute favourite was the dirty tuna tacos; To. Die. For! They also have amazing murals by renowned SA street artist Faith47.

DAY THREE On day three of our whirlwind launch tour, we left the Cape Town area and headed towards Hermanus. We drove along one of the most beautiful roads in the world, Clarens Drive, and then entered into the fynbos-clad Overberg.

This is an exciting wine-producing area, that makes particularly great whites and pinot noir.

Unfortunately we didn’t have time to explore, but many of the vineyards work in absolute harmony with their surroundings and produce wine that is true to the terroir of the area. One example is Hermanuspietersfontein, where biodiversity is at the top of the agenda. Large tracts of fynbos have been left untouched and pristine, and there are also corridors of fynbos in between the cultivated areas. These connect biomes, and allows access for wildlife throughout the vineyards. Ducks provide

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biological pest control, and earthworms work tirelessly at tilling the soil.

For lunch, we had front-row seats for the biggest show in town: the Southern Right Whales. As we were tucking in to fresh seafood and locally produced beer, the whales were giving us a beautiful performance.

They got their name because they were the “right” kind to hunt; they swim slowly, float when killed and have a lot of valuable fat (blubber).

Commercial whaling nearly led to their extinction, but since becoming protected in 1935 the population has grown by about 7% per year.

Although the numbers are still less than 15% of what they were before whaling commenced in the 1820’s. These majestic animals can be up to 18 meters long, and weigh up to 80 tonnes (the equivalent of about 10 African elephants!). They grace South Africa’s southern coast with their presence between June and November, when they give birth and then nurse their calves in our (relatively) warm waters.

Next up on our adventure: the impossibly beautiful and luxurious Grootbos Private Nature Reserve.

This is one of those businesses that you could write a whole textbook about, on how to use tourism as a vehicle for local development, job-creation and conservation. They operate a number of successful projects through the Grootbos Foundation that improve the lives of thousands of people in the local communities each year.

images - Grootbos Š

Growing the Future at Groosbos

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images - Grootbos ©

Cuisine at Groosbos Private Nature Reserve

We visited Growing the Future on Siyakhula Organic Farm in the heart of the Grootbos reserve.

Here, women are taught organic agriculture, sustainable animal husbandry and beekeeping.

All vegetables, herbs, lettuces, fruit, eggs, honey and preserves produced at this farm are sold to the Grootbos lodges, so that evening we knew exactly where our food had come from!

We also went on a drive through the 2,500 ha reserve, where a mindboggling 765 plant species, 100 of which are endangered and six of which only exist here, grow. Later that evening, we gathered in the wine cellar for a fine meal accompanied by wines sourced in the Overberg region. Grootbos is a shining example of how you can combine absolute luxury with the feel-good factor of knowing that you are also contributing towards the wellbeing of people and places. A true example of how you can #TravelWithImpact!

DAY FOUR On day four, we set our sights on the Cape Winelands. First stop: Franschhoek. This is where the almost 200 French Huguenots (escaping religious persecution in France by fleeing to Holland, who promptly offered them a new home in the Cape Colony that was desperate for more settlers) were granted land in the late 1600’s. The name means “French corner” in Afrikaans. Wine farms like La Motte, La Cotte, Cabriere, Provence, Chamonix, Dieu Donne and La Dauphine still keep the memory of the ancestors of Franschhoek alive.

Franschhoek has long been called the “Culinary 16 responsible traveller

Capital” of South Africa, and although other parts are catching up quickly there is still a very high concentration of fine dining restaurants here. One of the best-known is probably The Tasting Room at gorgeous Le Quartier Francais hotel, where Chef Margot Janse creates innovative dishes based on locally sourced produce. But Chef Janse is much more than one of South Africa’s best chefs; she is also an incredibly driven woman that works hard to improve the situation of children in the Franschhoek area. Through the Isabelo feeding scheme and the Kusasa Breakfast Club, she helps to feed close to 1,500 kids every school day.

One of many positive things that tourism can help contribute towards is conservation of local heritage. We got to experience, and taste, this at the Fyndraai Restaurant at Solms Delta Wine Estate.

Fyndraai’s standard menu is a fusion of three culinary traditions of the Cape: the Veldkos of the indigenous Khoe and San who inhabited this region thousands of years ago; Cape ‘Malay’ cuisine (foods created by slaves of Indian, Indonesian and East African origin) and Boerekos (the cuisine that European settlers developed in the Cape). This Heritage Menu does not fuse and re-invent these traditions, but rather allows you to experience them just as they would have been prepared in the past. In each of the three courses, you are given a taste of authentic Boerekos, Cape Malay and Veldkos dishes.

Later in the afternoon, we checked in to stylish and sophisticated Spier Wine Estate and Hotel. I love

image - Grootbos Š

Lunch with a view at Groosbos Private Nature Reserve

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Free range chickens at the Spier organic farm

the contemporary art around the sprawling estate (one of the biggest private collections in South Africa), much of which comes from local artists supported through the Spier Art Academy. We visited the organic farm, where free range cattle and chickens are reared and organic vegetables and herbs grown. Once again, we sat down to dinner that evening knowing exactly where our food had come from, and how much love had gone into producing it!

Eight is a farm-to-table eating experience. The produce used at Eight is either grown on the farm or sourced from nearby farmers. Natural and organic ingredients are preferred, creatively combined to create nourishing, healthy, and delicious food. Like its name, the restaurant is an expression of balance, cycles, harmony, infinity and abundance.

Our Influence Tours launch tour was drawing to an end that night. During four intense days we had experienced the best South Africa has to offer, but also seen the difficult situation that many people live in here. But most importantly, our guests had learned how tourism can help uplift and empower people.

It may sound like a cliche, but your holiday can quite literally change peoples’ lives for the better if you make a few conscious choices. Imagine if we all decided to #TravelWithImpact! •

w w w.influencetours.com

‘It may sound like a cliche, but your holiday can quite literally change peoples’ lives for the better if you make a few conscious choices...’

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7600

572

pre-scheduled

exhibitors

appointments in 2015

from accross the world

**

**

2847** visitors: 16% international, 84% South African

Tourism

WTM AFRICA

and its economic effect

- a thought leadeship piece by Chardonnay Marchesi, GM Africa Travel Week

When you travel, use an airport, buy a meal at a restaurant, take a taxi or pick up a souvenir from the market, does it ever occur to you just how much these actions and the money that you spend contribute to the local, regional and national economy of the country you are visiting?

Working in the industry of travel and tourism exhibitions, the issue of the economic impact is always raised, thrown about and used wherever possible. Understanding its relevance or its importance is often challenging.

On a business trip to Cape Town last week in preparation for our upcoming travel and tourism b2b event, World Travel Market Africa, I sat in the lobby of the hotel waiting for my colleague and I observed the chain of events in action. A foreign tourist arrived in a transfer vehicle and as she got out of the car, I noticed she slipped the driver what looked like a R50 note as a tip.

She then gave her suitcase to the porter to take care of (another tip coming there for sure) and before checking in asked the concierge where the nearest arts and crafts market was in order to buy some African souvenirs to take home with her to Holland.

A function was about to start at the hotel too and outside waiting was a colourful minstrel band eager to get their performance going for the guests. My colleague arrived and I left the scene but the image stayed with me for a while. All over Cape Town and all over Africa, similar activities were taking place. Local people were benefiting from tourists being in their midst.

In our industry it is generalised that on average 7 jobs are created for every tourist that visits a country, and the 2015 UNWTO annual report states that tourism accounts for 9% of global GDP. Yet the market has an apathetic perception and a general lack of awareness in the potential this industry has to stimulate economic growth and promote social upliftment. The statistics are impressive and one can easily work out the impact that tourism can have here in Africa if we merely increase passenger numbers by a small percentage year on year.

Relative to other industries also, it is a labour intensive sector where the economic impact is felt swiftly and translated into hard cash by those employed by tourism, in their own local communities.

The City of Cape Town is well in tune with the benefits that tourism brings to its city and our partnership with them is a valuable one. Hosting Africa’s leading inbound and outbound B2B travel and tourism exhibition in this world class African environment encourages more business, brings more tourists, creates more jobs, more foreign exchange and a more stable economy.

Something so essential to our economy!

Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries, where a lot of money is generated and exchanged. It is therefore a very crucial area.

Tourism generates foreign exchange, enabling the exchanged currency to be a player in the global foreign exchange market.

As a major player in the economies of many countries, tourism provides employment and job creation especially in the service industry in areas involving transportation, accommodation and entertainment. It stimulates trade, income and entrepreneurship - especially in small business sectors. Even though global chains have a large piece of the pie, there are many tourists looking for different, local experiences that are untouched; providing a gap for entrepreneurs and SMME’s.

The provision of new infrastructure allows for businesses to run smoother. It increases regional development - particularly in isolated areas.

Tourism also generates greater collection of taxes and revenues, which filters down to state welfare, education and other state funded activities.

An exhibition such as World Travel Market Africa plays a key role in the economics of tourism in Africa. The unique event, serves as a monetary boost to the tourism industry, with our 2015 exhibition generating US $333 million in new business for exhibitors. Exhibitors are also able to widen their reach, by reaching new markets through our hosted buyers and Buyers Club visitors.

WTM Africa is the leading B2B travel and tourism exhibition, held in the host City of Cape Town, 6-8 April. responsible traveller 21

WTM AFRICA

WTM® Africa Responsible Tourism Programme Business seminar 1 - Responsible Tourism for Accommodation Providers There are increasing costs associated with water, waste and energy and consumers’ expectations of both the guest experience and the sustainability credentials of their accommodation rise across more and more markets. This seminar will enable you to hear from leading accommodation businesses about how they are addressing these challenges, to ask your questions and get answers.

What works, what doesn’t and why?

Chair: Harold Goodwin, WTM Responsible Tourism Advisor Speakers: Jo Anderson, Director, Carbon Tanzania; Chris van Zyl, Group Sustainability Manager, Vineyard Hotel; Jon Kilroe-Smith, General Manager, Club Mykonos Resort

Business seminar 2 - Responsible Tourism and Tour Operators: The Business Case The experience economy is influencing consumer choice and raising the expectations of travellers and holidaymakers in more and more source markets. Travellers are demanding richer experiences and more engagement in the destination, they want to get closer to the people and their cultures and to the wildlife and just as they increasingly expect their consumer good to be sustainable so they expect more of their tourism providers. These expectations are reshaping the B2B and B2C markets in this seminar you’ll hear how successful businesses are meeting these challenges and have time to ask your questions of the experts.

Chair: Harold Goodwin, WTM Responsible Tourism Advisor Speakers: Michael Lutzeyer, Owner, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve; Matthias Leisinger, Independent Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, Kuoni - Switzerland; Paul Miedema, Cofounder, Calabash Tours; Craig Drysdale, Head of Global Sales , Thompsons Africa

Responsible Tourism Speed Marketing There’s nothing like sampling a place’s food and drinks to create lasting memories of our travels. We go to restaurants, wineries and markets to find out what the locals love to eat, drink and celebrate with. And those of us who are among the growing number of consumers searching for meals that are organic, free range and ethical - meals that do not “cost the earth” - we find our happiness in cafes, craft breweries and bistros. Join us to discover gems that not only enhance travel itineraries, but also look out for the well-being of local people and the planet.

Organised by: Better Tourism Africa, The Longtable Project, The Private Hotel School and EcoAtlas Baklava in Greece, lnjera in Ethiopia and bunny chows in Durban.

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WTM AFRICA

Responsible Tourism Panel 1 - Wildlife and Tourism in Africa Africa’s wildlife remains the major draw for many of those attracted to the continent, whether for a once-in-a-life-time experience or as repeat visitors. The traditional safari game viewing experience has expanded to include charismatic marine mammals. The debate about the proper role of hunting in conservation, the degree to which local communities benefit from consumptive and nonconsumptive tourism and the issues which have arisen around poaching, canned hunting and lion petting have been hot in the media over the last year. This panel will address the issues and be ready to answer your questions.

Chair: Harold Goodwin, WTM Responsible Tourism Advisor Speakers: Colin Bell, Africa’s Finest; Lara Mostert , Marketing Executive, South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance (SAASA); Joep Stevens, General Manager, Strategic Tourism Services, South African National Parks; Wilfred Pabst, Hamburg Businessman and Conservationist, hunter, owns a large conservancy in Zimbabwe and maintains that “those wanting to forbid sustainable hunting are malicious destroys of huge nature reserves certainly in Africa”.

Responsible Tourism Panel 2 - Responsible Tourism and the Bottom Line So what is the business case for Responsible Tourism? These four panellists will talk about how they placed Responsible Tourism at the heart of their business, how it is added value and contributed to their business success – marketing, investment, staff development and retention, licence to operate, and the guest experience. Come along and hear from four businesses about why Responsible Tourism makes business sense, there will be time for questions too.

Chair: Heidi van der Watt, Better Tourism Africa, WTM Responsible Tourism Advisor Speakers: Glynn O’Leary, Co-founder & Chief Executive, Transfrontier Parks Destinations; Paul Miedema, Co-founder, Calabash Tours; Henko Wenholt, Market Developer and General Manager, Abang Africa; Adrian Gardiner, Founder & Chairman, Mantis Collection

Responsible Tourism Panel 3 - How resilient is your business?

Businesses often put sales and profitability first, they are fundamental to staying in business. However, there are risks too. Drought, climate change, disease, continuity of supply and cost of energy and water, terrorism and crime, and licence to operate are all challenges for business in a sector which relies on consumer confidence not just in the business from which they are purchasing but in the places you do business. This panel of experts will share their experience and answer your questions.

Chair: Harold Goodwin, WTM Responsible Tourism Advisor Speakers: H.E. Derek Hanekom, Minister of Tourism, South Africa; Emad Hassan, Energy Advisor, Ministry of Tourism - Egypt; Chantelle Cole, Executive Manager & Strategic Marketing, V&A Waterfront

African Responsible Tourism Awards 2016 Heroes of responsible tourism in Africa will be honoured at the 2016 African Responsible Tourism Awards. Following the success of the inaugural event in 2015, this event continues to form part of the prestigious World Responsible Tourism Awards, the world’s most respected responsible tourism awards.

With its unique natural and cultural landscapes, Africa offers many opportunities for responsible tourism. Tourism organisations are already growing tourism that preserves, respects and benefits African destinations and African people. The African Responsible Tourism Awards aims to celebrate the efforts made by individuals, organisations and destinations in Africa. The awards also aim to inspire change in the African tourism industry.

www.responsibletravel.com responsible traveller 23

WTM AFRICA

African Responsible Tourism Awards 2016

As part of the World Responsible Tourism Awards family, the judging process for the African Responsible Tourism Awards is chaired

by HAROLD GOODWIN, Professor of Responsible Tourism at Manchester Metropolitan University, Director of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism and Chair of the main World Responsible Tourism Awards judging panel since its inception.

Sponsored by WESGRO and organised by the BETTER TOURISM AFRICA – South Africa, the awards are part of a family of regional Responsible Tourism Awards which culminate each year with the World Responsible Tourism Awards which are presented at WTM in London on World Responsible Tourism Day. The longlist named over 60 tourism organisations, initiatives, businesses and projects across eight categories. These categories include wildlife conservation, poverty reduction, best responsible tourism marketing campaign and best operator for people with disabilities.

The longlisted nominees were selected from submissions from all corners of Africa – covering the continent north to south and east to west.

The list includes nominees from Morocco, the Gambia, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Ethiopia, South Africa and many more.

“The variety of organisations which have made it through to the long list this year demonstrates just how powerful a force for good responsible tourism is becoming in Africa. Each and every one of these organisations is playing an important role in championing responsible 24 responsible traveller

tourism. The quality of the entries is superb – we’ve seen the information submitted and are excited about the possibilities,” said Heidi van der Watt, founder of the awards and director of Better Tourism Africa.

The award’s judges, a panel made up of industry experts, worked through information submitted by nominees and announced a short list on 01 April 2016. The award winners will be announced at the 2016 African Responsible Tourism Awards on Thursday 07 April 2016 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town.

PROF HAROLD GOODWIN, chair of the judging panel, added, ““There is a strong field for the African Responsible Tourism Awards (ARTA) this year, illustrating the number and range of businesses taking responsibility for ensuring that they minimise their negative impacts and increase their positive ones. Those long listed will now be invited to complete a detailed questionnaire, we’ll take up references and make some inquiries and on judging day, we’ll identify those that demonstrate the difference that taking responsibility can make and which have the capacity to educate and inspire others to be more responsible - it makes business sense.”

WTM AFRICA 2015 Award’s Winners: Overall Winner: Gansbaai Best for Beach Tourism: Gold - Chumbe Island Coral Park Silver - Nuarro

Image ourtesy of Gansbaai Tourism ©

Best Blog for Responsible Tourism: Gold - The Good Holiday Silver - My Slow Journey

2016 Award’s Judges: Dr Harold Goodwin, Professor Responsible Tourism at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) and Founder of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism Carol Weaving, Managing Director, Thebe Reed Dr Deborah Johnson, Vice Dean: The Private Hotel School Dawn Robertson, CEO: Constitution Hill Glenn Philips, Managing Executive: Kruger National Park, South African National Parks Heidi van der Watt, Managing Director: Better Tourism Africa Jacques Stoltz, Board of Trustees: Heritage Association of South Africa

Best Destination for Responsible Tourism: Gold - Gansbaai Silver - Bigodo Wetlands Sanctuary / Cape Town Best for Engaging People & Culture: Gold - Coffeebeans Routes Silver - !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre / Nkwichi Lodge / TFPD Foundation’s Baleni Camp Best for Poverty Reduction: Gold - Grootbos Private Nature Reserve in partnership with the Grootbos Foundation / Transfrontier Parks Destinations Silver - Stormsriver Adventures Best for Resource Management: Gold - Chobe Game Lodge Silver - Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp / Sandele Eco Retreat and Learning Centre / Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company / Vineyard Hotel Best for Wildlife Conservation Gold - Marine Dynamics Silver - andBeyond’s Rhinos Without Borders Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse

Event Partners:

Jovial Rantao, Editor: African Independent Maxi Louis, Director: Namibian Association of Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) Support Organisations (NACSO) Mmatšatši Ramawela, CEO, Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) Rung Button, National Executive Commitee, SATSA Simba Mandinyenya, Executive Director: Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA) Tara Turkington, CEO: FLOW Communications Therina Wentzel, National Director: National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in South Africa (NCPPDSA) Webber Ndoro, African World Heritage Fund Yolan Friedmann, CEO: Endangered Wildlife Trust responsible traveller 25

WTM AFRICA

#ARTA - Best for

Beach Tourism At a glance: Best for beach tourism is awarded to a tourism business, organisation or initiative providing or contributing to responsible holidays in beach settings.

Award explained: The Best for beach tourism category seeks to demonstrate that all kinds of tourism can and should be run with communities and the environment in mind. Long associated with irresponsible package holidays, this category will shine a light on beach holidays that conserve beach environments and respect local communities.

What the Judges want: Leadership in responsible tourism policies and practices in a beach setting, positive integration and relationships with local communities, and proven achievements in maintaining/ conserving beach environments.

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Image - Banyan Tree Seychelles Š

WTM AFRICA

Banyan Tree Seychelles

Banyan Tree (Seychelles) Banyan Tree Seychelles is the only resort on Mahe with a managed freshwater wetland and contains the only Wildlife Conservation and Rehabilitation Centre in Seychelles. The property houses two critically endangered species—the Yellow Bellied Mud terrapin, and the Hawksbill Sea Turtle. Of only 120 surviving Yellow Bellied Mud Turtles in the world, their seven hectare wetland is home to at least nine.

The Wildlife Conservation and Rehabilitation Centre monitors their beachfront daily and as a result, Intendance is the only beach on Mahe

that is completely poaching free, and had the most number of recorded nests on the entire island last season (48 nests between September – April 2015).

Though Banyan Tree is one of the oldest resorts on the island (established in 2002), it has set a precedent for responsible tourism in Seychelles, sharing the beach with turtles and supporting the wetland with a conservation team and researchers. Everything is integrated into nature with 60 villas spread along the beachfront and hillside, and the Banyan Tree Spa housed in small bungalows barely visible from the spa itself. This resort is a natural sanctuary on the island. responsible traveller 27

Image - Baobab Beach Resort & Spa Š

WTM AFRICA

Baobab Beach resort & Spa

Baobab Beach Resort & Spa (Kenya) The Baobab Beach Resort and Spa offers a spectacular beach and nature experience set within a tropical environment in harmony with Kenya’s nature. Located within one of the last vestiges of virgin coastal forest the hotel grounds are alive with dazzling butterflies and birds, brilliant flowers and blossoming vegetation as well as indigenous monkeys and forest dwelling wildlife.

Baobab Beach resort is committed to environmental protection and sustainability guided by environmental management best practices and an environmental policy.

Sustainability efforts are shown by its contribution to conservation and sustainability of the natural environment, in conjunction with the local community. Sustainability is a key component of the concept at all levels of the operation and the certifications awarded to the resort enforce this commitment - winner of the 2006, 2007and 2015 TUI Environmental Champion award.

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Solar Power - the Resort conforms to a sustainable energy saving plan. Power lines have been installed underground (in order to protect monkeys and other types of wildlife). Additionally, they use solar panels to supplement their water heating needs. The property itself uses the latest technology in energy efficient equipment and lighting.

Water Conservation - as part of their environmental commitment several measures are in place to reduce water consumption across the resort. A state of the art water management system filters and cleanses waste water for use across the extensive gardens for irrigation proposes. The resort also features an advanced eco-friendly sewage disposal system to ensure the property meets environmentally acceptable standards.

Staff Awareness - management and staff pride themselves in their efforts to protect the ancient indigenous coastal forest surrounding the property. All management and staff have undergone extensive training on energy saving

WTM AFRICA the guests of Nkwichi Lodge to enjoy and explore.

Normally done by foot or canoe, and sometimes motorized boat, which keeps the impact on the environment down to a minimum.

Access to the lake is through a natural harbour that needed no artificial construction, thereby maintaining the integrity and originality of the lodges chosen site.

Lake Niassa (Lake Malawi), is blessed with around 8% of the world’s fresh water. Nkwichi have made it their duty and objective to maintain this valuable resource in its current pristine condition. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has identified the four km lakeshore in front of Nkwichi Lodge as the most biodiverse part of Lake Niassa, and the lake itself as the most biodiverse in the world. The WWF estimates there are over 1,000 species of fish in the lake, 70% of the world’s freshwater tropical fish.

‘We believe that whilst Nkwichi Lodge provides a world-class beach experience to its guests, the impact on the environment, surrounding communities and tourism are all truly positive.’

From the outset in 2002, the six original investors, all with an international aid background, resolved to make Nkwichi work for the local community and its unspoiled natural environment.

North Island (Seychelles) techniques and practices, and adhere to our annual energy saving goals. All employees have also received training on waste management and recycling practices.

Nkwichi Lodge (Mozambique) Nkwichi Lodge is a leading example of how eco-tourism can work hand in hand with the local community to conserve one of the last remaining wildernesses. Nkwichi Lodge (Nkwichi means ‘squeaking’ in the local language – named by the local fishermen for the sounds made when walking on the ultra-fine white sand) is situated on the most remote part of the Lake Niassa shoreline, in northern Mozambique.

The location was chosen for its beauty, tranquility, crystal-clear fresh water, dazzling beaches and a backdrop of Rift Valley hills, and is said to have one of the most spectacular beaches in Africa, with guests regularly stating that Nkwichi is the best beach they have ever been to. There are eight secluded beaches set along 4km of Rift Valley coastline, which are available for

North Island represents a unique combination of an award-winning, world class barefoot luxury hideaway, and a conservation success story.

Guests visiting North Island enjoy ultimate privacy and exclusivity, with renowned bespoke service tailored to surprising and spoiling them with personalised experiences. The Island espouses a holistic approach to wellbeing, with a wide range of activities from deeply relaxing to highly exhilarating.

The guest experience coexists happily with the Noah’s Ark Island rehabilitation project, which has already seen some 53ha (27% of the Island) at least partially rehabilitated.

Principal conservation achievements are the re-introduction of the Seychelles white-eye, marine turtle breeding success, and population increases of Aldabra giant tortoise and other native species.

Every aspect of life on North Island is geared towards the responsible delivery of amazing beach holidays. Fresh organic ingredients are fished locally using sustainable methods, responsible traveller 29

BulkSMS.com is best for enhancing your responsible tourism SMS communications. Our SMS gateway connects to over 800 mobile network operators globally, enabling the delivery of efficient and cost effective SMS messaging solutions for your tourism business, organisation or initiative.

“SMS messaging is a trusted channel that enables you to get your message across responsibly. In our experience, the use of SMS is a positive contribution to growing tourism in a sustainable manner. BulkSMS is a proud supporter of various innovative programmes addressing beach safety, the wellbeing of local communities, care for coastal environments, and shark conservation, including Peninsula Paddle, Shark Spotters and Waves for Change.�

Dr Pieter Streicher, MD of BulkSMS.com

ph. +27 (0)21 528 3420 e. sales@bulksms.com w w w. b u l k s m s . c o m 64 responsible traveller

Get your message across

North Island Seychelles

or foraged from the Island’s lush forests.

Introducing a Vivreau water purification system has seen plastic waste slashed, and grey water is repurposed for irrigation. Everything delivered to the Island is rigorously checked to ensure no alien species can arrive there. All cleaning products used are biodegradable and the subterranean aquifer – on which all Island life depends – is carefully managed.

The health of the Island’s ecosystem is inextricably linked to the ocean. North Island is actively involved in a bold initiative to have its western coastal waters declared a marine wildlife reserve.

This would not only protect the Island’s coral reefs and marine wildlife from any future attempts to exploit them but also set an important example within Seychelles and throughout the island nations of the Indian Ocean. The importance of the “blue economy” (sustainable management of ocean resources) is gaining traction and North Island wants to add its voice to this conversation – and to lead by example.

Shark Spotters (South Africa) Shark Spotters is a holistic, socially and environmentally responsible initiative that protects beach tourism, the local economy and the environment from the negative repercussions of shark bite incidents. Although rare, shark attacks are traumatic events that can have far reaching social and economic effects on local communities. Tourism and local businesses suffer as people no longer wish to partake in recreational water activities and so visitor numbers to beaches drop. Recent studies have shown a significant reduction in the number of

Image - North Island ©

WTM AFRICA

water users at two popular Cape Town beaches for up to three months following a shark bite incident in the area.

In an attempt to mitigate these effects, governments often respond to shark attacks with knee-jerk reactions, implementing extreme measures, such as banning all bathing and surfing (e.g. Reunion), catch and kill orders (e.g.

Western Australia), or culling programs (e.g. east coast of both Australia and South Africa). These measures are not sustainable and some can have serious detrimental environmental effects, especially those which impact threatened or vulnerable species, such as great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias). These environmentally destructive mitigation measures could lead to further negative impacts on the eco-tourism sector if charismatic species are killed (either intentionally or as by-catch).

Shark Spotters is a pioneering shark safety program that has attracted local and international attention because of the novel way it seeks to reduce conflicts between people and sharks in Cape Town. Shark Spotters finds a balance between recreational water user safety and great white shark conservation through pro-actively reducing negative shark-human interactions, by using spotters and an exclusion barrier, and an emergency response in the event of a shark bite.

They also conduct applied research on shark ecology and behaviour, educate and raise public awareness about shark-related issues, and provide employment opportunities and skills development for previously disadvantaged individuals, thereby being a great example of a responsible tourism initiative. responsible traveller 31

#ARTA Best

WTM AFRICA

Contribution to

Cultural Heritage Conservation

At a glance: Best contribution to cultural heritage conservation is awarded to a tourism business, attraction or experience that has made a clear contribution to the conservation of cultural heritage.

Award explained: The Best contribution to cultural heritage conservation category is looking for an inspirational example of a tourism business, organisation or attraction which is playing a clear role in the protection, preservation and promotion of cultural heritage; keeping the traditions and culture of a community at the heart of their tourism experiences.

What the Judges want: Examples of proven, measurable contributions to the protection of cultural, historic or natural resources through tourism.

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WTM AFRICA Riel Dance at Bushmans Kloof

of products that are linked to KwaZulu-Natal’s proud Zulu culture: community tourism experiences that enable tourists to interact with and learn about both contemporary and traditional culture; as well as hand-crafted products made by women using ancient techniques passed on through generations. Zulu beadwork, basket weaving and pottery all have great cultural significance.

Story-telling is at the heart of everything that Africa!Ignite does. They have story-tellers at each Marketplace and also use different media to document and share stories that enhance the value of the handmade objects and tourism experiences. They believe that the stories inspire tourists to buy products, return to the area and recommend the experiences to others. Zulu is internationally well-recognised as a brand, but it can have negative connotations because it is associated with fierce warriors and macho men.

The WOWZULU brand is primarily about women as the glue that keep societies together and the custodians of culture. They tell stories of women in many different ways: through exhibitions, live story performances, story-books, postcards etc.

‘WOWZULU’ also fuses traditional Zulu culture (ZULU) with innovative, contemporary design elements, packaging and sharing of stories (the WOW).

Image - Bushmanskloof - Riel Dance ©

Even though much of Africa!Ignite’s cultural heritage conservation work is done through its ‘Telling stories of KZN’ and craft programmes (partnerships with Department of Arts and Culture), the products and stories are all integrated into and showcased through WOWZULU.

Africa!Ignite (South Africa) Africa!Ignite’s WOWZULU responsible tourism contributes directly to the conservation of rural KwaZulu-Natal’s cultural heritage. They capitalise on KZN’s rich Zulu cultural heritage and on its proud history to create income for rural craft and tourism entrepreneurs in deep-rural areas, where people are still rooted in their cultural heritage.

Their approach is to market and sell two types

Bushmans Kloof (South Africa) Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat is located in the Cederberg Mountains, 270km from Cape Town. Its business ethos is based on engaging guests with local culture and interacting with the local community. The owners of this five-star Red Carnation Hotels lodge, the Tollman family - who further own The Travel Corporation - and the team on the ground focus on introducing guests to the cultural heritage that is an integral part of this wilderness reserve – the ancient rock art of the San Bushmen and the cultural expressions of the Khoi and San. Bushmans Kloof is also at the forefront of the revival of the ‘Riel Dance’, a traditional ceremonial dance of the ancient Khoi and San civilisation that until recently was in danger of becoming responsible traveller 33

WTM AFRICA

The number of people affected in a positive way is huge, as the project draws in and incorporates the neighbouring communities and its members in various ways. What started out as a small regional initiative with just 24 dancers has grown to 72 award-winning members in 2014/2015 and it continues to grow. With the support of Bushmans Kloof, the ‘Trappers’ have placed one of South Africa’s oldest indigenous ethnic folk dances firmly on the global map – a major feat for this remote community.

Cape Camino (South Africa) The Cape Camino route is anchored by spiritual and cultural diversity, creating, and affirming, respect and tolerance amongst our broad variety of community. They showcase Islam, Khoisan sacred sites, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hare Krishna, African Traditionalism, Afrikaans Calvinism, Paganism, Quakers, and any, local, sacred/mystical ideology.

Cape Camino have a special focus on Khoisan traditions as it is this nation that has been the most severely marginalised of all our cultural nations. They are developing their own criteria and curriculum for their guides giving a mouth piece and status to ancient, local knowledge, wisdom and way of life. This ancient Khoisan way of life is a very sustainable one. So in this way they seek to find sustainable options in today’s consumerism by using cultural heritage as a role model. The environment is a central concept of the Khoi way.

The route also meanders through impoverished communities e.g. Westlake Village where they are currently engaged and facilitating processes for building capacity. Arthur Koeberg is working with Herbanisation to develop a local indigenous garden, recycling plant, and clean up of the wetlands.

The Cape Camino supports micro business, in neighbourhoods, contributing to poverty alleviation and celebrating unique, local entrepreneurship instead of relying on corporate 34 responsible traveller

employment. The route itself opens up countless business opportunities providing logistics for the pilgrim: accommodation, food, beverages, guiding, curios, and transport. There are also opportunities for community cooperatives to support the service providers on the route; e.g. vegetable production, laundry services, identifying and training local guides etc.

Macassar Pottery (South Africa) Macassar Pottery have been successful in building strong relationships into one of Cape Town’s townships most isolated by apartheid spatial engineering, and using its very isolation to craft a tourist experience that helps to embed it into the social fabric of the city.

Background - Macassar is physically cut off from the city, being surrounded by a highway, sand mine, marshland, nature reserve and – believe it or not – a bomb factory. They are helping the people behind the bomb factory tell their story.

The effect of this spatial setting is a mindset, not just geography. At Proudly Macassar Pottery they firmly believe that – through tourism – they can help locals to not just watch life pass them by, but to become central partners. The margins are really the centre of life in Cape Town.

Their product - the Township Clay Experience is sustainable, presented by locals, and it is embedded in a broad storytelling process underway in the community, and has attracted great reviews from visitors. By allowing a community to choose its own story, they put culture in first place - this community is more than klopse, breyani and gatsby, as valid as these expressions of culture are. Their storytelling process is helping the community remember the deep stories, so they can then decide how they want to showcase their community to visitors.

Replicable – one of the things they focus on is to remain present and build trust. In this way, they use the profile of the business in the community to build a platform where the community feels safe to make its voice heard and solve its own problems. They have learnt key lessons in this process that can help others unlock the potential of their businesses to do more than just create jobs.

Segera (Kenya) Segera is not just a tourism destination; nor is it just a cultural initiative. Rather, it excels as both – and much more besides – thanks to being founded on a revolutionary yet coherent

Image - Wilderness Safaris - Segera - photo Anthony Grote

extinct. Having founded the award-winning local Riel Dance troupe, called Die NuweGraskoue Trappers, who won gold at the World Championships in Los Angeles in July 2015, Bushmans Kloof has played an important part in the Riel renaissance and has put the spotlight on this remote rural area. The international success of these young local dancers will have a lasting effect on their communities, and the exposure to the rest of the world along with the new opportunities that it brings.

WTM AFRICA

Typical Segera

philosophy. A balance of Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce – the 4Cs that shape Segera as a Founding Member and Flagship Destination of the Long Run Initiative and Zeitz Foundation.

preservation of the Laikipia ecosystem is the best way to save it for future generations. Segera is a long-term project, and one which can only succeed by supporting – and with the support of – local communities.

Segera sets a new standard for sustainable tourism and has become a driving force in promoting sustainable thinking and practice.

As a Long Run Destination, Segera supports activities that enhance the wellbeing of its local communities – activities which address local employment, fair working conditions, social ventures and accountability, capacity building and support for small enterprises. Some initiatives supported by Segera include Africa’s first award-winning ‘Waterbank School’ (with rainwater harvesting and filtration) and smallscale income-generating projects including beading beekeeping, conservation agriculture, solar lighting and low-energy cooking techniques.

Segera understands that it has as much to learn from the people of Segera, as it can teach them. Local communities have survived in this demanding landscape for generations by sustainably managing sometimes scarce resources. Segera now hopes to encourage its neighbours to see their rich culture as a resource too – not one to be exploited, but rather to be cherished, invigorated and shared. Culture is not something to be preserved in a museum; it is the living, breathing embodiment of the spirit of a place and transcends human lifetimes and limitations.

Segera sees itself as a part of the solution – and its neighbours in the same way. Recognising and acting upon the mutual interest in the

Stellenbosch 360 NPC has begun a process that leads to sustainable economic and social transformation based on complex cultural

Stellenbosch 360 (South Africa)

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WTM AFRICA and environmental factors, with natural resources, innovation and technology. Their key criteria: credibility and sustainability. Their development strategy: to create jobs and wealth by introducing the previously disadvantaged communities to the concept of culture tourism as a vehicle to economic empowerment.

Recognizing the need for public and private partnerships, Stellenbosch 360 has successfully applied the registration of a separate Not-forProfit Company: Stellenbosch 360 Development and Training NPC, with tax redemption status (Art. 18-A status). Over the past three years, more than three million rand was obtained for the development of culture tourism in the previously disadvantaged communities (Kayamandi, Cloetesville, Ida’s Valley, Jamestown, Klapmuts and Raithby), with partners such as British American Tobacco, Remgro, Distell, the Stellenbosch Municipality, The Cape Winelands District municipality and the Stellenbosch University coming on board as sponsors.

Their organization is the only Local Tourism Authority to do pioneering work in the field of culture tourism development – their projects, in the words of MEC Alan Winde, are ‘role models for the rest of the Western Cape and beyond’.

Stellenbosch 360 is symbolic of a complete turnaround, is indicative of an all-inclusive approach to the promotion of Stellenbosch as “the most inspiring, innovative town in Africa” and 360 also lends itself to an outward spiralling – centrifugal approach, where no borders limit financial, geographical, transformative reach.

Wilderness Safaris (into Africa) Culture is a critical element of Wilderness Safaris’ business model (represented by the 4Cs – Conservation, Commerce, Community and Culture). The 4Cs is the platform upon which

their sustainability initiatives are based and they believe that the Culture arm governs respect for the diverse cultures of their employees, and communities in the conservation areas which they operate. They have developed a strategy to achieve a set of outcomes for each of the 4Cs, and believe that cultural tourism at Wilderness Safaris must promote an understanding and appreciation of the host communities and their culture.

In 2011, Wilderness Safaris developed the Ethics Charter and Codes of Conduct for Cultural Tourism which is a guide for cultural engagement in all areas where they operate.

The Charter highlights positive behavioural conduct for both staff and guests and promotes ethical engagements to develop mutual respect. The Charter is based on their collective experience and ingrained respect for indigenous communities whom are also shareholders, partners and colleagues.

Codes of Conduct in relation to cultural tourism apply to all forms of engagement in all countries where they operate, and they believe that there must always be respect as well as sensitivity in all forms of this engagement and applies to any guest activity such as a village visit or cultural/ traditional dancing. They provide pre-, during and post-visit procedures for guests who partake in these cultural engagements.

Their staff complement of 2500 across eight African countries ensures that they have a rich and diverse set of cultures. Wilderness Safaris run cross-country workshops and cultural awareness campaigns for their staff so that they may celebrate their individual cultural heritage but also share their histories with colleagues. They run an annual Wilderness Safaris Heritage Day on the last Friday of August each year to encourage the expression of cultural identity.

Image - Wilderness Safaris - Serra Cafema ©

Wilderness Safaris, Serra Cafema

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#ARTA - Best Operator for

People with Disabilities 38 responsible traveller

WTM AFRICA At a glance: The Best operator for people with disabilities category awards an operator which is accessible and enjoyable for all, welcoming travellers of all physical and mental capabilities.

Award explained: Responsible tourism should be accessible to all travellers. The Best operator for people with disabilities category is for attractions, accommodation or activity providers that set the standard for accessible tourism practices, and serve as an example to the tourism industry.

What the Judges want: Tourism operators who have integrated progressive policies and practices of inclusion and accessibility into the heart of the business – this is not only about wheelchair access, but about an ethos of accessibility running through the business and its activities.

Access2Africa Safaris Access2Africa Safaris is a tour operator specialising in Inclusive Accessible Safaris and caters for all guests including deaf, deaf-blind, vision impaired as well as wheelchair users. Their tours and safaris were born out of their own personal experiences of living with disability as the owner is deaf and partner is a c4 quadriplegic and uses a power wheelchair.

Their safaris and tours have opened doors for many travellers with disabilities not just limited to wheelchair users and their work and passion has especially benefited local disabled organisation within their Zulu community to empower themselves namely The Kulani Special Needs School near Hluhluwe Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.

Image - Endeavor Safaris / www.travelforimpact.com Š

ATKV Goudini At ATKV Goudini, customer Service is of utmost importance and they are constantly seeking ways to improve the experience of their guests and have re-designed another six rondawels to be totally disabled friendly. An imported pool hoist has been installed at the indoor pool to assist people with special needs.

They serve their Worcester community and have formed partnerships alongside Deafnet and Pioneer School for the Blind (Institute for the Blind), as well as helping the Huis Horison in Stellenbosch and the Alta du Toit Nasorgsentrum in Bellville for people with disabilities, amongst others. They also hosted an international Mental Health Society conference at their premises a couple of years ago and believe “We are Blessed responsible traveller 39

WTM AFRICA to be a Blessing to others”. Added to this, the natural hot mineral water that has been bubbling out of earth for over three hundred years brings along its own comfort for the elderly members of society as well as those that are just looking to spend quality time in nature.

Endeavour Safaris All Endeavour Safaris products and ethos support responsible tourism and inclusivity.

They were established in 2001, being 100% specialised in Disability Tourism. At that time, they thought that it would be too confusing for their potential guests with disabilities to trust an operator in Africa (Longhaul) who would have knowledge of their needs if they did not show a specialisation in the disability field, so chose to focus on this. Then after running their tours and safaris for a number of years with guests with physical disabilities, they began to receive enquiries from friends and family members of their disabled guests who were able bodied, but wanted to travel with their company.

This paved the way forward to them focusing on inclusive travel. Inclusive, as the word states is about being able to cater to everyone, with or without a disability in a professionally mannered way that through the products on offer, the experience is equally experienced by all. With this view, all the products on offer, with the exception of walking Safaris, are accessible to all their guests. They mostly work with physical disabilities, quadriplegics, paraplegics, and other mobility related disabilities, and have special itineraries focused for guests with visual disabilities, and in South Africa, offer tours for guests needing kidney dialysis and oxygen.

They have also worked with developmental disabilities, in particular, higher functioning Autism and are very interested in developing future programmes for DD, but this requires more time and systems to develop correctly, as it is such a vast varied field.

Epic Enabled Epic Enabled has been at the forefront of tours and safaris to the South African disability travel sector since 2001. They started as a tour operator in 1992 and specialised in tours and safaris throughout Southern Africa. During this period of time they saw very few enabled travellers - being aware that there are many “Enabled” people who are willing, able and wish to experience the same sense of adventure in 40 responsible traveller

the thrilling African Bush - the concept of EPIC ENABLED was born.

EPIC ENABLED combines the spirit of adventure which the “safari traveller” enjoys – that is to expect the unexpected, within a travel environment which is well planned and structured. This “Enables the Disabled” traveller to enjoy an “expedition of a lifetime”.

Flamingo Tours & Disabled Ventures Flamingo Tours & Disabled Ventures – ‘I, Pam Taylor, am the owner and as a registered tourist guide and registered nursing sister, registered with South African Nursing council, I feel I have the passion for what I do, as my late Mother was disabled and my brother is also becoming disabled, due to an inherited disease. As a child we never went on a holiday as a family, as places were not accessible back in the 1960’s. People tended to hide their disabled family members and I felt that this needed to be changed.’

With her qualifications, Pam felt she was most qualified to do this type of touring for guests with special needs and still personally guides most of the tours, to ensure a very high standard of excellence. It also means that if there is a medical problem while away on tour, she can assess it and respond accordingly.

Over the years they have also helped, by giving advise to other establishments like Shamwari Private Game Reserve, Skeiding Guest Farm and others, on how to become more accessible for wheelchair users. They have also helped train staff at hotels on how to deal with guests with disabilities and especially sight impairment/ blindness.

Each guest is treated personally and each tour designed to suit those guest’s ability and interests, as “one size” does not fit all, in this niche market, due to the fact that each persons disability is different and needs differ, to make it a success. This tear sees them celebrating their 21st anniversary of trying to make a difference out there, by making a person, who has a disability, their holiday as “normal” as possible, by being ‘the best we can be with expertise I have’.

Quadpara Association of South Africa (QASA) QASA is a non-profit organisation providing projects and services for quadriplegics and paraplegics in South Africa. Over the years it

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The shared value and uniqueness of this project which is called the DAVID LEWIS LODGE (the reason for the name is that the house was purchased out of the estate of the late David Lewis, a prominent quadriplegic) is that it provides a revenue stream for QASA, which assists in the sustainability of the organisation and allowing it to perform the essential services for members, and also providing an accessible solution of accommodation and facilities for members, tourists and the general public.

The facility was opened 8 years ago and is now proving sustainable and extremely popular with local and international guests, having provided services for people with disabilities who attended the 2010 soccer World Cup, Rugby

Test matches, Cricket Test matches as well as accommodating sports teams representing paralympic sports.

David Lewis Lodge can accommodate guests with any disabilities and also guests without disabilities in a self catering and bed and breakfast format. The uniqueness about this facility is that it is owned and managed by a disability agency as part of the sustainability plan and service provision need.

Travel with Rene We are one of the few service providers specialising in this field andas a PwD Rene takes pride in providing an efficient, friendly & reliable service. The passenger is treated with respect and their dignity always comes first. Rene’s vans are always clean and staff friendly. She is also flexible with her clients various needs whether a request for a tour, hospital visits or any other request. She realised the lack of accessible transport for persons with mobility impairments and hence is flexible - in many cases she offers special rates to persons less fortunate as she realises that a disability grant doesn’t go very far.

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became evident that accessible accommodation in the form of bed and breakfast facilities and self catering is in dire need. Identifying this need, QASA purchased a house in the Edenvale area of Johannesburg and ensured that all facilities are accessible, and embracing universal design principles in the design and layout and supply of assistive devices and mobility aids to complement the accommodation.

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#ARTA Best

Poverty Reduction

At a glance: Best for poverty reduction is awarded to a tourism organisation with a creative and long-term approach to reducing poverty among local communities.

Award explained: The Best for poverty reduction category is one of the longest standing categories of the World Responsible Tourism Awards. With this category we are looking for tourism providers that support their activities in seeking to reduce and prevent poverty in a local community.

What the Judges want: A tourism organisation that can demonstrate a significant contribution to the reduction of poverty in a local community, a long-term sustainable vision for continuing their work, and providing a working example for others tourism providers around the world.

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!Xaus Lodge (South Africa) !Xaus Lodge (pronounced with a palatal “click” or as ‘Kaus’) is a community-owned, commercially managed lodge in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Built as part of the !Ae!Hai land claim settlement and jointly owned by the ‡Khomani San and Mier, the Lodge was abandoned by the communities as a “white elephant” before management operators, Transfrontier Parks Destinations (TFPD) were appointed.

Now in its 9th year of operation, !Xaus Lodge has generated more that R24,5 million in income for the local area in which it operates. The benefits accrue to a broad range of stakeholders – not just its community owners. Local employment, local procurement, enterprise and asset development all contribute to this achievement.

Having recently reach operational profitability, !Xaus Lodge is on track for long-term sustainability.

The management model combines commercial experience with a strong community-owned Joint Management Board that provides guidance. This means that the Lodge’s sustainability is promoted by a robust balance between commercial imperatives and community ownership and values. !Xaus Lodge is a benchmark for successful public-private-community partnership (PPCP) tourism operations, and provides the realworld examples needed for the development of national and regional policy, as well as academic models and internationally-used case studies.

Africa!Ignite (South Africa)

!Xaus Lodge

Africa!Ignite is pioneering a highly innovative and potentially replicable WOWZULU Responsible Tourism Initiative which creates sustainable income and jobs for rural women, youth and entrepreneurs in deep-rural areas where there are few, if any, other opportunities to earn a living.

Since April 2014, they have created the following jobs and income opportunities for rural women and men: 24 formal jobs at 6 WOWZULU Marketplaces; 281 agreements with craft producers, of whom 163 are women, whose products are sold at tourism marketplaces; 146 agreements with tourism entrepreneurs, of whom 93 are women, who offer experiences to tourists.

Africa!Ignite is a non-profit rural development agency that works across all rural districts of

KwaZulu-Natal, one of South Africa’s most rural provinces with a population of more than 10 million, of whom about half live in rural areas. One in four South African children live in KwaZulu-Natal. Endemic poverty, high unemployment and the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS infections anywhere in South Africa plague rural communities.

Through their WOWZULU Responsible Tourism Initiative, they partner with local communities and other stakeholders to create inclusive tourist destinations in areas that already attract significant numbers of tourists.

They aim to ensure that emerging tourist entrepreneurs, who were previously on the doorstep of where tourists go, can now benefit from the tourism income and do this by helping them to develop and package attractive tourism products and experiences, and market and sell these experiences both locally and internationally through partnerships with local commercial tourism product owners and international tour operators. In each of seven ‘inclusive destinations’, Africa!Ignite aims to create sustainable jobs and income opportunities for at least 40 craft producers and more than 30 individuals who benefit from community tourism – a total of about 500 individuals.

Basecamp Explorer (Kenya) Basecamp Explorer Kenya is strongly committed to poverty reduction through constant contribution to community empowerment, capacity building, providing training and education opportunities, community partnerships and environmental conservation efforts through which the local community have realized remarkable social and economic benefits. Through various projects, Basecamp has greatly improved the livelihood of more than 10,000 local people in the Masai Mara region.

Transforming lives through utilization and promotion of cultural skills and practices Basecamp Explorer Kenya fully appreciates the culture of the Masai and uses these cultural practices to help transform their lives. Basecamp Masai Brand (BMB), a flagship economic empowerment program, benefits 118 local Masai women all from the local community who create jewellery from which each Masai woman earns a direct income. 75 percent of proceeds from sales go to the Masai women making them the owners of the Brand and producers of the jewellery items. responsible traveller 43

Image - Chitaba Lediba Camp - www.expertbotswana.com ©

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Since inception, the Basecamp Masai Brand initiative has generated more than USD 500,000 as direct income for the Maasai women. In 2015, Basecamp Masai Brand made sales worth over USD 48,000. BMB helps promote and maintain the traditional handicraft skills while creating a source of income for the women that enables them provide for their families. The initiative is economically important to the women and also provides a social structure where the women meet as a group and share ideas.

Community Partnerships - Basecamp continuously initiates projects that provide economic benefits to the local communities. In 2010, Basecamp and other partners initiated the formation of the Mara Naboisho Conservancy to safeguard the Mara Serengeti ecosystem that was under threat of subdivision and eventual degradation. The Mara Naboisho Conservancy provides a secure source of income for over 500 families with an estimated 300 new jobs and indirect financial benefits to about 10,000 local people.

Chitabe Camp (Botswana) The Chitabe and Chitabe Lediba Camps operate in a relatively isolated part of the Okavango Delta and consequently have no community 44 responsible traveller

in proximity. However, they recognise that they cannot operate in isolation to the greater Botswana community. It is the duty of every business in Botswana to participate in the fabric of society at every level. In this regard Flamingo Investments works hard to contribute within the confines of its limited resources.

Flamingo Investments has a legacy of successful employee initiatives that have been vitally important to ensuring that they make a real difference in their lives and the lives of their families. They are compassionate and fair and have increased staff income levels through higher than inflation annual salary increases, annual school education donations and generous profit share pay outs. Their staff is well housed in a caring and compassionate environment that creates a “home away from home” atmosphere and a strong sense of community. Testament to initiatives is an enviable record of high staff retention with more almost 20% of their current employees receiving 10 year service awards and of those, 7% having attained 15 year service awards. ‘We know we are making a difference as many of our staff have been able to start supplemental businesses, embark on further education courses, build houses, and most critically provide education for their children’.

WTM AFRICA Chitabe Lediba Camp

alleviation begins with improving the lives of members of their team - they work in the higherrisk end of the adventure tourism market, so rely first and foremost on their crew to ensure a 100% accident-free record. They achieve this by ensuring that every member of their team is properly trained, has meaningful work, and finds opportunities for personal growth and advancement at work. The crew is drawn from the local community, and since they’re the largest private sector employer (53 people) in tourism in the Tsitsikamma, their crew’s salaries directly improve the lives of about 180 people (based on an average household size for our area of 3.55 people: 2011 Census).

Poverty alleviation extends to the members of the local community - they’ve upheld the principles of financial, social, and environmental accountability since they brought bungy jumping to South Africa in 1990. Amongst others, they demonstrate their commitment to responsible tourism (‘creating better places to live in, and better places to visit’) by assisting the local community through a levy of 10% of our total turnover. This money is paid to the Tsitsikamma Forest Village Trust which exists to improve the lives of all local residents.

Elundini Backpackers (South Africa) Elundini Backpackers is situated in a small, rural Xhosa community in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It and opened it’s doors in September 2012 and is run by a Belgian-South African (Xhosa) couple who build the place themselves from scratch.

It’s an eco-friendly backpackers which uses solar energy for lighting and warm water. On cloudy days they use a ‘hot water donkey’.

Rain water is harvested in tanks and used for everything. Compost toilets are used instead of flushing toilets. Natural materials were used for building. Both owners are passionate about rural development. All activities are run by people from the local community through their 100% self owned businesses. In May 2015 they started the Non-Profit Organisation called LEO (Learn to Earn to Own) which focuses on skills-transfer, job creation and empowering people to start microenterprises.

Face Adrenalin (South Africa) Face Adrenalin helps to achieve poverty reduction through their three-pronged, community-first approach to the business of tourism. Poverty

Poverty alleviation matures through the creation of opportunities for other businesses - having built a world-wide reputation for safe, exciting experiences, they have influenced large numbers of people to visit the Tsitsikamma, leaving them with certain responsibilities. Visitors seek accommodation, refreshment, curios, etc.

Face Adrenalin creates opportunities for other business by limiting their trading to their core business - bungy jumping and bridge walks which leaves other areas (catering at the Bridge, for example) open to other entrepreneurs.

Their policy favours local entrepreneurs, and they actively encouraging them to trade at the Bridge. Face Adrenalin works constantly to increase the numbers of visitors to the Bridge, and while this improves their own bottom line, it also significantly increases opportunities for those businesspeople who work alongside them, and ensures the sustainability of their businesses.

Original T-Bag Designs (South Africa) Original T-Bag Designs, established in 1999, transforms the lives of people from a state of apparent hopeless poverty to one that unlocks responsible traveller 45

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SaltyCrax Adventures & SAVE Foundation (South Africa) SaltyCrax, through the SAVE Foundation has had a positive impact on the community and works to educate and empower the surrounding communities. Over the past nine years, SAVE has developed numerous outreach projects with a consistent goal in mind: to target poverty at the root and empower individuals to break out of this vicious cycle.

SAVE successfully operates outreach projects through the support of SaltyCrax. The aim is to alleviate poverty in local townships and settlement communities through projects in various Educares and schools to kick-start children’s educational journey, through skills development programs to ensure youth and adults have valuable skills to offer as contributing members of society, and through self-sustainable practices such as community vegetable gardens.

The School and Educare programs are widespread; this project currently assists 10 schools and 1562 children throughout Africa.

Their goal is to give the children in these areas a positive start, to promote a love of learning and to prepare them for further education. For the older children (secondary and high school), SAVE provides sport incentive programs to encourage these youth to continue with their studies and become ambitious young adults.

SAVE, in association with SaltyCrax, has had outstanding results with these initiatives. They have received international recognition for these projects, for example one of their talented surf kids was the focus of an award-winning documentary entitled “PAUL” that premiered in film festivals worldwide.

This year SAVE was also selected as the beneficiary for the Virgin Kitesurfing Armada South Africa, a world-renowned event that combines kitesurfing enthusiasts/professionals and exposure for deserving charities. ‘We have witnessed how these programs motivate the youth that we work with to dream big and work hard’.

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Sandele Eco Retreat (The Gambia) .Sandele has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kartong – the nearest village - and the land on which Sandele is built has been leased in their name which brings specific benefits to the local community, who will become sole owners of the resort in 18 years time. At least 70% of the staff of Sandele is recruited from the village and a sum of money is paid to them each year for every bed night sold at Sandele.

Whenever a group of students visits Sandele a number of counterpart Gambians are included in the group (transferring knowledge and skills that enable individuals to earn more for themselves and their families). Two Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) courses were run at Sandele with the intention of improving livelihoods and generating income for local people by the transitioning of their village(s) into ecovillages.

There are 55 “graduates” of these courses – 39 of them from Kartong. A Permaculture Design Course (PDC) held in 2015 taught the participants how to improve their livelihoods through better design. 55 people benefitted from this course – 31 of them from Kartong and the rest from adjacent villages. Responsible Tourism was a significant feature of the three courses.

A turtle conservation programme was established in 2014; this will bring significant income for local people over the next decade as “turtle tourism” develops across the nine coastal villages involved – one of which is Kartong. The knowledge and skills learned on these courses at Sandele is being transferred to hundreds of women farmers and others who are family members and contacts of the EDE/ PDC participants and the Sandele Foundation has been established to facilitate fundraising for community development activities.

Sani Lodge Backpackers & Drakensberg Adventures (South Africa) Sani Lodge Backpackers ,started in 1992 , has been dedicated to identifying, engaging with, training, offering employment, investing in and uplifting impoverished, rural communities with the aim of creating sustainable community tourism and entrepreneurial ventures with proven results .

Twelve Zulu people, all previously unemployed and recruited locally, serve as permanent staff , trained in several areas of hospitality with internal promotions, ongoing skills learning, child

Image - Simien Park Lodges ©

the individual’s self-worth with the power to realise dreams. Using a recycled teabag as their canvas, they collaborate to develop a range of quality handmade products accessible to local and international markets and maintain a highly-recommended Visitor Centre in Hout Bay.

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Simien Mountains National Park

schooling support. Sani Lodge Backpackers have been certified with Fair Trade in Tourism since 2011 and their team is wholly committed to Fair Trade principles and practices.

Over the last sixteen years, their tours arm, Drakensberg Adventures, pioneered a groundbreaking grass roots community tourism model involving Basotho stakeholders, with their tours offering opportunities for communities to proudly showcase their unique cultural practices, engaging with guests in an authentic manner, thereby earning their respect. As a measure of success, their single operation has allowed smallscale community tourism businesses to directly earn R3.22 million since 2005, benefiting over 69 rural families and two schools which built new classrooms. These tours create employment for nine freelance guides.

The guided Bushman rock art hikes support a living Bushman community in the Kalagadi by funding Heritage days where Khomani Bushmen elders take children to learn bush-craft and wisdom in the field. Their Volunteering programme at a nearby rural primary school

enables their guests to teach English to multigrade classes with significantly positive results and this support has also led to teaching chess, donating a library, blankets, a new water tap, fencing, indigenous garden planting, EcoSchools registration, recycling programme and donations for books and classroom insulation.

Guests interact with a neighbouring Zulu family, hearing stories from the past over traditional tea. This family is directly remunerated. The craft shop supports individual entrepreneurs by selling their handcrafts.

Simien Park Lodges (Ethiopia) The Simien Lodge was the first tourism establishment to be opened within the Simien Mountains National Park of Ethiopia in 2006.

Since then the lodge has not only helped the UNESCO World Heritage Site be a world renown trekking and tourism destination but has also brought about significant long-term changes to the lives of the wonderful people that reside within and around the National Park. responsible traveller 47

WTM AFRICA The lodge employs its 50+ staff directly from the local community (Mindigebsa village), providing international hospitality training and offering the population a chance at an income and livelihood in one of the most remote regions of the country.

The Simien lodge has initiated, facilitated and executed numerous and varied projects alone and with the help of it’s outstanding partners over the past 10 years of operation.

The unique and innovative approach in which the Simien lodge has contributed towards poverty alleviation and not only focusing on economic alleviation but by improving livelihood standards, education, creativity in sports and contributing to the conservation of cultural and natural heritage which has allowed the lodge to target diverse projects highlighted by the communities themselves as important points for sustainable transformation. Simien Lodge is dedication and passionate about helping the people of the Simien Mountains, while at the same time bringing the immaculate destination’s beauty to the world.

Uganda Mararthon (Uganda) Uganda Marathon is a tourism event aimed at fostering sustainable development in a semirural Ugandan community. The marathon brings adventure seekers, amateur runners and those looking for a trip with a difference to Uganda as part of a long-term strategic plan in partnership with the local community.

The Uganda Marathon does not simply donate money – the local community directs them, telling them what their needs were. They wanted the community to be involved in and committed to these projects whilst also creating a fun event that would bring a freshness into the town. They came up with a slightly off the wall idea that they weren’t entirely sure how to execute, but in the space of just six short months they did just that, and the inaugural event became the second biggest fundraiser in the entire country, ever.

A small team quit their jobs and dedicated their time to plan and organise, from scratch, an international marathon that brought participants out not just to run, but to experience and participate in local life. The Uganda Marathon helped to support nine different local projects ranging from schools to a vocational rehabilitation centre to a piggery for elderly people to a microfinance and entrepreneur scheme.

They are committed to sustainable development - this was not a one-off event, but will be an annual event, as long as the community want it to be. The responses they received from the local community after they had completed the weeklong event blew them away. They were in awe at what occurred in what was normally a relatively sleepy town and there was disappoint at the fact the next event was a whole year away! Likewise, feedback from the participants was astonishing, with many saying it was a life-changing perience for them.

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Uganda Marathon

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If you had one day of complete freedom The V&A Waterfront is waiting to welcome you.

Come and join us when the early morning sun reflects goldenly on the water, the seagulls are grooming their feathers, the harbour starts stirring to commence business for the day.

Be here when restaurants open their doors and tables are arranged on the quayside.

Be here when fresh produce and local delicacies are arranged in glorious technicolour splendour.

Come shop, come eat, come marvel at underwater creatures.

Lick an ice-cream, sit on a bench, laugh at a seal, listen to the music floating on the sea breeze, soak up the sun.

Watch when the sun goes down and the bright lights of party nights go on.

It’s like a lifetime in one day – all in one place, all at the V&A Waterfront ~ keep discovering ~

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#ARTA Best for

Public Sector Policy / Support At a glance: Best for Public Sector Policy/Support is awarded to a public sector department, authority or entity that has made a clear commitment and contribution to advancing responsible tourism through targeted policies, strategies, incentives, support programmes or similar initiatives.

Award explained: The Best for Public Sector Policy/Support category is looking for an inspirational example of an arm of government (whether at national, state/provincial, district or local level) which is proactively advancing the cause of responsible tourism through either policy development, support programmes and initiatives or other incentives or schemes.

What the Judges want: Examples of proven, measurable contributions to the advancement of responsible tourism through proactive and innovative policies or sector support specifically geared towards achieving responsible and sustainable outcomes in the tourism sector.

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WTM AFRICA Desert scene in Morocco

providing leadership in promoting Cape Town as a quality, experiential tourism destination through responsible tourism development and innovative strategic interventions and programmes.

This is achieved through building meaningful partnerships with industry to create a sustainable advantage for the tourism sector and socioeconomic benefits all Capetonians.

In 2004, the City of Cape Town adopted a Tourism Development Framework with RT being a key pillar. The City also adopted a RT policy and Action plan with a Communication Strategy.

The City worked with industry and developed a Pilot Project to determine what and how to measure the progress towards being a responsible tourism destination. Seven Cape Town priorities were jointly identified. These are water, waste, energy, social development, enterprise development, skills development and preferential procurement. The City has hosted two International Responsible Tourism Conferences (2002 and 2015) sponsored by the City in partnership with key stakeholders. The 2002 conference birthed the internationally renowned Cape Town Declaration. The 2015 conference legacy project will sponsor 5 emerging business to implement sustainability assessment. As part of this project an on-site training and installation of energy monitoring devices will be carried out.

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To date Cape Town is recognised as a fore runner in responsible tourism implementation and leadership at local government level. In 2014/15 financial year it was one of the National Department of Tourism pilot metros for universal access in tourism.

City of Cape Town (South Africa) The City of Cape Town recognised the local tourism mandate as a local government function and became the first metro to have dedicated a department and resources. The City of Cape Town’s Responsible Tourism Policy and Action Plan is intended to ensure that the entire city works in a responsible manner, be it through procurement or provision of services to enhancing the quality of life of the people of Cape Town. The Tourism Department more specifically, is dedicated to

Having participated in the universal access pilot, the City of Cape Town went on to develop a website portal which aims to provide Cape Town visitors with information on Universally Accessible facilities and ensure that Universal Accessibility information is captured and readily available.

Ministry of Tourism – Morocco Tourism is considered as a splendid tool for promoting Morocco abroad; It plays a full part in the Kingdom’s efforts to strengthen its links with Europe, showcasing Morocco’s long history and a rich heritage of civilization, its people’s hospitality, tolerance and openness, and its responsible nation committed to the values and principles of sustainable development.

The Moroccan Tourism Strategy “Vision 2020” has been framed in a logic that does not consider economic development and environmental responsible traveller 51

WTM AFRICA protection as opposing forces: they should instead go hand in hand as aspirations that should be mutually reinforcing.

In fact, and being a leading experience of setting down clearly and formally a sustainabilityoriented strategy, “Vision 2020” has taken into consideration the role of sustainable consumption and production (SCP) patterns as an opportunity in which to capitalize Morocco’s assets of natural and cultural advantages, while continuing to conserve those advantages so that their exploitation yields the best and most sustainable social and economic development of its various regions, by adopting a life-cycle approach of the tourism value chain. Within this framework, the aim of this new Vision is to raise Morocco, by 2020, to be one the world’s top 20 tourist destinations, making it a model destination so far as sustainable development in the Mediterranean area is concerned.

The preparation of “Vision 2020” has also set a scheme of co-operation involving relevant stakeholders (notably private sector, main institutional stakeholders of tourism and tourism-related sectors, civil society and tourists) by providing a common platform for experience sharing with regards to the adoption and implementation of life cycle principles and policies management practices.

In addition, Morocco has always been a proactive player by participating to international sustainable tourism initiatives in the process early on – since the “Process of Marrakech” in 2003, his active role in the International Task Force-Sustainable Tourism since 2008 and his role of chairman of the “Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism” during the period 2013-2015.

And lately, Morocco has joined the international mobilization to introduce and support sustainable patterns of SCP in the context of the 10 Years Framework of Programmes related to Sustainable Tourism (10YFP-STP), as “Co-Lead” for a 4-year term, where Morocco will be required to play a pivotal role in promoting tourism sustainability at national, regional and international levels.

National Dept. of Tourism – South Africa The NDT has developed and implemented progressive policies since its formation in 2009.

The NDT has also provided the tourism sector with support through a number of mechanisms.

The sustainable value created by the NDT to all stakeholders in the tourism sector deserves recognition. Over the last five years, the NDT has become a centre of excellence on responsible tourism.

The NDT has a dedicated Directorate on Responsible Tourism. The NDT’s responsible tourism programme is comprehensive and covers all key aspects of responsible tourism. The RT programme has sub – programmes on policy and standard, tourism greening and climate change, universal accessibility and community beneficiation. The RT Directorate has 10 officials responsible for all the elements of responsible tourism. celebrate their individual cultural heritage but also share their histories with colleagues. They run an annual Wilderness Safaris Heritage Day on the last Friday of August each year to encourage the expression of cultural identity.

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Cape Town

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#ARTA - Best

Hotel for Responsible Employment At a glance: The Best hotel for responsible employment is for a hotel or other accommodation that has an exemplary responsible approach to the employment and treatment of staff.

Award explained: The Best hotel for responsible employment category is looking for accommodations that create places to work which are supportive, fair and empowering. This category is for accommodations which fundamentally believe in fair wages and working conditions, and which celebrate the skills of local people; employing local staff and offering training and progression opportunities.

What the Judges want: An accommodation with a clear emphasis on fair working conditions. The winner will demonstrate a holistic approach to the welfare and skills development of its staff.

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WTM AFRICA Chitabe game walk

the company. Their company policy is to first promote from within when a position becomes available, and when searching for new staff, they offer training courses which includes a certification in housekeeping for all candidates as well as reference from the training officer, regardless of whether they are offered a position or not to ensure that those that were not successful have been upskilled too at no expense to themselves.

Chameleon Backpackers aims to give opportunities to previously disadvantaged Namibians which include females, and young adults that come from orphanages. They provide opportunities for staff to travel through their staff exchange program which enables the staff to think like a tourist and then improve their service and understanding of the tourism as a whole.

Image - Chitabe Game Walk - www.classicafrica.com Š

Chitabe Camp (Botswana)

Chameleon Backpackers (Namibia) Chameleon Backpackers aims to upskill and uplift as many Namibians as possible and are proud of the results thus far. They have a team of long term staff that have progressed up the ranks from cleaners and yards people to managers and supervisors and are now responsible for training the new staff. These staff have the opportunity to gain a formal qualification through the Recognition of Prior Learning Scheme by the Namibian Qualifications Authority. In addition to this they have a young team that are receiving continual training and looking to progress within

Chitabe and Chitabe Lediba Camp located in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, have been operated by Flamingo Investments since July of 1997 and its rigorous adherence to benchmark setting practices have often been held as an outstanding example by the Botswana Tourism Organisation. This record would not have been possible without a strong staff management relationship and company culture. For over 18 year, the Chitabe team has been holistically cared for, making Chitabe a sought after employer with a high staff retention rate.

Today, almost 20% of our current staff have been employed for over 10 years. This is made possible by providing working conditions that are conducive to a healthy sense of community among staff and equitably sharing the prosperity created by the business.

Life in a safari camp draws staff away from their families and Flamingo Investments have worked hard to ensure that the Chitabe Family represents a home away from home. They provide many benefits in the form of training and skills development, promotion, health care, counselling and additional 24 hour away from work insurance cover. Communal staff dining and TV areas bring staff together and a dedicated staff education and training center provides infrastructure for staff to uplift their skills. In addition, their legacy extends beyond life at Chitabe in the form of a “take home� message enabling employees to understand the importance of environmental conservation ensuring that the message goes back to homes and communities. Many of the staff are key responsible traveller 55

Image - Leriba Hotel & Spa © Image - Elephant’s Eye, Hwange - www.victoriafalls.biz ©

Image - Chobe Game Lodge ©

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56 responsible traveller Chobe Game Lodge

Elephant’s Eye, Hwange

Leriba Hotel & Spa

WTM AFRICA family breadwinners and therefore closely linked to the education and development of Botswana’s next generation.

Chitabe pay staff increases above the annual inflation rate, pay 13th cheques annually, assisted staff with children education costs and additionally pay a profit share scheme. Flamingo Investments was awarded an extension on its Chitabe Lease for up to 30 years, and expect to continue to develop their business to ensure that it remains a contributor to Botswana’s future.

Chobe Game Lodge (Botwana) Chobe Game Lodge takes a long-term approach in personnel planning and development. Through their people processes, they aim to develop and support employment opportunities for their personnel even in business change situations, by acting responsibly and in compliance with national legislation and good employer practices. Their mission is to create sustainable and responsible workplaces - demonstrating the link between productivity gains and improved working conditions, good industrial relations and good environmental practices.

Their employee benefits are based on local legislation, practices and competitive compensation levels. Occupational health care, country-specific pension practices, statutory insurance, training, and various sabbaticals supporting parenthood, family life, studying, and annual leave time are determined on the basis of country- specific legislation and national policies.

They adhere to measures that the country has taken to ensure the full empowerment of women, participation and involvement of local and indigenous communities in sustainable tourism including respecting traditional cultural values and knowledge. Chobe Game Lodge had only two professional female guides out of the 12 man team it now has a full team of 14 female guides.

The Eco tourism approach adopted by Chobe Game Lodge is a serious attempt to align the needs of the local communities with local resource users with its Eco Tourism conservation agenda. Chobe is setting an example to the local communities and to other lodges within the Delta and Northern parts of Botswana.

Elephant’s Eye, Hwange – African Luxury Hideaways (Zimbabwe) African Luxury Hideaways recognises the importance of happy, healthy employees and ensure the staff at their lodge feel supported.

When working and living in a lodge environment

it is vital that the staff is treated fairly and they ensure a balanced life/work routine is followed.

They allow staff the freedom to be creative, to come up with their own ideas and to explore them as well as help their staff to discover their goals and how to achieve them.

As part of our responsible tourism programme, Grow Africa, they believe in supporting the local community with job creation and sustainable projects. They offer a one-year comprehensive internship program for students from Chinhoyi University of Technology and Bulawayo Polytechnic University. Their aim is to upskill and educate local students so they can grow and become a part of the vibrant tourism industry in Zimbabwe. Many of the permanent staff at the lodge started off as interns of the African Luxury Hideaways internship program.

African Luxury Hideaways staff’s personal growth is important to them – and training in all aspects of the tourism business is offered in order that individuals can grow and achieve their career dream. The training in responsible tourism is provided following responsible standard operating procedures.

In addition to bed and board offered for all staff, African Luxury Hideaways salaries are substantially higher than that of the National Employment Councils recommended wage reports. Travel allowance and medical aid are also provided as well as 12-day study leave during the year. First Aid training has also been taught to a few members of key staff for their own safety and that of our guests.

Leriba Hotel & Spa (South Africa) Leriba Hotel & Spa is a privately owned Hotel & Conference centre based in Centurion, Gauteng.

It has 20 conference venues with a seating capacity of 1250 delegates and 73 4- & 5-star bedrooms. It has two award winning restaurants on site and employs a total of 150 staff. We are accredited with Fair Trade Tourism, WESSA, TBCSA, FEDHASA, SAACI, AA Travel, SA Tourism and SA Grading Council. Leriba Hotel Group is accredited with a level 1 BEE status. We have been both winners and runner-up of the Lillizela Imvelo Award for the Best Overall Environmental Management Plan.

Their employment strategy focuses on getting the right employee that is not only able to accomplish his/her tasks, but whose core values coincide with that of the companies ensuring a culture where upliftment, training and recognition are of the utmost importance. They implement responsible traveller 57

WTM AFRICA weekly training schedules where staff is educated on various topics and management principles for example: service excellence, environmental management, health and safety, fire fighting, financial management and product knowledge.

Leriba Hotel Group continuously assign resources to employees to provide them with education both within the company and with diplomas and degrees outside of the company.

All the above objectives have ensured that employees with no prior industry knowledge or experience has been equipped to grow within the industry and some of whom now occupy senior and management roles within the company. They have also created selfemployment initiatives within the company to ensure long term prosperity and a contribution to the local economy.

This has also ensured the retention of employees, some of whom have been working for Leriba Hotel Group for 17 years! Leriba Hotel Group has two outside properties where local people are employed and trained to such an extent that they are fully responsible for the dayto-day operations of the properties.

Spier (South Africa) Spier is one of the oldest wine farms in South Africa with a recorded history dating back to 1692. While rooted in this heritage, Spier has a vibrant and conscious energy. Award-winning

wine can be paired with fabulous food, grown either on the farm or by nearby farmers. The winery is one of the most awarded in the country and the Spier Hotel and meeting facilities offer inspiring winelands getaways in the tranquility of nature.

Spier is committed to doing the right thing for the environment and communities, and is renowned for its responsible tourism approach.

The farm has been recognised by various external organisations including Fair Trade in Tourism (FTT) and the Wine Industry Ethical Trade Association (WIETA).

In 2011, Condé Nast Traveler World Saver Award recognised the farm as the top international destination ‘Doing it All’. Spier is a Champion member of the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (BWI), and the cellar has ISO 22000 certification, is Fair Trade accredited, organically certified and follows the Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) criteria.

Spier’s environmental and social initiatives are many and varied, and include ways to reduce water usage. 100% of its wastewater, and over 80% of its solid waste, is recycled.

Spier supports local communities through the treepreneur project, which encourages people in impoverished communities to grow trees in exchange for essential goods. The farm also supports entrepreneurs by helping them create micro-enterprises linked to Spier.

Image - Spier ©

Spier Hotel

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responsible travel responsible travel

©Harry Stone with Marine Dynamics

“I met one of my favourite White Sharks in 2007, a young, 2m long female we named Nemo. She arrived with very bad injuries, missing her left pectoral fin and had a dorsal fin sliced in half, possibly from encountering a longliner. She seemed so fragile.

In 2011, I couldn’t believe my eyes when Nemo reappeared measuring over 4m in length!

She had put on a good couple hundred kilos. We managed to deploy a satellite tag on her which recorded an epic migration - in just two months from leaving Gansbaai, Nemo was hanging about off the Madagascan coastline!”

Alison Towner | Marine Biologist, Marine Dynamics

www.discoverctwc.co.za discoverctwc @discoverctwc discoverctwc #discoverctwc

#ARTA Best

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Responsible Tourism Marketing Campaign

Exploring the winelands with Bikes&Wines

At a glance: The Best responsible tourism marketing campaign category is for a marketing campaign from a tourism business or organisation which has successfully championed responsible tourism.

Award explained: The Best responsible tourism marketing campaign category looks to award a tourist board, tour operators, accommodation or tourism organisation which has developed a marketing campaign successfully promoting a more responsible way to travel, educating travellers and changing travel behaviour.

What the Judges want: An inspirational, innovative marketing campaign which has had proven, measurable success in changing attitudes to travel and encouraging responsible tourism.

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Abang Africa Travel (GAP Africa & Greenhouse Campaign) At Abang Africa Travel, their main goal was always to support South African People by developing and enhancing responsible tourism opportunities for the local communities and businesses in order to facilitate growth and sustainable partnerships.

They promote a minimum of two nights stay at destinations to minimize environmental impact.

In itineraries, World Heritage Sites and Wildlife and Nature parks are included as part of awareness rising with regards to Natural and Cultural heritage and conservation. Abang Africa Travel rely on commercial and non-commercial suppliers that adopt good social and environmental practices.

In addition to this, Abang Africa Travel arrived at the conclusion that providing “only� responsible tours and excursions is not enough. So they took it to the next level and started these two initiatives: GAP Africa: (fair trade) volunteering organisation launched in November 2015 and Greenhouse compensation of the complete tour (not just flights): 1st Company in South Africa incorporating it since January 2016.

Image - Abang Africa Travel - Bikes & WInes Š

Eco Atlas The world as we know it is changing so fast now, there are rapid and radical changes happening both socially and with the natural systems of this planet we call home. We know about these changes, from climate change to unemployment, inequalities to biodiversity loss. It is overwhelming and many respond with denial and a continuance of the status quo. But there is another response, which is the impetus to take positive action in small steps on a daily basis. These actions taken by many could change our present trajectory and create a vibrant and viable future for all life on Earth. But we need to act now! The radical changes call for a radical shift in our current paradigm.

Eco Atlas is a blueprint which enables a groundswell movement of positive change by empowering people with the transparent information they need to vote with their wallets for a better world, both at home and when they are travelling. This is powerful. This is necessary.

Winning this award would give Eco Atlas international exposure and enable the concept to be replicated in other countries, to grow the movement of empowered choices and minimise the negative impacts on both people and the planet. Knowledge is power and Eco Atlas provides the bridge between the people who would like to make better choices and the places and businesses that can meet those needs. responsible traveller 61

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#ARTA - Best for

Wildlife Conservation At a glance: Best for wildlife conservation category is awarded to a tourism business or initiative that preserves and carefully manages habitat and wildlife species.

Award explained: The focus of Best for wildlife conservation is on holiday providers, whether operators or conservation organisations committed to the conservation of habitats and animals in the wild and using tourism to achieve conservation objectives . This might include wildlife watching experiences, nature trails, places to stay or other holidays which otherwise benefit wildlife and habitats.

What the Judges want: Integration of great holiday experiences with progressive and sustainable programmes in wildlife and habitat conservation, measures of success and ideas which can be adapted and developed by tourism providers around the world.

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WTM AFRICA Rhino capture for Great Plains Conservation

for the privilege of being able to interact with those involved in local conservation projects, and get satisfaction from making a significant contribution to conservation.

This initiative looks at creating new avenues to raise significant sums with minimum impact on the projects supported, while at the same time pioneering and setting standards for Conservation Travel in Namibia. Providing ‘hands on’ conservation experiences and thus raising guest awareness of conservation concerns in rural areas of Namibia. Providing a vehicle for the collaboration of international and domestic private entities with National and local authorities on the preservation of both natural and cultural heritage. With a long term goal of creating additional benefit from sustainable safaris to produce a continuing and long term impact on both conservation and philanthropic projects.

Image - Rhinos without borders ©

Great Plains Conservation (South Africa / Botswana)

Conservation Travel Foundation (Namibia)

The rapid decimation of Africa’s rhino, specifically populations in South Africa, inspired Great Plains Conservation to realise that urgent and direct action was required that would take steps to try and stem the loss of these iconic species to poaching. Thus in late 2013 it was decided that the company would commit to not just move rhino to safe havens in Botswana, but specifically 100. In early 2014 a joint initiative was formed with industry partners andBeyond, thereby creating the joint initiative and project known as “Rhinos Without Borders“.

The aim is simple. Raise the plight of the rhino poaching situation worldwide. Raise the required funds to capture the rhino in poaching hotspots of South Africa, boma, transport and release in safe, wilderness areas of Botswana as well as include costs for their monitoring of at least 3 years. Each rhino costs $45 000 and to date over 25 have been saved to Botswana. The success of this project is such that we have now committed to saving over 300 rhino to Botswana.

Endangerment of critical wildlife is increasingly apparent in Namibia, so conservation efforts have to be stepped up. Funding is limited so tourism must take a more significant role in this.

Mara Naboisha Conservancy (Kenya)

The Conservation Travel Foundation, a non-profit organization in partnership with and supported

by Ultimate Safaris, is pioneering new avenues to raise money by maximizing the potential benefits that can be derived from committed visitors. One result is specialist Conservation Safaris where guests pay a premium in exchange

The Mara-Serengeti ecosystem is one of the last major wildlife refuges on earth and represents the most iconic landscape of Africa. The fame is not only due to the wildlife, but also because it is a long inhabited landscape where the Maasai people have traditionally played an important role in shaping the ecosystem for the past three thousand years. responsible traveller 63

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Image - Mara Naboisho Conservancy ©

Game watch at Mara Naboisha Conservancy

Since its inception in 2010 Naboisho Conservancy has been groundbreaking with its dynamic and symbiotic approach to community driven wildlife conservation.

The northern section of the Mara- Serengeti ecosystem provides crucial dry season grazing for the famous wildebeest and zebra herds and habitat for some of Africa’s last sustainable populations of free roaming cheetah and lion. Naboisho Conservancy provides a safe dispersal area for all wildlife species including, but essentially for approximately 200 elephants, wet season pastures, a migratory corridor and breeding and feeding areas for migratory and resident grazers and carnivores.

The term ‘Naboisho’ literally means “coming together” in the Maasai’s Maa language and this is exactly what Naboisho Conservancy 64 responsible traveller

represents. The community get direct and tangible benefits from wildlife conservation; no other activity provides as much income to as many people as Naboisho Conservancy. With these direct benefits there is less need for the community to rely on other destructive practices such as intensive farming and over grazing by too many cattle. This in turn furthers the cycle for a sustainable future for community driven wildlife conservation.

Naboisho Conservancy deserves recognition due to its role in greater landscape and biodiversity conservation in conjunction with providing tangible benefits to the community.

Given the leading role the Maasai Mara plays in the country’s conservation and tourism sector, the positive impact of a successful model in Naboisho will be felt not only in the region, but also across Kenya and beyond.

Image - Ol Pejeta - www.dawn.com ©

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Rhino conservation at Ol Pejeta

Ol Pejeta (Kenya) Ol Pejeta Conservancy works to conserve wildlife, provide a sanctuary for great apes and generate income through wildlife tourism and complementary enterprises for reinvestment in conservation and communities.

Ol Pejeta Conservancy is the largest black rhino sanctuary in east Africa, and is the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees. It is also home to the last three northern white rhinos on the planet.

Their cutting edge wildlife security includes a specialised K-9 unit, motion sensor cameras along our solar-powered electric fence, and a dedicated Rhino Protection Unit. They constantly seek to push boundaries with conservation innovation; one example is their trial of wildlife monitoring drones in 2015. Ol Pejeta also integrates livestock with wildlife – both as a means to earn revenue for conservation but also as a rangeland management tool.

Ol Pejeta Conservancy partners with awardwinning tourism operators including Kicheche, Serena and Porini, thus helping to secure a sustainable future for the wildlife within their borders and beyond. Revenue from tourism is critical to conservation and community development initiatives. Ol Pejeta Conservancy are now one of the few conservancies in Kenya to offer conservation activities to guests that include night game drives and lion tracking.

Their ‘conservation you can touch’ philosophy aims to enhance the safari experience for visitors, and in the case of lion tracking, directly involve them in the wildlife monitoring programmes.

Ol Pejeta also strives to ensure the openness and accessibility of conservation for everyone, in an area of Kenya where many wildlife conservancies are geographically and financially inaccessible to a local market. They received a total of 42,323 day visitors in 2015, of which 34,901 were Kenyan citizens, and saw 20,488 school children through their gates in the same year.

Wilderness Safaris (Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa) Conservation is the foundation on which all Wilderness Safaris rests. Not only does Wilderness strive to minimise their environmental footprint through strict environmental management systems, but they seek to maximise the positive impact of their operations with regards to biodiversity conservation. Their financial and human resources are heavily invested in conservation practices; together with the other 4Cs (Community, Culture and Commerce), Conservation plays a vital role in sustainable and responsible tourism.

Wilderness Safaris is responsible for the protection of a large number of biodiverse areas, and believe that their presence within national parks, community conservancies and private land has positive impacts on the conservation status of these. They are committed to applying their resources towards creating secure, intact ecosystems, as well as to support viable ecotourism businesses which enhance the economic status of the communities in the areas where they operate.

Wilderness Safaris supports the conservation of responsible traveller 65

Image - Ruckomechi, ZImbabwe - Wilderness Safaris ©

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some 2.6 million hectares (6.4 million acres) in the following ways: protection through presence and monitoring; contributing lease or traversing fees that enhance the area’s financial viability and prevent changes in land-use to less ecofriendly ones and through active conservation activities such as anti-poaching, vegetation rehabilitation, reintroduction of indigenous species, monitoring or research.

One of their most recent conservation successes involved the largest ever cross-border translocation of critically endangered black rhino.

In the late 1990s, both black and white rhino were extinct in the wild in Botswana. Today, viable breeding populations of both species have been re-established. In 2015, the project’s successful completion means that Wilderness Safaris are now 66 responsible traveller

responsible for 1% of the world’s remaining black rhino population. The project is a partnership between the private sector, Government and NGOs, and an example of how stakeholders can collaborate on critical conservation causes.

Wildlife ACT (South Africa) Wildlife ACT is an endangered species monitoring and research organisation whose mission is to help save our planet’s endangered wildlife and wild places from extinction. Wildlife ACT actively advances conservation by initiating, implementing and managing monitoring projects on wildlife reserves which do not have the means to do so themselves, and do so FREE of charge.

Wildlife ACT is the only wildlife volunteer program in Africa supported by the WWF,

WTM AFRICA

Canoeing adventure with Wilderness Safaris

and contributes to important endangered and priority species conservation work while simultaneously offering volunteers an African experience of a lifetime. They believe that only by saving our planet’s endangered species and wild places, do we have a chance to save ourselves.

Their aim is to develop and implement innovative, ground-based and sustainable conservation models that save our wildlife, protect our wilderness, and benefit our local communities.

Their quest is to create inspiring connections with the wilderness, giving people pragmatic ways to support and be part of effective on-the-ground conservation work.

To date Wildlife ACT have: helped WWF relocated over 200 endangered black rhino to new homes; help fit over 350 rhinos with state of the art tracking equipment; monitor around 90% of the

Cheetah population in KZN and have fitted 80 African Wild Dogs with anti-snare tracking collars.

Their volunteers help monitor 1/3 of the remaining Wild Dog population in South Africa, they are a founding member of Project Rhino KZN, sit on the advisory committee of the Wild Dog Advisory Group of South Africa and work with Panthera to conduct the largest leopard survey in the world.

They formed Wildlife ACT Fund, which is a notfor-profit trust that focuses on delivering time and expertise, implementation of anti-poaching measures, finding and funding equipment as well as educating rural communities about conservation. And provide employment opportunities and skills development for previously disadvantaged individuals, thereby being a great example of a responsible tourism initiative. responsible traveller 67

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#ARTA 16

People’s Choice At a glance: This award is voted for entirely by the public, the People’s Choice in Responsible Tourism Award allows members of the public to vote for the most inspiring category winner from 2015.

Chobe Game Lodge (Botswana) Here, guests can experience the magnificence of Chobe National Park, with the comfort of knowing that the lodge pays extra-ordinary attention to reducing the environmental impact of their holidays. Boasting a biogas plant that converts kitchen waste to fuel, bricks made from crushed glass, and All Electric Game Drive Vehicles and Electric game viewing boats – innovation knows no bounds at Chobe Game Lodge.

Marine Dynamics (South Africa) Puts wildlife conservation at the heart of all its marine tours. This may sound like the norm, until you discover that every trip has a marine biologist aboard to provide interpretation and collect data for scientific research. The business invests heavily in conservation activities, research and education, taking adventure tourism to a whole new level.

Gansbaai (South Africa) Proof that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. A municipality and tourism businesses that together create a destination with outstanding product, memorable experiences centred on the fynbos and marine wildlife passionately conserved, and better lives for local households. They have demonstrated what tourism can do to make better places to live in and great places to visit.

Click HERE for all the #ARTA16 WINNERS!!

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#ARTA15 WINNER UPDATE

MARINE DYNAMICS

Image - Tami Kaschke Š

milestones

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Words - Brenda du Toit Pics - Marine Dynamics & DICT

M

#ARTA15 WINNER UPDATE

arine Dynamics Tours in Gansbaai, Western Cape, took the African Responsible Tourism Award for Best in Wildlife Conservation in 2015. As a conservation focused shark cage diving operator it has been another busy year in an industry attracting over 80,000 people every year; and another year for the team to change people’s perceptions of the great white shark.

With dedicated staff passionate about the sharks that they easily identify, guests compliment MARINE DYNAMICS SHARK TOURS on their dedication and attention to detail and for their conservation efforts. Marine Dynamics also won the National Lilizela Award for Best Marine Adventure.

Owner of the company, Wilfred Chivell, is proud of the achievements, “I bought the company in 2005 and it has been an interesting ten years and I am very proud of the impact we are making in this industry.”

Wilfred also owns sister company DYER ISLAND CRUISES which he started in 2000. He has recently invested in a +R6million boat Dream Catcher which takes 50 passengers and is ideal for enjoying whale trips and eco trips to enjoy the Marine Big 5™. “An investment such as this is because I believe in tourism and our economy. Creating more unique experiences in the area will encourage longer stays to the benefit of all.”

Together the two Fair Trade certified companies support studies of marine biologists and actively fundraise for the DYER ISLAND CONSERVATION TRUST that Wilfred established in 2006 for research, conservation and education projects.

Marine Dynamics supported the establishment of the AFRICAN PENGUIN AND SEABIRD SANCTUARY(APSS), a project of the trust. This facility provides temporary care to seabirds in need with a special focus on the endangered African Penguin.

APSS opened officially on the 27th February 2015 and in its first year of operation saw 114 African penguins through the facility with over 90% successfully saved and released.

Other special ‘guests’ at this rehabilitation facility have included giant petrels, terns, gulls, a skua and even more recently an Indian yellow nosed albatross. The need in the area for such a facility is self-evident. As Wilfred says, “The Dyer Island responsible traveller 71

#ARTA15 WINNER UPDATE

ecosystem around which we work is unique and fragile and it is our priority to ensure the marine life in the area flourish and remain for many years to come.”

APSS was that previously penguins were released in the Cape Town area which is a fair distance for birds to return to their birth colony of Dyer Island.

The facility offers another stop for tourists who can view the birds through one way glass as they relax in the conditioning pen and even observe feeding times (twice a day) with a drop down screen and a steady stream of information from the bird rehabilitator.

Dyer Island was once one of the larger African penguin colonies - In the 70s it was estimated at 25,000 breeding pairs, now it is only at 1500 pairs.

For the first time penguin chicks were released on Dyer Island. With the African penguin at a low 18,000 breeding pairs, APSS started the hashtag trend of #EveryBirdCounts

Volunteers from the local community as well as Marine Dynamics’s long established International Volunteer Programme help the rehabilitators. One of the reasons Wilfred always felt the need for the

Wilfred attended World Travel Market in London and was part of a responsible tourism panel – the topic: Taking Responsibility for Wildlife and National Parks. One of the topics he could focus

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Image - Kelly Baker ©

#ARTA15 WINNER UPDATE

‘Creating more unique experiences in the area will encourage longer stays to the benefit of all’ WILFRED CHIVELL

on was the research coming out of the area. The Dyer Island Conservation Trust has 18 scientific publications through various scientists. Alison Towner is busy with her PhD on great white sharks and recently released a paper on the sex specific and individual preferences hunting strategies of the species.

Wilfred believes that “the research we enter into must be able to affect conservation decisions at a government level.” “Marine Dynamics and Dyer Island Cruises are looking forward to another exciting year and we hope to see the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary become a leading research facility for seabirds in the future,” says Wilfred. c responsible traveller 73

Image - Kelly Baker ©

#ARTA15 WINNER UPDATE Past Features on Marine Dynamics and associated companies: Great White Sharks – Ambush hunters or not?

A recent paper published in Functional Ecology challenges the often assumed hunting strategy of great white sharks as ambush predators. This is the first white shark research paper to be published in the esteemed British journal. The work took place in Gansbaai – a coastal aggregation site known as the world capital for sighting the species in South Africa... read more

Cape fur seal

#EveryBirdCounts

Dolphin

Image - Sandra Hoerbst ©

Southern right whale

Image - WhalewatchSA ©

In a joint conservation action between the African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary (APSS), a project of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust and CapeNature, the management authority for Dyer Island, 32 African Penguin chicks were removed from Dyer Island (Gansbaai, South Africa) on Wednesday 11 November 2015 and admitted to the APSS for care... read more

#ScienceSavesSharks The Great White Shark - If you listen to some of the dramatic news articles you might believe that the terrifying man eating great white shark is lurking off the coast just waiting for a human to come by. But this couldn’t be further from the truth and should you have the privilege to witness this legendary apex predator in what is known as the world hotspot for sharks your perspective will be forever changed... read more

The Great White House It can be amazing how many people don’t look up when they walk into the Great White House. So when they do, you can see the surprise on their face as they look upon Suzie, a 14m 1,5 ton Southern right whale skeleton hanging above them. There are not many restaurants or certainly none the Great White House is aware of where you can enjoy a meal under an incredible specimen such as this... read more

Shark Cage Diving – a wet thrill or conservation exploit?

In the summer of 1975, Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster movie ‘Jaws’ was released. I remember the film so well.

It was probably the first movie I watched unsupervised in the cinema with my girlfriends – excitement, suspense, and pure fear all rolled into one. And yes, I did watch most of the two hours through my fingers.

What I didn’t realise at the time, was the damaging legacy this movie would leave for the shark as a species... read more

www.sharkwatchsa.com www.whalewatchsa.com www.dict.org.za www.africanpenguin.org 74 responsible traveller

THE MARINE BIG 5

Great white shark

Image - Sandra Hoerbst ©

Southern right whale

Image - Hennie Otto ©

African penguin Image - Onno Keller ©

Cape fur seal

Image - Sandra Hoerbst ©

Image - Pieter / SharkwatchSA ©

#ARTA15 WINNER UPDATE

Southern right whale responsible traveller 75

#ARTA15 WINNER UPDATE Great Plains Conservation - Selinda Camp

GANSBAAI words - Katarina Mancama

a responsible tourism role model

G

ansbaai recently won the coveted Best Destination for Responsible Tourism Award atWorld Travel Market 2015 – this is in addition to its ‘Best Destination’ Awards in the African Responsible Tourism Awards they won in April 2015. These awards are for “a destination with a committed and broad integrated approach to responsible tourism, one that inspires and excites, and provides an example of best practice for other destinations around the world”. Not a small feat for a little fishing village in the Overberg!

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Image - Tessa Buhrmann ©

#ARTA15 WINNER UPDATE

The beautiful Gansbaai coastline

‘What makes this community so successful is collaboration, I found evidence of this wherever we visited...’ responsible traveller 77

#ARTA15 WINNER UPDATE

Having been part of the local African Responsible Tourism Awards, Katarina Mancama from MY SLOW JOURNEY (which won the Silver Award for Best Responsible Tourism Blog) and Dee from The Good Holiday (the Gold Award winner in the blog category in Africa) went on a “Responsible Tourism Roadtrip” (#RTRoadTrip) to understand what Gansbaai had done to snatch this award amongst tough, worldwide competition. This is Katarina’s account, which was first published on My Slow Journey.

During this trip, we visited many tourism businesses ranging from plush hotels to simple cabins, hiked along the shoreline, visited marine conservation centres and protected areas. We also met with the local tourism authority and representatives from the municipality.

What soon became clear, was that this is no ordinary little fishing village. This is a community, where everyone is working towards a bigger goal; that of conservation of marine and nature resources and the creation of a better life for all that live there. Tourism is but one part of a much bigger puzzle.

‘...we visited many tourism businesses ranging from plush hotels to simple cabins, hiked along the shoreline, visited marine conservation areas and protected areas...’

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Activity images - Grootbos Private Nature Reserve ©

What makes this community so successful is collaboration. I found evidence of this wherever we visited; tourism business collaborating with each other (rather than competing) and with the public sector. Local residents driving initiatives that empower and uplift other residents that are less fortunate, and, perhaps most importantly, the municipality working hand-in-hand with the local tourism association to facilitate development.

#ARTA15 WINNER UPDATE

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#ARTA15 WINNER UPDATE

Image - Hennie Otto ©

‘...although seeing these apex predators up close was the highlight of the trip, I was very impressed by how much I learned about sharks during my day’

Great White Shark

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#ARTA15 WINNER UPDATE

themselves (who saw a need to enforce more ethical behaviour) that led to a formal Code of Conduct and eventually complete formalization of the industry through requirement of operating permits from the Department of Environmental Affairs.

The sports fields were conceived with a vision to bring together people from the three main population groups in the area (white, black and coloured), and to provide underprivileged children with a healthy alternative to the crime and drug ridden streets of the townships. It was a collaboration between Overstrand Municipality, Absa Bank, the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, the English Premier League and local (tourism) businessman Michael Lutzeyer.

Image - Tessa Buhrmann Š

But although the Best Destination for Responsible Tourism Award is a huge achievement for Gansbaai, they don’t plan to stop here. Glenda and Kat also spoke about their vision for the future; how they want to build on the successes of the past and help even more businesses become sustainable, and how they are assisting young township entrepreneurs to enter the tourism industry. There are also plans to roll out some of these successful initiatives across the Overstrand area, which in tourism terms is referred to as the Cape Whale Coast. Through collaboration, this small community has won big awards and I am convinced that we will see more silverware making its way to Gansbaai in the future!

My meeting with Kat from the Overstrand Municipality and Glenda from Gansbaai Tourism was hands down one of the most inspirational I have had in the 10 years that I have worked in Responsible Tourism! Their partnership stretches nearly 20 years, and it was clear that along the way they have become very good friends. They spoke of some of the past achievements, such as the formalisation of the shark cage industry in 2000 and the creation of a sports field for underprivileged children in 2007.

Both are excellent examples of how private businesses have worked together with the public sector to achieve outstanding results. In the case of the shark cage industry, it was an initiative driven by the shark cage diving outfits

Gansbaai has long been known as the Great White shark cage diving capital. Marine Dynamics and their non-profit conservation organisation Dyer Island Conservation Trust were at the helm of the collaboration to self-regulate the shark cage diving industry. I went diving with them a few years back, and although seeing these apex predators up close was the highlight of the trip I was also very impressed with how much I learned about the sharks during my day with Marine Dynamics. If you visit Gansbaai, seeing (and learning more about) these amazing predators is a must but there is plenty more to this little seaside fishing village.

Jason from Beachcomber Guide took us on a walk along the beautiful cost at Pearly Beach.

Here, we got a glimpse into the abundance of the unique marine environment in the area. I learned why the waters on the Cape west coast are colder in summer than in winter, why kelp is such a useful plant for both marine critters and people, and why the abalone will soon be extinct. But we also spoke of hopes for the future, responsible traveller 81

#ARTA15 WINNER UPDATE and how technology can be the saviour of our environment. And I looked into the centre of the universe right there on the rugged beach close to the southernmost tip of Africa.

At Walker Bay Nature Reserve, we explored the origin of humankind. The Klipgat Caves were once home to the KhoiKhoi people of the area.

The ancestors of these Stone Age people still today have a genetic composition that can be traced back to the origin of humankind. The surrounding cliffs have spectacular views of white sandy beaches and untouched expanses of coastal fynbos. We visited an ancient indigenous forest at Platbos, where many of the trees are over a thousand years old. Here, you can marvel at White Stinkwood, Wild Peach and Hard Pear trees.

It is like walking in a fairytale.

Lomond Wine Estate produces wine using organic and natural farming methods. With only a small part of the estate allocated for vines, and the rest kept in its natural fynbos-covered state, you will detect the spicy and aromatic characters in the wine. Many of their wines bear names of flowers that occur naturally in the surrounding fynbos, such as Pincushion and Sugarbush.

I saved my favourite experience for last; a long ride through the flowering fynbos at Farm 215. There is something very special about experiencing nature from the back of a horse... to leisurely move through dense vegetation, climb high up on the mountainside and to canter fast on straight sandy paths. The African Horse Company also offers rides as long as 14 days, all the way to Cape Agulhas and beyond.

That is what I am dreaming of for my next trip to the Overberg! In the meantime, I’ll look at these photos and remember the many amazing experiences I have already had in this beautiful part of the world. •ip with Isibindi Africa and the Image - Farm 215 ©

The African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary takes care of little baby penguins while their parents are moulting (and are unable to feed them) as well as injured adult penguins and any other birds. It is a modern rehabilitation centre run almost entirely through donations and volunteer work. With only 10% of the population left

compared to the early 1900’s, the African Penguin needs all the help it can get.

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What’s news...

A New Spafari in the Zulu Kingdom

Tented Camp guests returning from game drives now too will be able to enjoy some pampering in their own canvas Spa Tent. In keeping with the camp’s, off the grid, offering it presents a wide variety of manually based treatments using non-allergenic oils by Salacious, a proudly South African manicure, pedicure & body range derived from natural plant oils as well as the SIX skincare products that blend science and nature into its ingredients.

Adding a flavour of fun to its therapies, the spa menu features Zulu inspired massages and facials including the Zulwini (heavenly) Massage and the Ebuhleni (beauty) Facial that follow the rhythm and tempo of the Zulu music softly playing in the background. The Spa team have also developed other techniques to reflect the environment.

One example is the Ndlovu Walk (elephant walk) treatment, a deep lymph drainage massage, based on the deep but gentle pressure of the elephant’s footsteps.

With its tucked away position and splendid views across the bushveld, the Spa Tent invites guests to relax and be at one with themselves and nature.

The Thanda Spa located at Thanda Safari Lodge has also introduced a new spa menu. Comprising two treatment rooms, a sauna, a hydrobath and a rock pool, the new team of highly qualified spa therapists have added a series of holistic treatments using highly acclaimed products with natural healing benefits.

A variety of Dermalogica facials complement the menu of massage and body treatments.

Embracing their natural surrounds, treatments include the Hot Stone Massage, Zulu Reflexology and a Mineral Salt Scrub, in addition to therapies that focus on specific needs and concerns – the AGE Smart and Medibac Clearing treatments.

Unusually too, the Thanda Spa has developed a spa menu for kids inviting them to indulge in a Happy Feet or Hands treatment, a Prince/Princess Facial and a Monkey Apple Massage.

Both spas at Thanda offer manicure and pedicures, couples treatments and 2-hour to full-day spa packages. Thanda’s therapists have all undergone an intensive 3-year training programme covering somatology, physiology and anatomy with further spa collage subjects comprising theory and practical tuition whilst covering the benefits of massage and holistic treatment. •

www.thanda.com

Image - Thanda Safari ©

Thanda Tented Camp, located in the heart of award-winning Thanda Safari Private Game Reserve in South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal region, has launched a completely new spa offering.

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Sooty Tern Colony

FEATHERED BEAUTIES Raympnd Sahuquet Š

of the Seychelles

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Raympnd Sahuquet ©

Tropic Bird

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Paradise Flycatcher

Gerard Larose ©

Raympnd Sahuquet ©

Fairy Tern

The Seychelles has 12 endemic bird species which means it is truly a bird-watchers paradise.

The birds include: the Seychelles black parrot (the national bird of the Seychelles); Seychelles blue pigeon; Seychelles black paradise flycatcher; Seychelles magpie robin; Seychelles warbler; Seychelles scops owl; Seychelles white-eye; Seychelles sunbird; Seychelles fody (also referred to as ‘Tok Tok’); Seychelles kestrel; Seychelles swiftlet; and Seychelles bulbul.

Its location in the Indian Ocean makes the Seychelles an important winter stop-over for many migrant birds. Whimbrels, sandplovers, and unusually large flocks of crab plovers spend their whole non-breeding season on the islands.

In the interior of the islands, the bright Madagascar fody (or ‘Red Cardinal fody’), Indian myna, and zebra dove (or ‘barred ground dove’) are the most commonly seen birds. Beautiful redtailed and white-tailed tropicbirds, and dazzling white fairy terns are other spectacular species to look out for when birding in the Seychelles.

But the highlight for any birdwatcher is Bird

Raympnd Sahuquet ©

Black Parrot

Island which was named a wildlife sanctuary in 1986. There are opportunities for birders to observe sea, shore and land birds here which breed on the island in tremendous numbers.

Land birds are of course present year round but some are at their best during the breeding season, mainly October –March. Some seabird species are also present year-round but others breed either during the southeast monsoon from May-September or the northwest monsoon from October-April. October-December is the best time to see migrants, some lingering until April, particularly the Crab Plover.

If this is a birding trip of a lifetime, the best time is mid-October to end-November combining the end of the southeast seabird season with the beginning of the northwest and the height of the migration season together with calm seas and settled weather.

The Seychelles bird life promises to delight and deliver a show like no other. •

www.seychelles.travel Magpie Robin

Gerard Larose ©

T

he Seychelles is all about beautiful sandy beaches, the bluest ocean and palm trees swaying in the breeze. Or is it?

The wildlife on this island is one aspect that should not be overlooked, especially the birds that call these islands home.

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What’s news...

Green means GO for Hotel Verde and Datacentrix High performing and secure ICT solution provider, Datacentrix has been helping keep the lights on (and off ) – literally – at Hotel Verde, South Africa’s greenest hotel and the first hotel in Africa to offer carbon-neutral accommodation and conferencing.

Hotel Verde was built to be as sustainable as possible from the ground up. This includes energy-efficient LEDs used for lighting throughout the hotel, with a number of controls helping reduce the energy they consume, such as motion sensors in all public areas that activate the lights and switch them off after 15 minutes if there’s no further movement. The hotel also uses light level sensors, which measure the amount of light that’s available – including natural light from windows and skylights – and dims or brightens the output of the lights to ensure that only the required amount of light is given out at any time.

Appointed to roll out a number of systems prior to the official opening of the energy and water-efficient hotel two years ago, Datacentrix initially implemented the lighting control system, together with biometric access control,

building and property management systems, video conferencing facilities, an audio and video system, room management software, and a video surveillance solution and storage.

The company also put into operation a structured cabling infrastructure (including telephone, BMS cabling and Ethernet, which enables guests to view a dedicated television channel that displays the hotel’s most updated energy and water consumption statistics as well as its waste management), a managed power over Ethernet (PoE) local area network (LAN), firewalls, fibre internet connectivity, telephone and Wi-Fi systems, and a staff time and attendance solution.

Besides this, Datacentrix still interfaces with a number of the third party solution provider as part of its multiyear outsourcing agreement with Hotel Verde. “We are currently in full swing in terms of the maintenance side of our project,” explains Hotel Verde operations manager, Philippe Marechal. “Datacentrix provides us with managed services to maintain hardware, such as our network equipment, desktops and printers, Wind turbines

Solar panels on the north facade

Images - Hotel Verde ©

One of the plant rooms

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What’s news... and also assists with maintaining other systems, for example our telephone solution, acting as a single point of contact for Hotel Verde.

“Datacentrix has a good understanding of the hospitality industry and its specific needs, having worked with several local hotel groups,” says Marechal. “It was the obvious choice when it came to appointing an IT infrastructure and services partner, working very closely with Hotel Verde when it came to setting up our facilities from scratch, and still assisting with the management of our other service providers.”

and their proximity to the hotel. To reduce the carbon impact of transportation, all suppliers used by Hotel Verde must be based within a 160 kilometre radius,” he adds.

Hotel Verde is the first hotel in Africa to achieve the Platinum LEED certification level, as assigned by the United States Green Building Council. In addition, it was the recipient of the Imvelo Award 2014 by Lilizela for Best Overall Environmental Management System, and won the World Responsible Tourism Award 2014 by World Travel Market, London for Best City Hotel.

Aside from its experience within the hospitality sector, Datacentrix also met Hotel Verde’s nonnegotiable service provider criterion of being located within a maximum of 160 kilometres of the hotel, as part of its carbon-offsetting programme which complements the hotel’s other green initiatives. “Not only does Hotel Verde offer guests and conference delegates a carbon-neutral stay at the hotel by offsetting carbon emissions through responsible carbon capturing and reduction projects, we also believe in responsible procurement.

“It has been a real honour for Datacentrix to be involved in the establishment of this exceptional, sustainably operated business,” says Juane Peacock, managing director: coastal regions and Enterprise Information Management (EIM) at Datacentrix.

“One of our strategic imperatives involves building long-term partnerships with customers, which enables an intimate understanding of their business and its systems. To have been involved with Hotel Verde since the very beginning has allowed us to help create the most efficient, effective technology environment for them.” •

“This means that our suppliers are chosen based on the sustainability of their own practises

www.hotelverde.com

The eco-pool

Roof garden

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SO MUCH TO CHOOSE FROM. ONLY ONE CHOICE. With a portfolio of over 90 hotels and 14 casinos, we have a variety of hospitality and exciting entertainment and leisure experiences in key destinations.

Our Cape Town hotels are situated between the Waterfront and the foothills of Table Mountain, taking pride of place in the Mother City.