Responsible Traveller mag - edition 2 - 2018

R E S P O N S I B L E be the difference

edition 2 – 2018

Making a Difference...

• • • •

African Responsible Tourism Award winners Tourism industry embracing sustainability Authentic Experiences Reduce, reuse, recycle

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

The only 5-star cage diving experience in South Africa. More than just a dive, our biologists share their knowledge & adventures on each trip!

Experience the Marine Big Five in their natural environment.

Focused on the protection of African Penguins & sea birds.

Discover & Protect - in partnership with the Dyer Island Conservation Trust.

www.DICT.org.za

Comment

Welcome to another edition of Responsible Traveller.

In this edition we celebrate those that ‘Make a Difference’ ...

From the winners of the African Responsible Tourism Awards (ARTA) 2018 held at WTM Africa in April, to the tourism industry’s commitment to greening and sustainability. With the ARTA 2018 winners being from a number of African countries, we get to ‘travel’ far and wide and experience their best practice examples of how to do responsible tourism well. Be inspired by their stories and encouraged to take responsibility for your impact on communites, conservation and the environment.

Be moved by history as you read about Sharon Gilber-Rivett’s visit to Three Tree Hill Lodge on the KZN Battlefields - where community and sustainability are very much a part of what they do. Pop into Mauritius with me as I give feedback on the Digitalisation and Sustainability Conference held recently... and ’live like a local’ with me as I experience one of Attitude Hotels great Otentik Experiences. Learn all about foraging from Chef Chris Pead at the Great White House in Kleinbaai, the desalination process at the Westin in Cape Town and the benefits of recycling glass and the growing trend of saying ‘no to the straw’ from the tourism industry.

But as I always say, 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- 2018 Publisher / 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: Wilderness Safaris Pelo Camp - Okavango Delta pic - Wilderness Safaris

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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Contents REGULARS: Comment

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Being a Responsible Traveller 05

DESTINATIONS & PLACES TO STAY:

36

Get back to nature at the Great White House

20

An Attitude of Sustainability 44 Three Trees, a hill and a lodge full of smiles 76 Problems & opportunities - the Westin desalination story 92

ADVENTURE & ACTIVITIES: The Ngalawa Cup

56

Make a Difference on your next holiday

70

SUSTAINABILE TOURISM:

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African Responsible Tourism Awards Winners 08 No straw, thanks 28 Mauritius Declaration on Digitalisation & Sustainable Tourism 36 Africa’s Travel Indaba is going Green

64

Hurtigruten wages war on plastic...

88

Want to help the Planet? 98

NEWS:

76

Unique fishing line bins highlight marine pollution

26

FGASA approved Marine Academy with Marine Dynamics

22

Clanwilliam cedar tree planting ceremony

43

Asilia most commited responsible tourism company...

54

FTT to launch captive wildlife guidelines

55

Treadright Foundation introduces Anatolian Shepherd Dogs... 74 Gondwana Game Reserve launches mountain bike trails

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Thailand’s Sustainable Tourism label recognised by GSTC

86

Norway’s Sustainable Tourism label recognised by GSTC

87

Partnering for growth the Nando’s way

96

Travel & Tourism and industry as a force for good

97

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.

• 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

responsible traveller 05

AFRICAN RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS

African Responsible Tourism Awards and the winners are...

Overall Winner - Wilderness Safaris

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AFRICAN RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS

ilderness Safaris, operator of safari camps, lodges and experiences in seven Africa countries, was announced Overall Winner at the African Responsible Tourism Awards 2018 in Cape Town, sponsored by Wesgro.

Says Harold Goodwin, Chair of the Judging Panel. “All of those longlisted should be recognised as having made a significant contribution and be proud of what they have achieved. As in the World Responsible Tourism Awards the judges looked for winners who might educate and inspire others, challenging the industry to achieve more by demonstrating what can be done by businesses and organisations to realise the ambition of Responsible Tourism. That ambition is simply put: to use tourism to make better places for people to live in. This also benefits the industry: great places to live are great places to visit.

The Global Sustainable Development Goals are now the touchstone for both governments and private sector; action by businesses will be critical to attaining the targets set for 2030. The tourism industry needs to recognise that we must be a lot more transparent about credibly reporting the positive impacts that businesses in the tourism sector have on peoples’ livelihoods and well-being – we need to up our game and prove the claims we make. This year’s World Responsible Tourism Awards categories will be announced at Arabian Travel Market next week.

The judges were mindful of the Awards made in previous years in Africa and in the World Responsible Tourism Awards, of which these African Awards are a part. The Gold and Silver Award winners should be particularly proud

of what they have achieved; they have been recognised as being leaders in a Responsible Tourism movement where more is expected each year.

If when reflecting on the winners of these and the World Responsible Tourism Awards you know of others you feel should be recognised then please encourage them to enter, the judges can only choose from amongst those who enter and complete the application process. We encourage them, and other businesses, to continue to take responsibility for increasing the positive, and reducing the negative, impacts of tourism; to communicate what they are doing to use tourism to make better places and to consider entering the Responsible Tourism Awards when there is an appropriate category for their business or organisation.”

Speaking before a packed audience of over 100 tourism professionals, media, ministers and officials, Heidi van der Watt, managing director of Better Tourism Africa pinpointed what makes the Award winners the leaders in responsible tourism in Africa: “Our winners have an ethos that extend beyond the commercial – linking thriving business with the wellbeing of local people and the longevity of their environments. They want to make profits with principles, communicate bottom lines that balance people, planet and profit, and won’t undermine sustainability in the pursuit of superior product quality. They are resilient, determined, humanising advocates for their destinations. They provide hope and inspiration for the future of tourism in Africa.”

The Awards were sponsored by the Wesgro. Tim Harris, Chief Executive Officer of Wesgro, said: “As the proud headline sponsor of the inaugural African Responsible Tourism Awards, Wesgro is delighted to pay tribute to this year’s inspirational winners. As the official Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, we continue to show our commitment to responsible tourism development both in our province and on the African continent.

We are pleased to recognise the vision of the Award winners for providing leadership in their respective sectors throughout Africa, and effectively contributing to growing tourism in a sustainable manner. Today, we celebrate their commitment and achievements.”

www.africanresponsibletourismawards.com responsible traveller 09

AFRICAN RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS

OVERALL WINNER...

Wilderness Safaris (Botswana) Supported By WESGRO

The judges were impressed by the success of Wilderness Safaris in driving down the consumption of bottled water and the consequents savings in plastic waste and the greenhouse gas emissions which result from transporting bottled water. By measuring their use and reporting reductions year on year in their Annual Integrated Report they demonstrated how it is possible to report progress against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Their robust approach to tackling the consumption of bottled water sets an example and challenges the industry to do far more. The industry needs to take much more vigorous action to reduce its water consumption; the resilience of individual businesses and the sector requires it.

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Celebrating 18 years of responsible messaging

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AFRICAN RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS

BEST FOR GLOBAL GOALS Supported By BULK SMS

For the Global Goals category, the judges were looking for tourism organisations that leverage tourism to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and then transparently report on the impacts of their responsible tourism efforts. The SDGs are a set of 17 interconnected transformational goals with 169 related targets that explain what needs to be achieved across social, environmental and economic aspects.

Most tourism businesses do not yet acknowledge the private sector as a critical actor in the attainment of the Global Goals or are not fully engaged in tracking or reporting progress against the targets. To encourage greater rigour in reporting positive change against global sustainable development priorities, this new category will be a standard feature of future African Responsible Tourism Awards. To determine the winners the judges reviewed the responses of all contenders to a specific question in the application form about the SDGs.

Gold winner: Wilderness Safaris (Botswana) Wilderness demonstrated that active engagement with the SDGs is their business imperative.

There is clear, credible evidence of the alignment between the company’s efforts and the relevant SDGs and specific targets. Performance is transparently reported.

Target 12.6 under SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production encourages companies to adopt sustainability practices AND to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle. As a company listed on both the Botswana and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges, Wilderness Safaris is required to produce an Annual Integrated Report (AIR). The Global Reporting Initiative, widely recognized as best practice for triple bottom line reporting, guides the preparation of the Wilderness Safaris’ AIR. By identifying relevant SDGs and detailing how the business is working to contribute to them, the company goes beyond compliance requirements for listed companies.

The quantification and reporting of performance against indicators is fundamental to the SDGs. Wilderness Safaris’ disclosure of progress against indicators for carbon emissions, water and waste usage and compliance with the Group Environmental Minimum Standards is exemplary. Furthermore, in addition to reporting on areas of good performance areas of weakness are also indicated. Wilderness Safaris’ commitment to gaining shareholder and stakeholder trust through transparency is noteworthy. The annual report and a consumer and guest-focused version (Sustainability Review) available on the website, and the Sustainability Review in all guest rooms.

www.wilderness-safaris.com 12 responsible traveller

Silver: Spier

AFRICAN RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS

External evaluations by the likes of Fair Trade Tourism and the Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association (WIETA) have given Spier vast experience in collecting and reporting evidence against a range of sustainability indicators. This proficiency was evident in a wide-ranging response on the SDG component of the questionnaire. Spier articulated how its work relates to all but one of the 17 Global Goals, supplying credible and well-thought-out examples of how its sustainability efforts link to the SDGs. The entry clearly shows that the business is skilled at quantifying impact; hence the judges would have liked more clarity on key indicators related to SDG8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

www.spier.co.za

Highly commended: Basecamp Explorer Though Basecamp Explorers corporate documents and communication platforms are not explicit on the SDGs, the judges wanted to commend Basecamp Explorer for a comprehensive and sound response to the SDG in the entry. There is also evidence of quantification of impact. The judges believe that, given specific effort, a good basis for stronger integration of the SDGs in the corporate strategy and future Global Goals reporting is in place.

www.basecampexplorer.com responsible traveller 13

AFRICAN RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS

BEST FOR DECENT WORK & INCLUSION Supported By SINGER GROUP

The judges were looking for examples of businesses able to demonstrate an exemplary responsible approach to the employment and treatment of staff, and a creative and long-term approach to including local producers in the supply chain.

Gold: there was no Gold in this category Silver: Spier & PEAK East Africa Spier in the Western Cape of South Africa and PEAK East Africa in Kenya have much in common when it comes to creating shared business value.

Both businesses demonstrated a comprehensive approach to improving working conditions, including various internal engagement tools, training, employee wellness and health programmes, staff awards and beyond-the-norm employee benefits.

A strong commitment to going beyond compliance in relation to pay, health and safety, freedom of association and fostering purposeful work environments is evident at both Spier and PEAK East Africa. To track achievements, employees are annually asked for feedback and suggestions, and results compared yearto year. Both achieve exceptionally high staff engagement and positive feedback on the general working environment in these surveys.

Spier’s inclusive business philosophy is actioned through a 30km preferential radius for recruitment, a focus on youth employment, providing internships and sourcing more than 70% of goods and services from the Winelands district and Cape Metro. The judges thought that allowing staff to spend individual learning budgets on sustainability solutions at home is a constructive and practical way for employees to apply work-based sustainability learnings outside of the workplace.

Extensive engagement with and support for local NGOs spoke volumes for PEAK East Africa’s commitment to an ethos of ‘Purpose beyond Profit’. They contract locally-owned and marginalised suppliers preferentially, and their Supplier Code of Conduct encourages suppliers to operate in a more environmentally and socially responsible way.

www.spier.co.za www.peakdmc.com 14 responsible traveller

AFRICAN RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS

BEST FOR RESPONSIBLE CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

Gold: there was no Gold in this category Silver: Basecamp Explorer (Kenya) For Basecamp enabling tourist to engage with local people and culture is fundamental to their vision of demonstrating how the conservation of ecosystems requires co-existence between wildlife and humans.

They regard consistent support for local people and cultures as fundamental to preserving the heritage of the land to ensure it remains habitable for people and wildlife. By including the cultural aspects of the local Maasai, Basecamp raises the standard of living of the Maasai people and provides a richer better guest experiences for their clients.

Basecamp established the Basecamp Maasai Brand (BMB), a community-based handicraft workshop that empowers 158 Maasai women while preserving the traditional Maasai beading practice. As a fair-trade practice, the Maasai women receive about 55 percent of the proceeds which goes towards providing food, clothing and shelter for their families while the remaining 45 percent goes towards management costs and purchase of materials.

Basecamp also supports a capacity building program through education sponsorship at Koiyaki Guiding School (KGS). Over the last 13 years, KGS has trained over 270 students, 20% of whom are young Maasai girls, young Maasai men and women continue to wear their traditional costumes and jewellery.

www.basecampexplorer.com Ones to watch: the judges wanted to recognise NANDE JUNIAS EXPLORER TOURS (Namibia), for his work in developing township tours for community upliftment in Mondesa Township in Swakopmund; and ABANG AFRICA for their new Goedverwacht mission village tour and homestays.

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AFRICAN RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS

BEST PARTNERSHIP FOR iNNOVATION IN WATER MANAGEMENT Supported By BETTER TOURISM AFRICA

Gold: there was no Gold in this category Silver: Wilderness Safaris (Southern Africa) The judges were looking for innovative and replicable practices with measurable achievement in reducing water consumption. Wilderness Safaris has a Group Environmental Impact System (GEMS) and in 2012 they determined to reduce the consumption of bottled water across their whole operation. They committed earlier than most to reduce plastic water bottle usage by introducing reusable water bottles and reverse osmosis water filtering systems in all their camps.

Wilderness Safaris have reduced bottled water consumption across all their camps by 77%. In 2012 they were consuming two litres of bottled water per bed night in Botswana, in 2017 they used an average of 0.23 litres per bed night. This well exceeded their group target of 0.8 litres per bed night. Across the group in 2012 average bottled water consumption was 2.7 litres per bed night by 2017 they had reduced it to 0.46 litres per bed night. Their new group target is 0.4 litres per bed night by 2023.

In addition to its success in reducing the consumption of bottled water Wilderness Safaris is fitting tap aerators, flow restrictors, efficient shower heads, dual flush toilets, recycles grey water, monitors leakages. Further, Wilderness, along with another industry leader in sustainable tourism, is developing benchmark water usage figures for safari camps. The judges were pleased to see the commitment to reduce water bottle use across the whole operation and the consequent reduction in plastic waste and carbon emissions. Water scarcity and security is a major issue in Africa and the judges were surprised and disappointed not to receive more applications addressing water sourcing, the reduction of water use and grey water recycling and the disposal of wastewater.

www.wilderness-safaris.com

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AFRICAN RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS

BEST FOR AQUATIC SPECIES & HABITAT CONSERVATION Supported By RESPONSIBLE TRAVELLER

Gold winner: North Island (Seychelles) Twenty years ago, North Island was purchased and a set of Conservation Goals – marine, terrestrial and island sustainability – we established. A key goal was to protect the four coastal beaches and safeguard the nesting sites of two species of sea turtles, the Critically-Endangered Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the Endangered Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas). The turtles have been monitored since 1998 and there has been systematic data collection since 2004.

There are daily beach patrols, nest monitoring and tagging and only turtle-friendly light is allowed.

Since 2004 the number of Hawksbills using the island has doubled and the Green Turtles have increased six-fold. North Island now has the highest density of nesting Green Turtles in the inner islands of the Seychelles. The judges were impressed by the success of this luxury resort in increasing the population of turtles and its ambition to become a gazetted marine reserve in pursuit of which biannual scientific marine surveys to quantify the diversity and abundance of reef fish; marine invertebrates; hard and soft corals and predatory species have been conducted since 2011.

The resort has a strict Fishing and Menu Policy which precludes the capture of fish known to be either locally or internationally threatened. North Island demonstrates the significant contribution a commercial tourism resort can make to conservation and we hope that it will inspire others to do more.

www.north-island.com

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AFRICAN RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS

Silver: Marine Dynamics (South Africa) Marine Dynamics has been awarded many times for its achievements in conserving the African penguins and white sharks and in combatting marine pollution. They have contributed to both the practice and science of marine, conservation partnering with national and international universities to understand the ecology of the species and the habitat. The judges were impressed by the continuing commitment to using tourism to fund conservation science and the success of practical interventions through the penguin sanctuary and the penguin nesting boxes.

Marine Dynamics has long been educating the domestic and international tourists it attracts about the importance of conserving marine species and encouraging them to contribute to their conservation. This Award recognises their continuing and growing success in the battle to conserve marine life and in particular their DEEP three-year environmental education programme with young learners, the 3000 children in their outreach programmes and the 30,000 reached through their annual competition.

www.sharkwatchsa.com

Highly commended: All Out Africa (Swaziland/Mozambique) In 2017 All Out Africa won Gold for habitat and species conservation in the African Responsible Tourism Awards. This year the judges wanted to commend them for the publication of a paper on the research undertaken through their volunteer and science programme on “Satellite tagging highlights the importance of productive Mozambican coastal waters to the ecology and conservation of whale sharks� and their advances in local educational outreach work.

www.alloutafrica.com responsible traveller 19

The southern right whale skeleton at the Great White House

Get back to nature at the

GREAT WHITE HOUSE words & pics -Brenda du Toit / Marine Dynamics 20 responsible traveller

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T

he Great White House is based in Kleinbaai, Gansbaai, Western Cape and is world renowned as the base of shark cage diving company Marine Dynamics. It is here that mostly international guests enjoy lovely meals before their trips and the restaurant functions as a hub for locals too. One can dine under a skeleton of a southern right whale and there is also a curio shop and accommodation on site.

Across all aspects of the Great White House efforts are made to minimise the impact on the environment: recycling; low energy light bulbs; solar geyser; less packaging; a vegetable garden servicing the restaurant; aerators on taps; grey water; paper straws, and more. Local employment and staff training is paramount.

The restaurant supports local industries from wine, beer and even the fynbos flowers decorating the tables. The Great White House is renowned for its seafood, from the catch of the day, to farmed abalone for which a permit is required to serve, and fresh oysters.

Executive Chef Chris Pead studied at the Swiss Institute of Hospitality and has vast experience in the hospitality industry. Pead has also been a lecturer at Capsicum Culinary Studio Cape Town and students from the school do their internship at the Great White House. Pead is well known for his creative flair with food and has proved the hit for the monthly wine club events.

It was after a foraging trip with expert Roushanna Gray, arranged by the Great White House, that Pead’s interest in seaweed really took off. There is and abundance of food on this coastline, with prolific seaweed and invasive mussel species that can be harvested.

Pead was able to turn the foraged ingredients into an ocean inspired meal and since then has been experimenting.

Chef Pead forages weekly and has this to say about working with seaweed, “It is something new, something different, a whole new cooking style and I am learning as I go. You cannot just take kelp and boil it, it requires a different process, which is always exciting for a chef. I also love to discover what flavours pair well with the seaweed. A bonus is the health benefits of eating seaweed.”

Seaweed has some key nutritional benefits with an estimated 93 bioavailable nutrients and 56 available minerals and trace elements.

It is believed to have antibacterial, antiviral and antiparasitic properties and is said to have more Vitamin C than oranges, ten times the calcium of milk and 25 times the iron in beef.

(Contra-indications: The high iodine content in some seaweed is not recommended for people with heart conditions).

Currently on the seaweed menu which is served post foraging in the last half of the week are:•

Starters: Ulva Cheese with Cranberry sauce and Kelp Crackers /Butternut and Mixed Sea Greens Tartlet topped with Crumbled Ulva Cheese.

•

Mains: Seafood Medley with Kelp “Tagliatelle” / Grilled Linefish with Sea Lettuce Salad and Nori Potato Wedges / Green Chicken and Kelp Curry with Basmati Rice / Grilled Chicken Breast with Kelp, Pomegranate and Sweet chilli sauce on wilted Ulva and Rösti Potato.

•

Desserts: Vanilla Panna Cotta with Seaweed Coulis / Nori coffee and Chocolate Sponge with Mango, Codium Ice Cream

The Great White House hosts monthly marine evenings with Marine Dynamics / Dyer Island Conservation Trust. In April 2018, Pavs Pillay, the WWF-SA Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI) manager involved in consumer awareness, education and communication on sustainable seafood and marine conservation spoke about the status on many of our fish species.

The Great White House has for many years supported the WWF’s Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI) programme and owner Susan

‘There is an abundance of food on this coastline,with prolific seaweed and invasive mussel species that can be harvested...’

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Executive Chef Chris Pead foraging responsible traveller 23

Visagie together with Chef Chris Pead took the opportunity to show Pavs Pillay some of the seaweed creations being developed.

Pavs and her colleague Kirtanya Lutch, left the next morning with various bottled delicacies.

Green sea lettuce

Owner Susan Visagie is excited about this new addition to the menu, “We need to offer something unique and attractive to our guests. Whilst this resource is on our doorstep there are very few who have tapped into it and are experimenting with these new flavours. We are excited to be doing this I our area.” • The Great White House is open daily from 8am to 10pm. Out of season, it is closed on Tuesday evenings. Ph: 0283843273 5 Geelbek Street, Kleinbaai, Gansbaai

Freshly harvested kelp

www.thegreatwhitehouse.co.za

FORAGING NOUN 1.the acquisition of food by hunting, fishing, or the gathering of plant matter.

ADJECTIVE 2. characterized by or dependent upon the acquisition of food by such means; food-gathering.

Foraging equipment required - scissors and foraging bags; knowledge on identification, cooking and preserving methods for seaweeds; recipes and tide charts.

Adults require a mollusk permit for foraging and this is available at any post office for R96 and is valid for 1 year. Children do not require a permit.

Non SA residents qualify for a one month permit at a cost of approx. R50.

You need an ID number and signature for permit.

Take with: Beach gear, slip-slops or surf booties, your mollusk permit, camera, water bottle.

For more information contact: Roushanna Gray / 0722344804

www.veldandsea.com 24 responsible traveller

Salad and vegetable ingredients are sourced from the Great White House garden project

L-R: Chef Chris Pead, Mukunzi Maxime, Thembisa Mini, Cari du Preez, Susan Visagie, Pavs Pillay (WWF), Kirtanya Lutch (WWF)

Kelp products

Chef Chris Pead with some of his creations responsible traveller 25

What’s news...

WORLD OCEANS DAY 8 JUNE – Unique Fishing Line Bins Highlight Marine Pollution The Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) officially launched the Fishing Line Recovery and Recycling Program along the Gansbaai shoreline in 2010. This innovative project of strategically placed unique fishing line bins aims to reduce the severe environmental damage caused by discarded fishing line on our coastline.

“Our marine animal rescue team has seen some of the worst injuries on seabirds, seals and sharks caused from discarded fishing line. We have to date collected probably over 5000kms of fishing line. The fishing line bin helps create public awareness about the negative impacts that fishing line debris has on marine life, water quality, and human welfare.

We place bins at our local beaches and popular fishing spots encouraging anglers and beach walkers to dispose of their used fishing line. We hope to reduce the amount of fishing line entering the marine environment, as well as to increase the amount of fishing line being recycled. We also conduct regular beach clean-ups. We have strong partnerships

with organisations that help the reach and management of this project,” says Trust CEO Wilfred Chivell.

The first twenty bins were placed in partnership with Overstrand Municipality in the Gansbaai area. Since then bins have been placed at various locations around the country including alongside Blue Flag beaches and is proving to be an icon for marine pollution. Since 2011, DPI Plastics has been providing material for these bins. This dedicated and critical sponsorship was arranged by John Kieser of Plastics SA. “Monofilament fishing line is non-biodegradable and can last for hundred of years in the marine environment where it entangles wildlife, is mistakenly ingested by birds and animals, resulting in injury or death, and is also hazardous to boaters and swimmers,” says Anthea Paulsen of DPI Plastics.

“DPI Plastics would like to enlarge our eco footprint and be seen as eco leaders in our industry. We look forward to the continued reach

The team from L to R: Creshwell Michaels and Anthea Paulsen (DPI Plastics), Pinkey Ngewu (DICT), John Kieser (Plastics SA), Benjamin Kondokter (Overstrand Municipality), Meredith Thornton (DICT) 26 responsible traveller

What’s news... of the fishing line bin project. It can grow so much further, not only along the coastline but inland for rivers and dams where the same problems exist.”

Kieser is also responsible for organising interested organisations in South Africa to take part in the International Coastal Clean Up Day that happens every September. Kieser provides all bags, gloves and data cards for this annual event as well as all clean ups that take place throughout the year.

“It is important that we collate the data forming an accurate picture of marine pollution and its sources in South Africa, so we can assess and advise plastic manufacturers where required.

Product design can be revised minimising waste issues. The fishing line bin has been well received along the coast and a roadshow is planned for 2019,” says Kieser.

The team got together in Gansbaai on World Oceans Day, 8th June. After enjoying a whale trip with Dyer Island Cruises that reminded all of the marine world that needs protection, a bin was strategically placed in Stanford’s Cove, De Kelders, in an area commonly used by fishermen. •

www.sharkwatchsa.com

DICT – Dyer Island Conservation Trust

Putting up the bin: Creshwell Michaels and Benjamin Kondokter responsible traveller 27

SUSTAINABILITY

Tourism industry says NO to the straw !!

Hilton Calls Time on Plastic Straws Hilton (NYSE: HLT) will remove plastic straws from its 650 managed properties by the end of 2018. Today, Hilton also reveals its new goal to double its social impact investments and cut its global environmental impact in half by 2030, with the help of science-based targets.

In Europe, Middle East & Africa alone, the commitment will remove more than five million plastic straws and 20 million plastic water bottles annually. Laid end to end, the straws saved each year in the region would exceed the length of the River Seine.

An estimated eight million tons of plastic waste enter the ocean each year, and research projects that plastic in our oceans could triple in a decade. Plastic pollution not only impacts our waters and marine life, but also our food chain and overall health.

Simon Vincent, Executive Vice President and President, EMEA, Hilton said: “As a leading 28 responsible traveller

global hospitality company, we have a huge responsibility to act as stewards of our natural resources, and support the communities in which we operate. Through our corporate responsibility strategy, Travel with Purpose, we are constantly looking for new ways to reduce our environmental impact. Extending a ban on plastic straws across our managed portfolio is an important move in the right direction, and one which we are committed to building on in the coming years.”

Hilton will remove plastic straws and offer a paper or biodegradable alternative upon request – an effort the company plans to implement globally across its hotels by the end of 2018. Hilton will also remove plastic water bottles from meetings and events in hotels across the EMEA region, as part of its global Meet with Purpose program to offer socially and environmentally responsible meetings.

The ban on straws is part of a new set of global

Graphic: www.worldoceansday.org

SUSTAINABILITY Tourism Council. “In this Golden Age of Travel, we are taking a leadership role to ensure that the destinations where travelers work, relax, learn and explore are vibrant and resilient for generations of adventurers yet to come.”

Hilton’s new 2030 goals include the following social and environmental targets: Cut Environmental Impact in Half to Help Protect the Planet •

• • •

Reduce carbon emissions intensity by 61%, in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) Reduce water consumption and produced waste by 50% Sustainably source meat, poultry, produce, seafood and cotton Expand existing soap recycling program to all hotels and send zero soap to landfill

Double Social Investment and Drive Positive Change in Communities: • •

• • • targets designed to cut Hilton’s environmental footprint in half by 2030 and double its social impact investment around the world. With this commitment, Hilton will become the first major hotel company to institute science-based targets to reduce its carbon emissions and commit to sending zero hotel soap to landfill.

The company will also double the amount it spends with local and minority-owned suppliers, and double its investment in programs to help women and youth around the world. These goals are part of Hilton’s Travel with Purpose corporate responsibility strategy to further the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

“For nearly 100 years, Hilton has been driven by our mission to have a positive impact on the communities surrounding our hotels,” said Christopher J. Nassetta, President and CEO, Hilton, and Chairman, World Travel &

Double the amount spent with local, small and minority-owned suppliers Double investment in opportunity programs for women and youth, including partnering with local organizations and schools Contribute 10 million volunteer hours through Team Member initiatives Double monetary support for natural disaster relief efforts Advance Human Rights capabilities in Hilton’s value chain to eradicate forced labour and trafficking

Travel with Purpose is Hilton’s corporate responsibility strategy to redefine and advance sustainable travel globally. By 2030, they plan to double their social impact and reduce their environmental footprint in half. They track, analyze and report their environmental and social impact at each of Hilton’s 5,300 hotels through LightStay, theiraward-winning performance measurement system.

Travel with Purpose capitalizes on Hilton’s global scale to catalyze local economic growth; promote human rights; invest in people and local communities and preserve our planet by reducing our impact on natural resources.

Our strategy aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development goals. •

www.hilton.com responsible traveller 29

SUSTAINABILITY

The final straw - Seychelles bans single-use plastic straws The Indian Ocean Island nation of Seychelles is once again demonstrating its commitment to protecting and conserving the environment, by being the latest destination to ban the use of single-use plastic straws.

The ban was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in early June and will include straws used in cocktails and other drinks. However, the ban will exempt plastic straws attached to juice packets. A provisional study conducted in 2016 found that plastic waste makes up nearly 30% of all waste of Seychelles’ landfills. Additionally, the Seychelles government reports it is spending hundreds of millions of rupees on solid waste management for de-littering rivers and marshes from all types of waste including plastics.

with alternatives rather than just stating that we are imposing a ban,” she adds.

Laure says that there are alternatives such as those made with bamboo and paper which could be imported and that despite the alternatives being more expensive, it will have a long-term benefit, as it will cost less to remove it in the environment.

The Waste Enforcement and Permit Division of the Department of Environment will now draft regulations that will guide the ban just like the one imposed on plastic bags.

Lena Horeau, Director – South Africa for the Seychelles Tourism Board adds that while it Seychelles’ drive to go plastic-free initially In September 2016, the Cabinet announced that seemed like an impossible task, the Seychelles has been quick to come up with creative it will join the likes of Rwanda, Bangladesh and solutions with some even finding opportunity in Madagascar in implementing a ban on the use and importation of items such plastic bags, cups, the decision. cutlery and Styrofoam packaging in an effort to “Some of these initiatives include the importing cut down on waste in the Seychelles, which will of biodegradable carrier bags and biodegradable now be extended to single use plastic straws. takeaway boxes, cutlery, cake boxes and paper bags.”

“Retailers have been given to January 2019 to use their existing stock of plastic straws,” says “While there has been some cost implication to Nanette Laure, Director General at the Waste consumables, most residents and even visitors Enforcement and Permit Division of the have agreed that it is a small price to pay in Department of Environment. conserving the island destination,” says Horeau..

“We are going to start an intensive education www.seychelles.travel programme as we also need to present importers

North Island, Seychelles says... #refusethestraw It’s a scary thought that every piece of plastic ever produced still exists. Billions of plastic straws are created every day, only to be used for mere minutes before being thrown away, potentially polluting our precious oceans forever.

North Island’s commitment to conservation and the environment is not only represented in the rehabilitation of the forests or the protection of endangered species, but also includes looking into our own operations and searching for ways to reduce our footprint on nature. As a result, North Island has banned plastic straws from the island and uses only 100% biodegradable straws and food containers for activities.

Eliminating these items takes us one step closer to becoming a plastic-free island and is the latest enhancement to our marine conservation efforts, which were recently recognised at the African Responsible Tourism Awards with a gold award in the category “Best for Aquatic Species & Habitat Conservation”. North Island strives to provide a leading example of sustainable luxury tourism in Seychelles and by removing plastic straws from the island aims to break the cycle of plastic waste getting into our oceans.

They ask everyone reading this to rethink, reuse, and recycle. A small change can make a big combined difference. Join us and thousands around the world as we all #refusethestraw

www.north-island.com 30 responsible traveller

SUSTAINABILITY

. . . a n d N O t o s i n g l e - u s e p l a s t i c !!

The Travel Corporation Unveils Commitment to Eliminate Single-Use Plastics by 2022 The Travel Corporation and its family of 29 global brands around the world commits to eliminating single-use plastics across all operations.

In its continued commitment to ensure the environment remains vibrant for generations to come, The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) family of brands today announced for World Environment Day that over the next five years it will phase out all single-use plastics from its extensive selection of award-winning travel and tourism companies with its “Multi-Year Plastics Elimination Strategy”.

elimination of single-use plastics across all operations, which will also include the phasing out of single-use plastics across its Uniworld Boutique River Cruises and U by Uniworld cruise ships, all Red Carnation Hotels, and all travel experiences.

The announcement comes as TTC, under the guidance of their not-for-profit TreadRight Foundation, officially instituted an immediate ban of more than 60 types of single-use plastic items such as straws, stir sticks, water bottles, plastic bags, and cutlery from its 40 global offices across its exceptional portfolio of brands.

The group began working towards the elimination of avoidable plastic waste when its Toronto, Canada office took the first important step of banning single-use plastics more than a year ago, replacing the items with viable alternatives.

The single-use plastic ban at TTC offices is the first step in the group’s journey to the complete

With 1.9 million travelers annually across the group, it is estimated that TTC’s effort has the potential to help eliminate the use of millions of plastic water bottles annually.

That action was soon followed by Red Carnation and Uniworld, who soon eliminated the purchase of all plastic straws and related single-use plastic items from their 17 properties and 20 ships. responsible traveller 31

SUSTAINABILITY

“We are absolutely committed to doing our part to eliminate avoidable plastic waste and making a positive impact in the communities that we live in and visit,” says Brett Tollman, Chief Executive, TTC and Co-Founder of The TreadRight Foundation.

“As a group with offices in more than 15 countries and operating in 70 countries around the world, we recognize the need to do our part to ensure that we do not further contribute to this planetary crisis. We are also encouraging our more than 10,000 team members to join us in this fight by reducing the use and consumption of products contained or served in plastic in their daily lives as well. We hope this sets a meaningful example to other businesses to join the movement in working to stop the scourge of plastics on a global scale.”

It is estimated that an additional eight million tonnes of plastic pour into our oceans every year, this in addition to the more than five trillion pieces of plastic estimated to be littering the oceans at this moment. The larger pieces of plastic injure, impair, and kill wildlife, while the disintegration of plastic debris and the manufacturing of microbeads are wholly poisoning marine ecosystems.

According to a report by the World Economic Forum, if nothing is done to push back against the deluge of plastics currently overwhelming our oceans there could be more plastic in the oceans than fish by 2050.

“Plastics are a clear and present danger to the future of our planet,” says Céline Cousteau, TreadRight Ambassador. “TTC’s commitment to the elimination of single-use plastics across the group inspires hope in the face of a massive adversary and signals to the industry the important role travel and tourism organizations must play in combatting the problem of plastics.”

The new plastics elimination initiative furthers TTC’s continuing sustainability journey, this includes the founding and supporting of The TreadRight Foundation, led by sustainability luminaries including Costas Christ and Céline Cousteau, and its 50-plus sustainability projects around the world.

The group’s commitment to measure and monitor their environmental impact began with the development and adoption of a Corporate Social Responsibility strategy in 2013. Since that time, TTC employees have logged more than 20,000 volunteer hours including beach cleanups of plastic waste. It also invested heavily and introduced an e-document system to replace paper and other plastic packages for our guests, 32 responsible traveller

while committing to plant a tree for each guest that opts for e-documents.

This is aside from additional initiatives that include the improvement of our offices’ environmental commitment using smart technology including geothermal energy systems, and smart cooling for data centres and numerous other efforts.

In 2017, TTC was a Diamond Sponsor of the UN International Year of Sustainable Development for Tourism in support of their Sustainable Development Goals.

TreadRight’s award winning sustainability efforts have included wildlife-friendly tourism initiatives, working tirelessly to stem wildlife crime, provide support for social enterprises in Peru, Canada, Italy, Laos, Greece and Jordan, and support clean ups from Auckland to Anaheim.

TTC continues to an engaged associate member of the UNWTO and an active member of WTTC so they can continue to learn and share best practices across the travel industry.

www.ttc.com www.treadright.org

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HERMANUS • CLIFF PATH WITH FYNARTS SCULPTURES & MODEL SOLAR SYSTEM • FERNKLOOF NATURE RESERVE & HIKING TRAILS • GROTTO & HAWSTON BLUE FLAG BEACHES • HERMANUS WINE ROUTE • KAYAK, SURF, WIND-SURF, KITE-BOARD • MOUNTAIN BIKE ROUTES

STANFORD

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GANSBAAI • AFRICAN PENGUIN & SEABIRD SANCTUARY • CASTLE BEACH BLUE FLAG PILOT • DANGER POINT LIGHTHOUSE • DUIWELSGAT HIKING TRAILS • HORSE RIDING • MOUNTAIN BIKE ROUTES • SHARK CAGE DIVING WITH BLUE FLAG BOATS • WORLD RESPONSIBLE DESTINATION WINNER

#BetterTourism

HANGKLIP KLEINMOND TOURISM + (27) 28 271 5657

www.kleinmondtourism.co.za

HERMANUS TOURISM

+ (27) 28 312 2629

www.hermanustourism.info

STANFORD TOURISM

+ (27) 28 341 0340

www.stanfordinfo.co.za

GANSBAAI TOURISM

+ (27) 28 384 1439

www.gansbaaiinfo.com

CAPE WHALE COAST

tourism@overstrand.gov.za

www.whalecoast.info

What’s news...

Marine Dynamics Academy – FGASA Approved Marine Guiding in the Western Cape Marine Dynamics in Gansbaai, Western Cape, is opening a FGASA endorsed Marine Guide Training School for local and international students. The seven-week course covers comprehensive theory on the Marine Big 5™ of the area - sharks, whales, dolphins, seals, penguins as well as seabirds.

Practical experience involves shadowing of on-board guides educating ecotourism guests on off-shore tours, rocky shore and dune walking, aquarium guiding, birding and marine conservation. The first course begins on the 18th June 2018. Accommodation is provided, and lectures take place at the International Marine Volunteer Centre.

Marine Dynamics offers five-star shark cage diving and whale watching/eco tours with sister company, Dyer Island Cruises, in the unique Dyer Island ecosystem of Gansbaai, South Africa. The companies have been Fair Trade Tourism certified since 2008 and are making a real difference in conservation and the community through their environmental project, the Dyer Island Conservation Trust.

Marine Dynamics’ responsible tourism approach has been recognised through case studies and awards, notably the African- and World Responsible Tourism Award, SKAL Sustainable Tourism Award and Lilizela. Guiding students will have the opportunity to learn from these businesses and their conservation work.

and businesses in this field,” says Wilfred Chivell, CEO of Marine Dynamics. “We are also adding a skills-based internship to our existing volunteer programme that will enable students studying marine biology and similar.”

Marine Dynamics has on board marine biologists who conduct invaluable research on marine species with a specific focus on the great white shark. More than twenty published scientific papers contribute to critical knowledge that can make a real difference in influencing conservation decisions at government level.

Another key project is the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary (APSS) in Kleinbaai that is open for guests to visit. Other conservation work includes the African penguin nest project and marine pollution efforts with ongoing beach clean ups and unique fishing line bins. The team also handles marine animal strandings and scientific sampling. The environmental education efforts focus on a dedicated group of young learners on a three-year programme plus outreach to thousands more scholars.

For further information on the marine guiding course: guiding@marinedynamicstravel.com / Ph: 076 394 8620 Grant Hine. •

www.marinedynamics.org Southern right whale

Principal trainer, Grant Hine, has thirty years’ experience in the guiding industry, more than half of that spent working on developing the FGASA field guide training material. “Marine Dynamics has embarked on providing the industry with professional marine guides due to the growing need of this profession.

“Every day we educate our guests on the marine species we work with. We believe education is imperative if we are to help protect our marine ecosystem. Non-consumptive marine tourism is a priority and we need more qualified guides 34 responsible traveller

Image - Onno Keller ©

This will qualify students to register as legally qualified guides and seek employment. We are also looking forward to launching guiding certification for fynbos, culture and nature. There will also be certificate-based nature enthusiast courses which will appeal to people of all ages living in the Western Cape,” says Hine.

Image - kelly Baker ©

What’s news...

Image - Pieter / SharkwatchSA ©

Dream Catcher, Marine Big 5 vessel

THE MARINE BIG 5

African penguin Great white shark

Cape fur seal Dolphin

responsible traveller 35

SUSTAINABILITY

Mauritius

Declaration on Digitalisation and Sustainable Tourism

T

ourism is one of the largest and fastest growing sectors in the world that is fueling growth, creating jobs, opening up business opportunities for SMEs and providing pathways out of poverty for millions. According to the UNWTO, the tourism sector accounted for 10% of global GDP, 10% of total employment worldwide and 7% of the world’s exports equivalent to USD 1.4 trillion in 2016.

International tourist arrivals have increased from 25 million in 1950 to 1.235 billion in 2016 and tourism receipts attained USD 1.220 trillion.

36 responsible traveller

Pic - sourced from Pxhere.com

SUSTAINABILITY

words & pics - Tessa Buhrmann responsible traveller 37

SUSTAINABILITY For many countries, especially developing ones, tourism is a major economic pillar and an important source of foreign currency earnings.

Governments across the world are leveraging on tourism as an engine of economic growth and a driver for economic diversification.

However, the tourism industry is faced with a number of challenges that will characterise its future development such as climate change, digitalisation and sustainability.

Digitalisation and tourism success are inherently and intrinsically linked. The rapid progress in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is fast transforming tourism globally, creating opportunities and challenges for destinations and tourism businesses.

During the last decade, the tourism industry has witnessed the transformational effect of this digitalisation in terms of global interaction between destinations, tourism operators and potential visitors – with some using this to great effect for promoting sustainable tourism.

Destinations, however, have yet to harness the full opportunities offered by ICT and the digitalisation process to foster the sustainability of the industry.

The first International Conference on Digitalization and Sustainable Tourism, held on 23-24 May 2018 at the Le Méridien Hotel, Pointe aux Piments, was hosted by the Mauritius Ministry of Tourism. This high profile event, with well over 400 delegates in attendance, brought together high level policy makers including Ministers of Tourism, CEOs of Tourism Boards, specialists, academics and experts to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of digitalisation for the tourism industry.

The conference was officially opened by Mauritian Prime Minster Pravind Jugnauth, in the presence of ministerial delegations from a number of African countries such as Reunion, Ghana, Senegal, République du Bénin, the Republic of Sudan and Madagascar, as well as other VIP guests including the United Nations Under Secretary-General and High Representative of the Least Developed Countries, Dr. Dirk Glaesser of the UNWTO, Alain St.Ange – former Seychelles Minister of Tourism, Pascal Viroleau – CEO of the Vanilla Islands.

Hon Anil Gayan, Minister of tourism of Mauritius said when he addressed the conference that: “ Tourism in Mauritius relies on security of the destination, high quality resorts, a multi-ethnic population, a confluence of religion, cultures and 38 responsible traveller

‘Travel opens minds, fosters mutual understanding and, as a contributor to world peace, tourism is people to people diplomacy at its best...’

HON. ANIL GAYAN

SUSTAINABILITY Local tourism business owner

Le MĂŠridien Hotel, Pointe aux Piments,

traditions, in fact a mosaic of the world. Tourism is always a work in progress and this is why we are here to learn and to strategise.

The choice of the theme is deliberate as we all know that travel and tourism of tomorrow will be determined by the impact of Digitalisation on Sustainable Tourism. Travelling into the future conjures up an image of Mauritius as a Digital Paradise.

We intend to seize the potential of new technology to advance the tourism industry.

With social media and new products like cryptocurrency and blockchain, technology will shape the world of the future. How we respond to the new paradigm will determine the fate of the industry. Sustainable digitalization and

digitalized sustainability - that is the question.

As travel is about connecting people and places, there is always a great story to tell afterwards. Travel opens minds, fosters mutual understanding and, as a contributor to world peace, tourism is people to people diplomacy at its best�.

Two full days of informative presentations and panel discussions saw delegates both educated and challenged. Sustainability in Tourism was a key factor, with these issues being addressed by a very impressive line-up of sustainability experts such as Professor Geoffrey Lipman, a leading figure in tourism and a former top executive in IATA, WTTC and WTO, and is currently the president of ICTP and Green Growth Travelism Institute; Dr. Dirk Glaesser, Director of Sustainable responsible traveller 39

SUSTAINABILITY Development of Tourism Programme, UNWTO and Mr Luigi Cabrini, Chairman, Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

Keynote speaker, Professor Geoffrey Lipman had this to say: “Climate Change is the major eXistential challenge we face – if we fail to respond now, our entire planetary lifestyle will be shattered irreversibly. There are no options”.

Professor Lipman also described the link between the increasing scale and destructiveness of extreme weather, with the starvation, poverty, disease, migration and conflict that it causes.

He said: “Travel & Tourism, as a lead global Socioeconomic Development Agent must step up to the plate with actions. As a leader, we will need to be in the forefront of change and the more so many of our core products/attributes are in the front line – transport (particularly aviation), coastal facilities, infrastructure, for example, will need radical transformation and support. We are not yet going far enough, fast enough and haven’t focused on the real potential impacts.

Nor have we put in place mechanisms to put the sector in the mainstream. We will need to embrace the green, the blue, the circular, the sharing and the sufficiency economies. Not just study but embrace them. We will need to adapt our institutions to be more visionary, nimble and inclusive.”

He spoke about SUN, the Strong Universal Network – a program of the not for profit Green Growth and Travelism Institute, and a legacy to the late Maurice Strong, Sustainable Development Pioneer – and its goal to promote Climate Resilient, Impact-Travel with good & bad effects measured and managed coherently: with Green Growth at the core. And that it has been established to help keep our eyes on the ball and our minds on what is at stake.

Keeping in mind that small island states and poorer countries are first in the line of fire he concluded by saying: “It is fitting that Mauritius has had the vision to focus on this at the time of its 50th Anniversary as a sovereign state. You will need to act now and act out of the box, to build on your incredible success story and help the world make it for the next 50 years. Business, as usual, is not enough: moderate change is not enough: only total transformation is enough.”

The conference concluded with some very important decisions coming from the participants with the underlying fact that all stakeholders need to acknowledge the 40 responsible traveller

importance of sustainable tourism. Key points were that optimum use of environmental resources is crucial, and that viable, long term economic operations need to be considered. In addition to this, the provision of socio-economic benefits, including stable employment are paramount.

With regards to digitalisation, an appeal to create a Working Group on Digital Platforms was launched – this would be aimed at “identifying, analysing and proposing a balanced approach, exchanging best practices and helping in developing regulatory framework and policies to create a level playing field for tourism service suppliers”. In short, digitalisation will be key in how the tourism industry conducts itself, with all stakeholders eventually having to transition themselves into a digital environment.

The Mauritius conference on Digitalization and Sustainable Tourism has certainly paved the way forward in a very positive and optimistic manner, enabling international delegates (and especially African countries) to go back to their countries and lay the groundwork for what will ultimately secure their own tourism sectors into the future.

In keeping the ‘question’ that Hon Anil Gayan, Minister of tourism of Mauritius posed – sustainable digitalisation and digitalised sustainability - the Conference concluded with the adoption of the Mauritius Declaration, whis is in short, a commitment to digitalised sustainability.

Sustainability in Tourism related points in the document included a commitment to: promote and diversify sustainable tourism by including the development of ecotourism, agro-tourism, medical tourism and cultural tourism and to ensure the transition of the workforce by reskilling current employees through training.

As wellas to consider the rigorous application of “Green ICT” techniques to ensure minimal environmental impact being given that a connected world together managing the resulting data will in itself impose an environmental load; and amongst other points to establish an Indian Ocean Agency on “Climate Change and protection and conservation of the biodiversity”.

For a complete overview of the Mauritius Declaration on Digitalisation and Sustainable Tourism click HERE.

www.tourismconference.mu

Experience local Mauritius

SUSTAINABILITY

s

‘Climate Change is the major eXistential challenge we face - if we fail to respond now, our entire planetary lifestyle will be shattered irreversibly. There is no option...’

PROFESSOR GEOFFREY LIPMAN responsible traveller 41

15 AMAZING COUNTRIES Countless amazing responsible tourism experiences

If you’re a traveller who’s concerned about the impacts of your travels, then Southern Africa is the destination for you. In the three years that the African Responsible Tourism Awards has been running, a whopping 46 awards have been

handed to tourism organisations from Southern African countries. Some have gone to shine on the global stage, with southern African countries having racked up 11 wins at the World Responsible Tourism Awards since 2015.

ANGOLA

BOTSWANA

DRC

LESOTHO

MADAGASCAR

MALAWI

MAURITIUS

MOZAMBIQUE

NAMIBIA

SEYCHELLES

SOUTH AFRICA

SWAZILAND

TANZANIA

ZAMBIA

ZIMBABWE

The Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA) is a Southern African Development Community (SADC) body responsible for the development of tourism and regional destination marketing across the 15 Southern Africa countries. www.retosa.co.za

What’s news...

Conservationists, families and schools gather for the 16th Annual Clanwilliam Cedar Tree Planting Ceremony Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Retreat (Bushmans Kloof), in association with The TreadRight Foundation, CapeNature and the local Heuningvlei community, once again pulled out all the stops to host the 16th Annual Clanwilliam Cedar Tree Planting Ceremony.

At the event held on 19 May 2018, 380 trees were planted in the rural village of Heuningvlei. Around 200 conservationists, school children and families from all over the Western Cape, joined this unique conservation initiative aimed at preserving the endangered Clanwilliam Cedar Tree (Widdringtonia cedarbergensis). Although not all have survived, since inception, about 3300 trees have been planted - 1800 trees in the wilderness and a further 1500 trees in the groves at Heuningvlei.

The ceremony also included the planting of 240 cedar seeds by the children in attendance, that will be nurtured in the Bushmans Kloof nursery and transplanted safely back into the Wilderness, in the future.

The endemic Clanwilliam Cedar Tree, listed as critically endangered on the Red Data List, faces extinction partly due to unsustainable exploitation, lack of water and regular bush fires in the area.

Rory du Plessis, general manager at Bushmans Kloof says, “This project is a great example of

teamwork, a massive contributing factor to its success and popularity. The ceremony represents a deep commitment by all involved, to saving this special tree - a vital part of the Cederberg region’s biodiversity.”

The Cedar Tree project is just one of five sustainability projects that Bushmans Kloof is actively involved in, with support from The TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit supported

by The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) family of brands that works to ensure the environment and communities we visit remain vibrant for generations to come.

Additional Bushmans Kloof sustainability projects include protection and preservation of the indigenous Cape Leopard; saving the Cape Mountain Zebra from extinction; conserving the Clanwilliam Yellowfish and preserving and protecting over 130 unique rockart sites, some dating back 10 000 years.

The Cederberg, situated just over three hours from Cape Town, is a World Heritage Site. Besides being the only home of the Clanwilliam Ceder Tree, it’s also home to mountain fynbos, including the laurel protea, the red disa, rooibos and the rare snow protea. •

www.bushmanskloof.co.za Cedar Tree Planting celebrated with local Riel Dancers

responsible traveller 43

An Attitude of Sustainability words & pics - Tessa Buhrmann additional pics - Attitude Hotels

44 responsible traveller

I

’ve been invited to Mauritius for a conference on digitalisation and sustainability in tourism and the itinerary says I’m staying at an Attitude Hotel… Mmmm, I think, what is Attitude? Thanks to google I find that the Collins English Dictionary says ‘Your attitude to something is the way that you think and feel about it, especially when this shows in the way you behave.’ The Business Dictionary says it’s ‘a predisposition or a tendency to respond positively or negatively to a certain idea, object, person, or situation’, and that attitude ‘influences an individual’s choice of action, and responses to stimuli’. But in actual fact, the answer is all of the above carefully wrapped up in the ethos of a Mauritian owned hotel group called Attitude Hotels. responsible traveller 45

The Attitude hotels story is a Mauritian one, from its foundation of Mauritian traditions and hospitality, it’s ethos of sustainability and authenticity to its ownership, management and employees – staff members are referred to as Family Members. There are nine Attitude hotels at present, each one offering contemporary style, Mauritian charm and committed to giving their guests the ‘opportunity to live like locals during their stay’.

The Ravenala Attitude, my home for a few days, is neatly tucked between sea and river on the north-west of the island – an easy 30 minute drive from the airport. My welcome was warm (as one would expect from family members) and the formalities a breeze. I sip my chilled lemon grass and ginger cordial and appreciate way the indoors and outdoors merge seamlessly to reveal a view over a luxuriant tropical garden and expansive pools.

The Ravenala is a beautiful space where white colonial curves blend with wood, bamboo and woven rattan, and where tropical accents are complimented by large artworks depicting traditional Mauritian life.

On arrival I was welcomed with a special gift, a fabulous travel journal specially imagined and designed by the Attitude team. Flipping beyond the blank pages I discover an enticing journey illustrated by Mauritian artist, Evan Sohun. The beautiful illustrations depict a journey taking in the authentic experiences from one Attitude hotel to the other, suggesting ways to ‘discover Mauritius differently’.

As my travel journal suggests, Attitude Hotels have a very different approach to resort holidays.

They actively encourage guests to get out and explore, and ‘live like a local’ with their Otentik (authentic) Attitude - these Otentik Experiences invite guests to discover the ‘real’ Mauritius.

‘The Ravenala is a beautiful space where white colonial curves blend with wood, bamboo and woven rattan, and where tropical accents are complimented by large artworks depicting traditional Mauritian life...’

46 responsible traveller

Ravenala Attitude Hotel

responsible traveller 47

Their geolocation App – Otentik Discovery – takes you off the beaten track and introduces you to special sites along the way. Port Louis’ maze of streets and markets comes alive as the App guides you through the fish and meat market, to the bazaar, where it suggests you try a Maraz dholl puri, to the Bombay Sweets Mart and Café Shanghai amongst others. This is just one of the seven itineraries to choose from.

There’s the Otentik Bazar a small market selling ‘made in Mauritius’ local craft, where all the benefits go to the craftsmen. Guests have the opportunity to admire and purchase local handicraft, wicker baskets, home-made jams, recycled sails bags and many more.

Attitude, with the Green Attitude Foundation, has committed itself to protect the environment and is therefore happy to be able to sponsor, 48 responsible traveller

encourage and help the local craftsmen to be both green and creative, using recycled material among others. I’m told ‘this is fair trade, Attitude’s style!’

And Otentik Music, where guests can discover the delight of sipping cocktails to the rhythm of the ‘ravanne’, the large tambourine-like instrument used in sega music. Or Otentik Cuisine where each Attitude hotel has its Otentik cart full of local goodies… rums arrangés, “glaçons rapes”, “rotis” ou “aloudas” among others, waiting for the guests to taste their local specialities, and where the Chefs are also happy to supervise a cooking class where guests can learn to cook a traditional curry, and get the recipe to take home.

But as with most memorable experiences, it is the people that make the difference. Each and

Yu, Ved, Rajshree & Yovan Bhujun

every interaction with Family Members was warm and spontaneous, with nothing being too much trouble. The highlight of which was my Otentik Dinner experience, where guests have the opportunity of dining at a Family Member’s home.

Ved Bhujun and his family hosted us in their home… Rajshree, his wife welcomed us with a traditional blessing and soon we were watching chilli bites, samosas and battered bringal being fried, and paratha being rolled – we were graciously given the opportunity to try our hand at this too… not an easy task, and I’m sure mine was relegated to the rejects pile!

With the popular rum and coke poured and starters consumed, Ved placed a green paper sheet on the table in front of each of us. ‘This is your banana leaf’, he said, ‘we cannot use the real ones at the moment as there is banana

leaf spot disease on the island at the moment’.

Before long we were dining on delicious Indian Mauritian food… bean curry, chicken curry, ocra chutney, cooked sousou (chayote) and pickles all eaten with the paratha the traditional way and washed down with local Phoenix beer. After much conversation and laughter we progressed to henna tattoos, sari dress up and sega dancing.

The evening ended with photos taken and farewells made.

In addition to offering guests these wonderful authentic experiences, Attitude Hotels are committed to ensuring that their footprint treads as lightly as possible and that their employees are well treated and remunerated.

I meet with Célina and Pamela to learn about the hotels’ environmental initiatives and the Green Attitude Foundation - the Green Attitude responsible traveller 49

Foundation was launched in March 2014 to consolidate the Green Attitude program that was introduced in 2010 at the original two hotels of the group.

Celina tells that the more than 1500 Family Members (staff ) are recruited from the region in which they will be working, that they are part of an annual profit sharing scheme and that social welfare is a high priority. One example is that Family Members have the opportunity of bringing their families to stay at the hotel and on their birthday they are given a birthday cake to take home.

From and environmental perspective, Celina tells me that by incorporating environmental considerations into purchasing decisions, they endeavor to make a positive contribution to the environment. And as such look for products that are sustainably produced and are are water saving and energy efficient. Fresh produce is purchased from local farmers and wherever possible ‘Made in Moris’ (made in Mauritius) products are used. Attitude Hotels also choose to do business with smaller companies when procuring goods so as to help them integrate into the economic mainstream.

Waste management is an important focus and plastic, glass, paper and used cooking oil is recycled and where possible organic waste is used for composting. Suppliers are educated about the importance of reducing packaging waste and where possible items are purchased in bulk with the least packaging. The use of key cards, sensors and energy efficient lighting, appliances and equipment ensures that their energy footprint is kept as low as possible.

With protection of the environment being one of the core values of Attitude Hotels a committee of Green Ambassadors at each Attitude hotel is responsible for carrying out their commitment to good environmental practice: preserving natural resources, evaluating and controlling water and energy consumption, consistently reducing and recycling as much waste and scrap as possible.

‘Thanks to this committee’ says Celina, ‘not only our Family Members but Attitude’s guests and partners are also conscious of and trained for good environmental practice.’

This brings me back to the question, what is Attitude? It is indeed ‘the way that you think and feel…, especially when this shows in the way you behave’ and that this Mauritian owned hotel group called Attitude Hotels lives up to its name.

www.hotels-attitude.com

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‘...a committee of Green Ambassadors at each Attitude Hotel is responsible for carrying out their commitment to good environmental practice...’

Ravenala beach time

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Nauticaz Marine Discovery Center The Green Attitude Foundation, in collaboration with NGO Reef Conservation, facilitated the opening of Nauticaz, an educational and interactive center which consists in revealing and protecting the treasures of the ocean as well as the remediation project of Anse la Raie lagoon.

The aim of this new and innovative Marine Resource Centre and Laboratory is to enrich the experience and knowledge of local and foreign visitors about the marine environment through a participatory approach to education, research, training and ultimately conservation of the marine environment.

Through this centre individuals of all ages are not only be able to view marine life but can learn interesting facts about the creatures, their habitats and ecosystems through an interactive marine conservation programme, and be able to participate and interact with the local community in some of the Centre’s research and conservation projects.

An important feature of this Centre is an equipped marine laboratory.

The laboratory will be the base for marine research and conservation.

Through this laboratory Reef Conservation aims to establish a monitoring programme for coral reefs and associated ecosystems in the Northern Lagoons. Long term monitoring is an essential component of coral reef and marine ecosystem conservation.

The marine laboratory will be a new, interactive and essential component of the education programs already established by Reef Conservation for school children and youth groups. The laboratory forms part of the practical course work in the new Certified Marine Eco-Guide Course developed

by Reef Conservation..

www.reefconservation.mu 52 responsible traveller

Nauticaz marine research & education

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What’s news...

Asilia Most Committed Responsible Tourism Company in Africa Asilia is thrilled to be rated the most committed to responsible tourism standards in Africa, according to a Fair Trade Tourism review of certified safari lodges and camps.

“We are extremely proud to be singled out by Fair Trade Tourism as a leading responsible tourism company in Africa. Making a positive impact is integrated into all our management routines. What gets measured gets done.

The great benefit of certification schemes like Fair Trade is that they help to benchmark performance so that together we can continue to raise the bar,” says Jeroen Harderwijk, CEO and Co-founder of Asilia.

The survey conducted, across eight countries on the continent, found that Asilia has 48% of its properties certified at best-practice responsible tourism level.

Ten properties – Sayari, Oliver’s, Little Oliver’s, Namiri, Olakira, Dunia, Namiri, Ubuntu in Tanzania and Naboisho and Rekero in Kenya – have been independently audited against bestpractice criteria set by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

The review places Asilia at the top of the list, while Wilderness Safaris came in with 42%, Great Plains at 29%, Elewana Collection at 27%,

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Serena and Classic Safari Africa both at 14%, and Sanctuary and &Beyond both have 10% of their properties certified at best-practice level.

“We congratulate all tourism companies that achieve best-practice certification - it is not only a testament to their commitment to doing the right thing, but to their impressive level of transparency. We believe independent auditing against globally respected standards is the only credible way to verify responsible tourism claims,” says Jane Edge, Fair Trade Tourism Managing Director.

In addition, Asilia remains the only safari company in Africa to be certified by the Global Impact Investment Rating System. Ranked at Platinum Level, Asilia is in the top 10 of impact companies worldwide.

Asilia believes that by making bold, and often pioneering, investments into areas that are ecologically and economically vulnerable, these areas can be turned into viable conservation economies, benefitting both the people and nature alike. We work closely with communities, authorities, NGOs and industry partners to achieve the best possible long-term outcomes for all concerned. •

www.asiliaafrica.com

What’s news...

Fair Trade Tourism to Launch Captive Wildlife Guidelines Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) is to release its Captive Wildlife Guidelines in early July to assist the travel industry make decisions about which captive wildlife facilities to support and which to avoid. The guidelines will differentiate between different types of captive wildlife facilities, discuss issues around specific animals in captivity, give examples of good practice and make recommendations about activities to avoid.

Based on the four pillars of animal welfare, conservation, visitor safety and transparency, the guidelines include a suggested questionnaire that tour operators can use to assess captive facilities.

The guidelines have been developed as an extension of FTT’s certification criteria, which were adapted in 2016 to address issues around the voluntourism and captive wildlife sectors.

Fair Trade Tourism MD Jane Edge said risks to human safety, animal welfare concerns and confusion over conservation benefits had created a critical need for guidelines. “Issues around captive wildlife are in the global spotlight and many tour operators are confused about what constitutes good, acceptable and bad practice,” said Ms Edge. “The private ownership of wildlife in South Africa in particular has led to different permutations of wildlife management which are complex and sometimes opaque.”

With hundreds of captive or semi-captive wildlife experiences now offered in southern Africa, the incidence of death and injury was likely to remain high without adequate safety precautions in place, said Ms Edge. “In the last three months alone in South Africa, a woman was killed by a captive lion, a lion-park owner was badly mauled by his own lion and a photographer was killed by a habituated giraffe. Animal abuse and negative impacts on wildlife conservation are also of huge concern – this is not helped by the legality of practices such as canned lion hunting and the lion bone trade,” she said.

Ms Edge said Fair Trade Tourism had consulted more than 50 organisations to inform itself about the complex interplay between conservation, education, research and animal welfare in the captive wildlife sector. “In order to ensure that our guidelines align with global good practice, we have taken much of our steer from ABTA’s Animal Welfare Guidelines while adapting these to the specifics of the southern African environment. We believe we are well placed to offer considered guidance to the market-place on some very thorny issues.” •

www.fairtrade.travel

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Pics - The Adventurists

The Ngalawa Cup

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imon Walker, a world-class sailor who has sailed around the world the ‘wrong way’ twice, lays down a sailing challenge – not one involving the big sophisticated boats that he is familiar with, but a race of an altogether different kind. A race run in some of the world’s most basic boats, which he claims is one of the toughest sailing challenges going and will test sailors’ resolve and seamanship skills like no other.

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This race, the Kraken Cup (formerly known as the Ngalawa Cup), will run for the 6th time in January 2019, and is a race of over 300km off the coast of Tanzania, snaking around the Zanzibar Archipelago.

The big difference between this and other races is that it’s run in ngalawas, a traditional fishing boat whose hulls are dug by hand from mango trees and whose outriggers are stuck on with ‘string’. With a double outrigger, which can act as a hydrofoil so you can surf over the seas, for stability and a triangular sail, the boats can sail at speed close to the wind. They are however very small, with little room for anything other than the water they have a tendency to take on.

Whilst this may seem like a backwards step in a sport dominated by modern technology, Simon explains that this was exactly why he was drawn to helping run the event…

“Sleek modern boats are fantastic and I’ve spent most of my sailing career around or in them.

When I first saw local fishermen in ngalawas however I was in awe of their seamanship and ability to handle the boats in all conditions.

The ngalawa strips things right back so you can really discover how good your core sailing skills are. It tests your true seamanship, which, on top of being a challenge in its own right, builds an incredibly strong base for when things go wrong on today’s boats. In short, it’s raw, hard and a huge amount of fun.”

“We’ve had some serious sailors enter the race already, but I’d like to challenge anyone who fancies themselves as a seasoned racer to give this a go. I think people will quickly discover they’re not quite as capable as they first thought, as previous entrants have already discovered.”

Englishman Ryan Horsnail, who’s sailed around the world on a Catamaran, entered the race last year and admitted: “I’ve spent the last few years sailing, having sailed my own boat from New York to the Caribbean, as well as being involved in a few ocean races, including across the treacherous Southern Ocean, so I felt pretty much prepared for a sailing adventure. It turned out the Ngalawa Cup was like nothing I’d ever done before.”

The challenges faced by racers aren’t just restricted to when they’re on the water and wild camping on deserted islands ensures there’s as much adventure off the boats as on them. Any difficulties are countered by some of the best sailing in the Indian Ocean atop beautiful clear 58 responsible traveller

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waters and amazing coral reefs, with checkpoints on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world surrounded by charismatic and friendly locals.

As described by Jake Vanags, previous Ngalawa Cup winner, from California: “When you go on detailed and guided adventures or tours, you know what you’re going to get, so there’s no reason to repeat it again. But when you stand at the edge of your comfort zone cliff, and jump off like this, your highs and lows are entirely unpredictable, and the stories are never the same. And when the rollercoaster is over, you get addicted to that natural high and line up for another ride.”

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But what makes this more than just an epic adventure event is the positive impact on local communities as the ngalawas used for the race are sourced from communities on the coast of Tanzania mainland as well as from the islands that make up the Zanzibar and Mafia Island archipelagos.

Traditionally the ngalawas are almost always used for fishing and have for centuries provided a livelihood for families on the coast.

Unfortunately, the East African coastline has fallen prey to exhaustive illegal fishing practices and fish stocks are dangerously low. Dynamite fishing has destroyed vast tracts of coral reef and in so the habitat and breeding ground for

‘Traditionally the ngalawas are almost always used for fishing and have for centuries provided a livlihood for families on the coast...’

many species have been reduced. There are also the foreign long line and gill net trawlers that fish illegally in Tanzanian waters and the government is not well equipped to tackle the problem. (Sea Sheppard has implemented a programme here in the last few years and are making progress) With this said you can well imagine how the local Ngalawa fishermen are suffering. Many have had to abandon their traditional fishing and find alternative income avenues.

One popular migration is to more efficient fishing practices using engine-driven fibreglass boats dragging nets. This doesn’t responsible traveller 61

help the overall situation but you can’t blame a fisherman in this situation who has had his livelihood taken from him. A secondary ramification of this is that the culture of the traditional dhow and Ngalawa building is being lost. There is less demand, with fewer locals fishing in ngalawas and those who are sticking with fishing are replacing their boats with modern fibreglass versions.

“We buy second-hand ngalawas from families who are looking to move away from fishing. The capital they get from the sale helps them start a new business or bridges the gap while they find alternative work. There are also families who have recognized the business opportunity in selling us their current ngalawa and then building a new one, I am sure with the intention of selling it to us the following year - which is fine!” says Simon, He also reiterates that they pay a fair price which they would not fetch if they sold it within their community. “The race not only provides a market for ngalawas and promotes the boat building industry but revives a sense of pride in the communities we interact with. When teams land their ngalawas on remote islands they are flooded with excited children and adults who want to welcome you and help in every way.”

The ocean takes its toll on the boats and boats require repairs and spares along the way. Local boat fundi’s (the Swahili term for expert) are always on hand with their traditional bow drill and adze. The Fundi will fashion any part you need from rough lumber and fire forged nails.

Teams compensate them fairly according to guidelines suggested by the race organisers.

The ngalawa is the smallest member of the dhow family, a design that has been around for close on 3000 years, and the technology is virtually the same.

Teams also support the tiny island economies by buying food and water in the villages, and pay camping fees on one of the islands and marine park fees for another.

“Once all the ngalawas cross the finish line they are dismantled and treated to keep away pests before being stored in a boat yard. A local security guard keeps an eye on our babies until we return for the following edition when we gather a team of local fundis to reassemble the ngalawas and get them literally ship shape for the next edition”. •

www.theadventurists.com 62 responsible traveller

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Africa’s Travel Indaba ... is going green

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Africa’s Travel Indaba at the Durban ICC responsible traveller 65

F

or a few days every year, the African tourism industry comes together for Africa’s Travel Indaba. Indaba, as the trade show is fondly called, is the event to attend – recognised as the continent’s largest tourism marketing event, and one of the top three ‘must visit’ events of its kind on the global calendar. It takes over the entire Durban International Convention Centre (Durban ICC) and the Durban Exhibition Centre (DEC), and this year attracted over 1 700 registered buyers, 7 000 visitors and 1 100 exhibitors.

It’s a big event which means it’s likely to have a big environmental impact, so South African Tourism’s (SA Tourism) announcement that they are going to make it a more positive impact through sustainable event management, also known as event greening, has been welcomed.

Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, Chief Convention Bureau Officer, explains, “South African Tourism recognises the importance of hosting events in a responsible manner and which address the triple bottom line of people, planet and prosperity.”

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This isn’t the first time SA Tourism has implemented event greening at one of its events. With guidance from the Event Greening Forum (EGF), a non-profit organisation that promotes sustainable events, SA Tourism has been greening its business tourism show, Meetings Africa.

These efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. Since 2012, Meetings Africa has won every annual Green Show Award from the Exhibition and Event Association of Southern Africa (EXSA).

The EGF Chairperson, Greg McManus, says, “We have been honoured to fulfil an advisory role for Meetings Africa over the years. The SA Tourism team have always been very receptive to our recommendations and to adopting new initiatives, which they have done with great results. We are looking forward to continuing this partnership and success with Africa’s Travel Indaba.”

This experience bodes well for Indaba, but it is a much larger show. So how will they do it?

Kotze-Nhlapo says that the first step was to conduct an assessment of the show; “This year a baseline assessment was done at Africa’s Travel Indaba 2018 to gain a better understanding of the environmental impact of the event. This information will be used to develop an event greening strategy that can be implemented at future Indaba events.”

After all, “you cannot manage what you cannot measure”, says Grace Stead, a sustainability

consultant and founder of Steadfast Greening.

Stead, together with Morwesi Ramonyai, the MD of Borena Energy, was contracted via the EGF to carry out the assessment. The data they gather on Indaba 2018 will be critical to mapping out an effective event greening strategy.

However, no one wanted to miss the opportunity to add some event greening practices to Indaba this year. Fortunately, the show organiser – Synergy Business Events – has worked on Meetings Africa, and were able to draw on their experience to implement the following: An innovative Sustainability Village was created to showcase talented local artisans and SMEs, and their handcrafted goods. All of the items on display were made in South Africa and inspired by local culture and traditions. Some also had a strong sustainability ethos, such as using recycled materials. Instead of traditional gifts, SA Tourism gave gift cards to delegates, allowing them to select their own gifts from this space.

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This is perhaps the best example of large scale responsible gifting that has been implemented at an event, in terms of it meeting all three criteria of eco-procurement, social upliftment, and avoiding the unnecessary waste of notreally-wanted gifts.

Re-usable elements were created for the show. Synergy Business Events’ MD, Tiisetso Tau, says, “During the planning phase of Africa’s Travel Indaba 2018 the team looked at ways in which to incorporate the three R’s (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) where possible.”

By designing re-usable branding and structures rather than single use items for 2018 only, the event waste could be reduced. A lot of branding was generic, for example using vibrant African fabrics or brightly coloured vinyl panels without any additional printing on them. This means it cannot date and is more likely to be used again and again. Special non-scuff vinyl was also purchased to create re-usable floor markers.

Tau adds, “For the Sustainability Village, we created modular structures out of raw wood and African fabrics.

Two thirds of them were re-used from the Meetings Africa show earlier this year, and they will be re-used over the coming years.”

The executive exhibitor packages also gave exhibitors re-usable fabric prints. Says Tau, “The artwork provided was printed on fabric. Once the show was concluded, exhibitors were able to take these off their stands, roll them up, place them in their suitcase, and use it at any other events they wish to.”

A different approach to ‘breakdown’ was adopted by the Scan Display crew, who worked with Synergy Business Events to supply the event’s infrastructure.

Justin Hawes, one of the directors of Synergy Business Events, says, “In the industry we call the dismantling of the show ‘breakdown’. It’s chaotic, as there is very little time to clear the site, and we often have to take down large, complex builds. So, unfortunately, as the name implies, things get broken. As an industry we need to change the way we do this. It should be called deconstruction, or de-rigging. More time should be allowed for it, so more care can be taken to extend the lifespan and re-usability of the building materials.”

He adds, “For Indaba 2018, we had a bigger team and longer time for the dismantling of the show infrastructure. As a result we could take everything apart in such a way that it is well maintained for future events.”

Of course, this is just the start. Once a clear strategy is put in place for 2019, even greater strides can be made to improve Indaba’s sustainability footprint. Who knows, Africa’s Travel Indaba might be giving Meetings Africa some stiff competition for future green awards. •

www.eventgreening.co.za www.indaba-southafrica.co.za 68 responsible traveller

The Sustainability Village

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Make a difference

...on your next holiday adventure

Kalal Terracotta Temple monk in India

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f you’re looking at travelling in the near future, but want to do more than merely sitting on a beach, how about going on an adventure that will truly make a difference? “Now is the time to get proactive when you travel. It’s not cliché at all to want to make a difference- it’s entirely possible and easier than you think,” urges Jane Davidson, Director of Development Promotions which represents G Adventures in the South African market.

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“One of the easiest ways to start is by going through a brand that aligns itself with meaningful initiatives. We’re fortunate to work closely with G Adventures, who are big on their social responsibility and offer affordable small group holidays where you can meet likeminded travellers and make your mark on the world,” she added.

Here are a few points to consider in taking small yet purposeful “green” footsteps in the right direction when you travel:

Avoid “Made In”: This is an easy one to consider whether you are travelling on your own or on a guided tour.

We all like to pick up memorabilia from time to time when we travel abroad but instead of going for the more gimmicky items that are mass-produced, make an effort to go for handmade arts and crafts.

“Mozambique is a wonderland of art and culture,” says Natalie Tenzer-Silva, Director of Dana Tours based in Maputo. “Mozambicans are so artistically talented. Their art takes many forms including wood carvings, pottery, paintings, and dyed fabrics which makes for meaningful keepsakes to remind you of your time here.”

Not only are handmade souvenirs more aesthetically appealing and authentic, but this is your chance to make a difference by directly supporting and encouraging local artisans and artists. If you are unsure about an item, look if it has a “made in” label, but usually, the best place to find unique, locally-made souvenirs is to venture off the grid to engage with them, learn about their stories and to support their skills.

Don’t pay to play: Sharing pictures on social media involving animal (especially wildlife) interactions such as petting, feeding and worst of all, riding, have started to gain negative traction from online communities.

Instagram has even issued warnings on animal selfies and the use of certain wildlife hashtags. Do your research if you are interested in supporting establishments that involve animals. Go with the intent to learn and appreciate, rather than to touch and interfere. G Adventures offers a selection of wildlife-focused tours endorsed by world renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall.

With their organised Gorilla trekking experience in Uganda, you depart on an educational guided experience with a pre-purchased permit allowing you to admire and appreciate them from a responsible traveller 71

Culinary tour in Lima, Peru

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Micro-enterprise tea co-op in Sacred Valley, Peru

Cooking Class in India

experience. Grilled fish freshly caught by Mahé fishermen, prepared right in front of you- you can’t get more authentic than that.”

G Adventures avoids large international chains which help keep the overall cost of their trips down. They make an effort to use locally owned suppliers such as restaurants and accommodation establishments, most of these aligning with responsible and sustainable practices. In Peru, you can visit the Parwa Restaurant, a community restaurant, owned by the rural community of Huchuy Qosqo which makes use of a selection of traditional regional dishes, based on ingredients from the area of the Sacred Valley.

Respecting indigenous communities: When visiting indigenous communities it is important to make sure that you do so in a respectful manner. Much like various unethical animal establishments, indigenous communities are also at a high risk of exploitation. It is important when going on tours into local communities that these are well-prepared and unobtrusive.

“Look out for the Fair Trade Tourism label or other solid accreditations with when you are looking to book an experience that comes into close proximity to indigenous communities,” says Sharon Gilbert-Rivett Marketing Manager of Fair Trade Tourism. “It’s important to go through bestpractice operators for a more transformative and comfortable experience.

‘It’s all about being consistent in making better choices while on the road...’

G Adventures is an example of a best-practice company that operates according to their own Indigenous Tourism policy. This is a carefully laid out set of operating and marketing guidelines that fall in line with the interest of indigenous communities and that are respectful of their traditional decision-making and communications processes.

comfortable distance, and not at the expense of the animals’ well-being.

Head off that beaten track: From guided bike tours in Belize, to intimate cruises down the Amazon River and traditional mokoro canoe rides through the Okavango Delta,

Go fully local: It’s all about being consistent in making better choices while on the road, not only with purchasing locally made souvenirs, but by staying at locally-owned accommodation and eating at local restaurants.

“Some of the best Seychellois cuisine you can find is on the roadside markets,” says David Germain, Seychelles Tourism Board, Director for Africa & the Americas. “In the Seychelles you can interact with locals and really appreciate that ‘farm to fork’

G Adventures is a travel company that fully encourages travellers to head outside the bounds of traditional tourist bound destinations and overrun attractions. While treading lightly through natural environments on these off the beaten track adventures, you are rewarded with in-depth, hands-on learning experiences that are truly once in a lifetime. •

Words & pics supplied responsible traveller 73

What’s news...

The TreadRight Foundation Introduces Anatolian Shepherd Dogs to Bushmans Kloof Cape Leopard Conservation Project Pioneering project brings together Cheetah Outreach and The Cape Leopard Trust to find a natural solution to community protection and predator management crises.

The TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative between The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) family of brands, has partnered with leading active conservation organizations Cheetah Outreach and The Cape Leopard Trust to ensure local communities can protect themselves and their livestock from a top predator responsibly and sustainably, while also helping protect one of Africa’s most endangered wild animals.

The Cape Leopard is one of the few predators at Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat and its surrounding region in the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa.

As local human populations have grown, so too have the number of encounters and conflicts between the rare Cape Leopards, people, and their livestock. This has led to an increase in instances of Cape Leopards attacking domestic livestock over the past several decades, risking not only depletion of essential domestic animal

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populations, but also significant, irrecoverable damage to economic and social wellbeing of local communities. Consequentially, this has caused there to be a sharp increase in the number of Cape Leopards killed by farmers.

Recognizing the need to urgently address the crises, Bushmans Kloof and TreadRight, working with neighbouring farmers, has led the way in finding and funding a natural resolution. Partnering with Cheetah Outreach and The Cape Leopard Trust to adopt and adapt community protection and predator management solutions, with the support of TreadRight, three Anatolian Shepherd dogs have come to Bushmans Kloof as livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) with more to follow.

Originating in the hills of central Turkey, for generations these animals have used their strong and sturdy anatomy, sharp eyesight and hearing, and exceptional speed and agility, to protect vulnerable livestock at risk of becoming prey to local predators. Born and bred guardians, the Anatolian Shepherds offer a perfect strengthening of solution for Bushmans Kloof and the surrounding region.

What’s news...

“We at Bushmans Kloof feel an innate sense of responsibility for not only our guests and our staff, but for the communities with which we share this magnificent part of the Cape and South Africa,” says Rory du Plessis, General Manager, Bushmans Kloof. “Finding natural solutions to problems in nature is a must.

The TreadRight Foundation’s efforts in finding a responsible solution to protection of local livestock, and at the same time helping the Cape Leopard community continue to grow and thrive, is appreciated more than words can express.

Not only will these canine caretakers keep indigenous wildlife alive, they keep alive the spirit of living in balance – an ethos central to Bushmans Kloof – which is important for us all to learn from.”

The TreadRight Foundation is supporting the placement of the Anatolian Shepherds with local farmers, providing the cost of raising the dogs through their first year. The dogs are regularly monitored by Cheetah Outreach to oversee proper training and help ensure the dogs reach their full potential as an LGD. •

www.treadright.org

Gondwana Game Reserve Launches Mountain Bike Trails In keeping with the traveller’s increasing focus on experiential experiences and sustainability, the award-winning Gondwana Game Reserve has opened several mountain bike trails on the reserve. Combining a traditional Big 5 safari experience with healthy outdoor exercise, adventurous individuals can interact with nature in a fun and active way, enjoying game viewing of non-dangerous wildlife while breaking a sweat in the saddle.

If you are seeking to explore the reserve’s beautiful country at a close range, there is no better way to do this than biking through it.

Gondwana is a treasure trove of exciting routes waiting to be discovered, with mild weather allowing for cycling at any time of the year.

Located in Gondwana’s 1000-hectare protected area, the new trails have been designed for all levels of fitness and skill levels to enjoy, including families with smaller children.

Graded from novice to advanced, the routes consist of varied terrain from dirt roads and jeep tracks to long valley descents and steep technical climbs. Cycling through Gondwana’s stunning wilderness, guests see endangered and specialty species such Bontebok, Cape Mountain Zebra, Sable and Giraffe as well as herds of Eland and Impala that roam freely in open grass plains and plateaus, wetlands, rolling hills, riverine and sub-tropical thicket valleys.

Another draw is the incredible endemic birdlife as well the ever-changing beauty of the Cape Fynbos vegetation which has something of interest to see year-round, with the best time to view the phenomenal South African Protea flowers in April, May and June and the pincushions in November. Complimentary mountain bikes are available for both adults and children.

Wendy Rutherfoord, Gondwana’s owner comments: “The new cycling trails on the reserve add a new dimension to our guest experience as well as a level of adventure and fitness. We are very excited to add this as a new complimentary guest activity – it is not every day people can cycle through a beautiful landscape dotted with African wildlife!” •

www.gondwanagr.co.za responsible traveller 75

words & pics - Sharon Gilber-Rivett additional pics - Three Tree Hill / Tessa Buhrmann

Three Trees, a hill... and a lodge full of smiles

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eep in the midlands of South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal lies an infamous battlefield on which one of the most tragic confrontations of the Anglo Boer war was enacted. And next to it is an unassuming lodge steeped in the history of this rivetting period of South Africa’s past which has become a true champion of sustainability... Three Trees at Spioenkop.

When Simon Blackburn speaks, it’s mesmerising.

This seasoned safari guide has a way with words which completely immerses his listeners into his chosen subject matter, making his rendition of one of the most controversial and infamous battles of the Anglo Boer War blood-chillingly rivetting.

We sat in the shade of one of the few trees on top of Spioenkop, with a small group of guests hanging on his every word, Simon has taken his years of experience explaining animal behaviour and turned it into an artform as he induces gasps and even tears, while sharing the horror of the battle which raged here at the dawn of the 20th century.

Blackburn) and life’s work. But today he has his tour guide hat on as he shares the horror of the battle of Spioenkop with a rapt audience.

The battle was fought from January 23-24 1900, and was one of the most futile and certainly the bloodiest of the four battles fought to relieve the besieged town of Ladysmith from the surrounding Boer forces. Just this one day of bloodshed cost the British some 1250 wounded or captured and 243 lives lost and the Boers some 335 casualties and 68 dead.

It’s a sombre place, with various crosses and memorials marking the mass graves of victims from both sides contrasting starkly with breathtakingly beautiful vistas and the distant peaks of the Drakensberg.

Interestingly, many of the British who lost their lives were from the Lancashire Fusiliers regiment, with a strong contingent from Liverpool. Many were buried in the trenches where they fell. This led to the towering and formidable terrace at Anfield - the home ground of Liverpool Football Club - being named The Kop, having been “christened” by the Liverpool Echo newspaper after its construction in 1906.

Simon owns and runs Three Trees at Spioenkop, also known as Three Tree Hill Lodge, with his wife Cheryl. It’s both their family home (a bunch of children, dogs and horses complete Team

It’s a battle which involved all of the big military names of the era, from Winston Churchill, who acted as a courier to and from Spioenkop and the nearby British headquarters, to Boer general

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Memorial to the Lancashire Fusiliers

‘It’s a sombre place, with various crosses and memorials marking the mass graves of victims from both sides contrasting starkly with the breathtaking vistas and the distant peaks of the Drakensberg...’ responsible traveller 79

Hendrik Prinsloo and his Carolina Commando. A young Mohandas Gandhi was a stretcher-bearer in the Indian Ambulance Corps he had organised and was decorated for his role in the battle.

Ultimately, the Boer claimed the victory and the British retreated, gathering their numbers to relieve Ladysmith some four weeks later.

Simon winds up his recounting of this terrible day of bloodshed and invites his guests to partake in sundowners before heading back to Three Trees, which is perched on a hill opposite Spioenkop.

With its original farmhouse now a stylish lounge and dining room, the Fair Trade Tourism certified lodge is a fitting homage to the fascinating Anglo Boer War period.

Mealtimes allow Simon to further enchant his guests with his seemingly bottomless

Game walk through Spionkop Game Reserve with Simon

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knowledge of the rich history of the area. A stroll around the lounge and dining room adds to his period dramas as the faces from those dark days of conflict stare out of hundreds of antique portraits, photographs and etchings from the newspapers of the age. Books on the war and its chief protagonists on both sides are everywhere, as are mementos and curiosities from this bygone era, from old field glasses to rifles.

Guest suites are dotted in amongst trees on the side of the hill which overlooks Spioenkop and its adjacent game reserve. Near the crest of the hill are the lodge’s three self-contained luxury cottages - Kiplings family Cottage, Churchill’s, Cottage and the brand new Burchells Cottage.

The cottages are built to mimic the colonial style while integrating a completely green energy

and water system, keeping its footprint as environmentally friendly as possible.

The area is a hiker’s, biker’s and rider’s paradise, with endless trails for walking, mountain biking and horse riding literally on the doorstep.

The Drakensberg, which make up the western horizon of the lodge, are a half-hour drive away, which is perfect for a day trip, complete with a hearty picnic lunch from the lodge.

The guided Spioenkop tour, together with a range of other battlefield tours, are offered as optional activities and guided by both Simon and Ron Gold - also an experienced battlefields guide..

At Three Trees there are animals everywhere, be it the Blackburn hounds, chickens, cows and horses or the eland, zebra, giraffe and various other wildlife species which can be spotted

regularly in the game reserve next door. We head out early one morning for a game walk in the Spionkop Game Reserve. The air is chilly and frost is visible in the valleys.

It’s a veritable natural history lesson as Simon explains the geology of the area, tells of the nocturnal habits of the aardvark, and that the scattered carcass we see is that of a wildebeest that likely succumbed to old age – this probably due to the fact that there are no large predators in the reserve.

We see red hartebeest, wildebeest, zebra, a jackal as well as a number of white rhino.

Simon guides us safely between two groups of rhino, explaining quietly that they have been dehorned to make them less desirable to rhino poachers.

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The lodge grows its own organic vegetables (when El Nino doesn’t pelt them with hail stones the size of golf balls) and sources what it doesn’t grow itself from sustainable businesses in the region and around South Africa.

All of the cleaning products the lodge uses have been carefully sourced by Cheryl to meet Three Tree’s strict policy of only using sustainable, ethical procurement and are fully biodegradeable.

Cheryl has taken sustainable procurement to the next level with everything from toilet rolls and honey to olive oil and soap , and even the gifts and curios in the lodge’s shop sourced from sustainable suppliers, many of whom are local entrepreneurs who have developed thriving businesses as a result.

Indeed, the lodge’s gift shop is packed with the most amazing products which Cheryl has hunted down from all over the country, be it carvings from local artisans or sunscreen and wine. Products used at the lodge are also on sale in the shop, including innovative powerfree slow cookers, a range of biodegradeable cleaning products and solar lanterns.

And if she can’t find it, then Cheryl encourages her staff to produce it and create a thriving business around it. Ntobeko Ntshingila makes beaded doilies for the lodge and its gift shop.

She has worked at Three Trees for more than 10 years, working her way through the ranks to become a front-of-house supervisor.

“I am so busy with front of house now that I have employed my mother to make the doilies for me,” she laughs, adding that she will soon bring another beader on board to help with orders.

Empowerment is one of the many outstanding ethics at Three Trees. “Our people are our biggest asset, and if they are happy, then our guests are happy, so we do everything we can to encourage staff to be entrepreneurial and further their careers with us,” says Simon.

Wherever you go at Three Trees the smiles are as wide as Ntobeka’s, whether you’re chatting to reservations manager Melanie Rossouw or chefs Thanda Makhaza, Buhle Malinga and Phindi Nkosi. Everyone takes incredible pride in everything they do.

Like most of the staff, the chefs come from the local communities of Hambrook and Bethanie.

Thanda has worked at Three Trees for a decade and is dedicated to the principles the lodge 82 responsible traveller

Ntobeko bringing out the lunch responsible traveller 83

Solar lamp and ‘torch’ for guests to use

‘Our people are our biggest asset, and if they are happy, then our guests are happy, so we do everything we can to encourage staff to be entrepreneurial and further their careers with us...’

SIMON BLACKBURN

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Delicious lentil curry cooked using a Wonderbag

Ntobeko Ntshingila with her beaded doilies

Insulated water bottles for guests to use when walking

upholds. “We all love working here and being given the opportunities to do what we do,” she says. “We have learned so much from Simon and Cheryl about the environment, and about sourcing products which are sustainable and environmentally friendly.”

Zanele Mndaweni assists in the kitchen and with front of house activities, especially at mealtimes. “I’ve been here for about 15 years now,” she says with a shy grin. “I cannot imagine being anywhere else.”

Zanele is a Fair Trade Tourism fan and proudly shows off a poster in the kitchen which reminds staff just how important operating in a

sustainable, responsible and ethical manner is.

She points to it and explains how it all works.

“You see - we have a fair share in this business, a fair say in how we work, respect for each other and the environment, we work in reliable, safe surroundings, the business is transparent and it is sustainable. These are all wonderful things.”

All of this adds up to a lodge which stands out from the crowd, not just because of the number of smiles on the faces of staff and guests alike, but because it is doing everything it can to make a lasting difference to everyone involved in it. •

www.threetreehill.co.za responsible traveller 85

What’s news...

Thailand’s Sustainable Tourism Management Standard is now a GSTC-Recognized Standard The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that Thailand’s Sustainable Tourism Management Standard, published

by Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), has achieved the ‘GSTCRecognized Standard’ status.

DASTA’s Thailand’s Sustainable Tourism Management Standard has been created for managing tourism and aims at helping all types and sizes of tourism-related organizations to manage tourism systematically and sustainably. It is expected to enable those related organizations to achieve a performance that is higher than the basic level required by law. These standards, therefore, can be challenging for organizations that want to improve the efficiency of their operation, leading to ’Sustainable Tourism.’

Achieving the GSTC-Recognized status means that a sustainable tourism standard has been reviewed by GSTC technical experts and the GSTC Accreditation Panel and deemed equivalent to the GSTC Criteria for sustainable tourism. Additionally, an organization that meets GSTC requirements must administer the standard.

GSTC Recognition does not ensure that the certification process is reliable, only that the set of standards used to certify includes the minimum elements to ensure sustainability. The purpose of the GSTC programs is to reward genuine practitioners of sustainable tourism, which in turn builds confidence and credibility with consumers.

“By gaining GSTC-Recognized status for Thailand’s Sustainable Tourism Management

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Standard for Destinations, another step has been achieved in harmonizing national sustainability standards, set by DASTA, with global sustainability standards, set by GSTC,” Says Randy Durband, GSTC CEO. “This harmonization provides clarity for the management and market-facing communication of the application of these standards. That message includes the inclusion of the four pillars of sustainability: sustainable management, social/community, cultural, and environmental issues.”

“DASTA developed and has used Thailand’s Sustainable Tourism Management Standard for training and verified tourism-related organizations for years. Now it became the first tourism-related standard in Thailand that has GSTC-Recognized status.

However, it is not an achievement, but only another milestone proving that our work is accurate in accordance with the international standard”, says Dr. Nalikatibhag Sangsnit, Director-General of DASTA. “We know that there is still room for improvement and DASTA will continuously perform even harder to achieve GSTC-Accredited status eventually,” adds Dr. Sangsnit.

To date, 10 destination standards, and 30 hotels and tour operators standards have achieved GSTC-Recognized status. The completion of these step-wise programs rewards standard owners for their commitment to sustainability while offering the market a proof that these standards adhere to international norms. •

www.gstcouncil.org

What’s news...

Innovation Norway Sustainable Destination Standard is now a GSTC-Recognized Standard The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that Innovation Norway’s Sustainable Destination Standard has achieved the ‘GSTC-Recognized Standard’ status.

Innovation Norway’s Sustainable destination standard includes 45 criteria and 108 indicators to be measured, registered and monitored. The standard covers nature, culture, environment, social values, community involvement and economic viability. Measurable and continuous development are ensured through performance counts and renewing the brand every three years.

Achieving the GSTC-Recognized status means that a sustainable tourism standard has been reviewed

by GSTC technical experts and the GSTC Accreditation Panel and deemed equivalent to the GSTC Criteria for sustainable tourism. Additionally, an organization that meets GSTC requirements must administer the standard. GSTC Recognition does not ensure that the certification process is reliable, only that the set of standards used to certify includes the minimum elements to ensure sustainability.

The purpose of the GSTC programs is to reward genuine practitioners of sustainable tourism, which in turn builds confidence and credibility with consumers.

“The great commitment around the branding scheme ‘Sustainable Destination’ shows that Norwegian tourism destinations take sustainable development seriously. Through cooperation with other sectors of the business community and municipalities, tourism industry can thus be a positive contributor to value creation and jobs locally”, says Torbjørn Røe Isaksen, Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry. “The international recognition of the standard used in our branding scheme ensures a high level of the work”.

“We are proud to have Innovation Norway Sustainable Destination Standard joining the selected group of GSTC Recognized standards. Innovation Norway is a leader in promoting sustainability in tourism as well as in many other sectors at national level, providing an excellent example for others to follow,” says Luigi Cabrini, GSTC Chair.

Once a destination is chosen, Innovation Norway applies the standard through a series of implementation and monitoring methods. Then, a committed resolution is formed by the municipal council to support sustainable development in tourism and similar commitments are made by the tourism operators. After that, the implementation of the standard can occur. This includes tasks like establishing internal transport, energy saving initiatives, local food and cultural projects, signposts and building recreation trails. Jointly, a monitoring process occurs that includes documenting the overall use of local food, local culture, energy, waste production, and cultural assets in the destination. The entire process takes approximately two years. •

www.gstcouncil.org

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HURTIGRUTEN

wages war on plastic & bans single-use plastic

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n an effort to become the world’s first plastic free shipping company, Hurtigruten has banned all unnecessary single-use plastic onboard their ships. By 2nd of July, everything from plastic straws, drink mixers, plastic glasses, coffee lids and plastic bags will be removed from all Hurtigruten ships.

“At Hurtigruten, we have focused on the problem with plastic pollution for years. There is a lot of talk about the impact plastic has on our oceans. But it’s time to take action. By getting rid of single use plastic on board all ships already by this summer, we will hopefully get others to follow. It is possible to act now, and the oceans does not deserve more hesitation”, Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam says.

Hurtigruten is the world leader in exploration travel, and the world’s biggest expedition cruise line. Their message is crystal-clear: All unnecessary single-use plastic will be removed companywide by July 2nd.

This means that plastic straws are replaced by metal straws, stir pins will no longer be used – the same with plastic glasses wrapped in plastic, plastic cutlery, plastic bags, plastic lids on coffee cups, plastic toothpicks, plastic aprons, single-use packaging of butter and all other single-use plastic items that Hurtigruten’s 400 000 guests and 2500 employees encounter on a day to day basis.

Every year, Hurtigruten guests and employees cleans tons of plastic from beaches in the areas we operate. We witness the plastic pollution problem on a daily basis and need to take action. Operating in pristine areas as we do, comes with a responsibility, Skjeldam says. A mind-boggling 15 metric tons of plastic ends up in the world’s oceans every minute of the day.

If the trend continues, this number will double in the next 10 years. This means that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans.

Cruising through the Fjords of Norway

Plastic pollution is the single biggest threat our oceans. Hurtigruten operates in some of the most vulnerable areas in the world. This means that we carry a special responsibility to protect these areas for the local population and future generations of explorers, Skjeldam says. responsible traveller 89

Hurtigruten’s single use plastics ban will be effective across its entire fleet of custom build expedition vessels – both operating on the legendary Norwegian Coastal Route, as well as expedition cruises from pole to pole.

The single-use plastic ban will also be imposed on the hotels, restaurants and other establishments of Hurtigruten’s land-based operations on Svalbard, operated by its fully owned subsidiary Hurtigruten Svalbard.

In addition to the internal plastic ban, Hurtigruten is also challenging all its suppliers to reduce and cut the use of plastic. No one can win the war on plastic alone without allies.

This is why we implement high demands on our suppliers. Our goal is to become the world’s first plastic free first shipping company. This is our first step, Skjeldam says.

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Hurtigruten’s decision to ban single use plastic comes just a few days after announcing the largest environmental upgrade in the company’s 125 years of history. Up to nine of Hurtigruten’s ships will be retrofitted to LNGand battery propulsion.

Examples of Hurtigruten’s plastic ban • Straws in bars and restaurants - annual consumption: 960.000 pieces - weight: appx. 2.800 kg (6200 lbs) • -Plastic glasses - annual consumption: 390.000 pieces - weight: appx. 5000 kg (11.000 lbs) • Single-use packages of butter - annual consumption: 826.000 pieces - weight: appx. 826 kg (1.800 lbs) • Plastic aprons - weight: 4.300 kg (9.500 lbs) •

www.hurtigruten

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Problems & opportunities Words - Jennifer Stern / Pics -The Westin

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t’s an old truism that most problems are actually opportunities, but it’s also a sad fact of life that not all opportunities can be effectively optimised – and even more so when you are looking at issues of sustainability. A good example is the Westin Cape Town.

When the foundations for the hotel were dug late in the previous century, water started seeping in – and it didn’t stop. It was a sort of underground estuary where fresh water and sea water mingled to form a brackish brine that was too salty to be of much use, and that threatened the structural integrity of the building. So from even before the first guest checked in, the Westin (as well as all the previous incarnations of hotel in the same building) has been pumping about one million litres of mildly salty water into the sea every day.

But then, in 2017, the climate change bogeyman showed its scary face as Cape Town residents realised there was a very real chance the city may actually run out of water. Now that’s a terrifying prospect, so everyone started thinking about ways of – firstly – saving water, but also of creating water out of thin air (even literally). And it was then that the Westin started questioning why they were pumping away about a million litres of clean (but slightly salty) water every day. The first thing they did was to change the filtration systems on the outdoor pool, and pump the briny water straight in there – and then they started seriously considering desalination.

Now it’s easy to say from a distance – and with hindsight – that desalination is a no-brainer, but it isn’t. Firstly, it’s very energy-intensive so it would not have been a good idea when Eskom was leaving us in the dark for a few hours a day a few years ago. And, secondly, desalination involves the disposal of the concentrated brine that’s left over once you have extracted the fresh water from the sea water. Well, as it turns out, that’s not an issue in this case because the effluent from the process is – happily – about the same concentration as seawater. So, in effect, what they’re doing is taking a mixture of fresh ground water and sea water and “removing the sea water” and pumping it back to the ocean.

Of course that’s not what’s actually happening, but I didn’t really know how desalination plants work, so I took a trip down into the depths of responsible traveller 93

the parking garage with Chief Engineer Andrew Gartshore, who explained it all to me.

The first thing they do is to filter the water through a giant version of the water filters many of us have under our kitchen counters – and then it goes into the reverse osmosis plant – a deceptively simple-looking piece of equipment.

It consists basically of two pipes, one within the other. The inner pipe has holes in it, and is covered by a semi-permeable membrane.

Water is pumped into the outer pipe and then pressurised so that it is squeezed into the inner pipe, but the membrane won’t allow any dissolved salts through. So what comes out of the inner pipe is fresh water, which is then remineralised (with the good stuff that we all need in drinking water, and that will prevent it from leaching minerals out of the plumbing pipes) before going through a UV steriliser to kill any nasty lurgies that may have been lurking in there. The water from the outer pipe will be about the salinity of sea water and is then pumped back to the ocean.

This process produces 400 000 litres of fresh water per day, which is more than enough for the needs of the Westin, so some is piped to the Southern Sun Cullinan, and some to the Southern Sun Waterfront, both of which buildings are owned by Hospitality Property Fund (HPF), which also owns the building the Westin is in.

So, while a five-star hotel like the Westin always has the needs, comfort, safety and pampering of their guests as their first priority, sustainability is firmly on the agenda. In 2011 the Westin installed low flow “Heavenly Shower” heads that they developed in conjunction with international bathroom fittings manufacturer, Kohler, and that is estimated to reduce hot water consumption by about 50 000 litres per room per year.

Their then management company Starwood Hotels, acquired by Marriott International in 2016, made the commitment in 2010 to cut energy consumption by 30% and water consumption by 20% by the year 2020 – as compared to 2008 figures.

This 30/20 by 2020 initiative is being rolled out in all their hotels worldwide, so it’s not just in response to Cape Town’s present drought, and the rolling blackouts of a few years ago. •

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The desalination plant beneath the Westin

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What’s news...

Partnering for growth the Nando’s way “If you don’t mind, I’m going to start by taking my shoes off. I grew up in a rural part of South Africa and it helps me feel connected to the land and the people” said Sam Hirst in his typical dry goodnatured humour.

“I’ll never forget my first impact assessment. I sat with one of our farmers and a translator who told me about the impact growing chilli crops for Nando’s was having on his life and his community” said Hirst.

Hirst, Nando’s PERi-PERi Farming Initiative Manager was addressing the sustainability and social impact delegates attending the Africa Shared Value Summit under the theme “Partnerships for growth”. Hirst shared how Nando’s creates shared value for small farmers in Southern Africa who farm their unique African Bird’s Eye Chillies used in the PERi-PERi flavour Nando’s is famous for.

Motivated by the potential impact this farming could have in its communities, Nando’s has invested in equipping the farmers with the tools and skills necessary to sustain their farms.

The Africa Shared Value Summit aims to spark social change by encouraging businesses, especially large corporates, to implement shared value business models that have a positive impact on communities through their supply chains.

The Nando’s farming initiative has been going for ten years, starting with just six small farms in Mozambique and has grown to include 1,400 farmers growing over 360 tonnes of chilli across the Southern Africa region.

Growing this network of farmers has been a process of learning and growth. Some of the challenges involved generating working capital to set up the infrastructure the farmers needed, managing unpredictable weather conditions, as well as political climates, quality assurance and high transactional costs. A great deal of effort has gone into working very closely with farmers to overcome these challenges and work towards empowering the small farmer.

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Through various investments in technologies and processes, Nando’s has been able to secure prices and contracts directly with the farmers, thus circumventing fluctuating prices and low margins that jeopardise the farmers’ financial security. In addition, the programme has seen encouraging results for the farmers in terms of food security, education, healthcare, water, energy and housing conditions.

Most recently Nando’s has developed an app to help manage and monitor this initiative in order to streamline payment processes for farmers. Drone monitoring of crops has also been implemented to help identify the photosynthetic process of the crops. In so doing, farmers are able to distinguish between plants that are flourishing and those in need of attention.

“We set out to address a business challenge and, in the process, have addressed several of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals. If all goes according to plan, we will double the number of farmers we work with within the next three to four years” commented Hirst. •

www.nandos.co.za

What’s news...

Travel and tourism: an industry as a force for good The rise in responsible travellers has created a global community, while a significant growth in sustainable travel bloggers, online groups and forums are advocating and encouraging travellers to be more proactive. At the end of the day, however, it’s not only up to travellers to step up and make a change.

The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 18th Global Summit, held recently in Buenos Aires, saw 800 delegates from across the globe get together to focus on how business leaders in the industry, heads of state and international travel companies can work together to drive more inclusive, sustainable future.

The theme for this year’s summit was “Our People, Our World, Our Future” and focused heavily on closing the gaps in the sustainable travel movement within the industry, says Brett Tollman, Chief Executive, The Travel Corporation (TTC).

The event served as a forum for key industry players to speak with one voice to government bodies, highlighting the scale of the travel industry, and strategising how it could become a significant a force for good in efforts to preserve the world’s natural environment and cultural resources.

Tollman notes the following industry stats from the WTTC Global Summit which reflects the global scale of the travel and tourism industry: • 1.3 billion travellers crossed international borders • 4 billion air travellers • 313 million jobs supported by Travel & Tourism • 1 in every 5 jobs were created last year by Travel & Tourism • 10.4% Travel & Tourism contribution to global GDP • 4.6 % Travel & Tourism GDP growth (vs 3% total GDP growth, so our industry grew 50% more) As there is no single stakeholder group solely responsible for generating economic outcomes or preserving the world’s travel resources, collaboration between key players in this sector is important to catalyse the action-steps needed to keep tourism destinations healthy.

The WTTC Climate Change Declaration On the business side of things, the case for sustainability and corporate responsibility in tourism is growing stronger year-on-year. In 2017, the UN declared 2017 the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development,

and tourism is featured in three of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Along with top industry leaders, Tollman also signed the WTTC Climate Change Declaration at the summit, which confirmed the efforts of WTTC alongside the United Nations, towards a common agenda on sustainability. A series of discussions took place at the summit which addressed the role of the tourism and travel industry in supporting global action.

These discussions, initiated by the WTTC and the UN framework on climate change (UN Climate Change) aimed to: •

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Communicate the nature and importance of the interlinkages between travel and climate change.

Raise awareness of the positive contribution travel and tourism can make to building climate resilience.

Reduce the contribution of travel and tourism to climate change and support quantitative targets and reductions.

Illegal trade in wildlife WTTC also offered an opportunity for industry stakeholders to ensure the companies and nations they represent, live up to protecting the environments they depend upon.

On behalf of The Travel Corporation and our not-for-profit foundation TreadRight, Tollman also signed the new Travel & Tourism Declaration to support global action in ending illegal trade in wildlife which has become a top priority in this sector.

“TTC continues to work hard to progress our wildlife initiatives and keep supporting the important work of our project partners and leading wildlife organisations including the Cape Leopard Trust, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Wildlife SOS – India, and the Wilderness Foundation Africa, to try and ensure wildlife populations can continue to thrive in their environments”.

The 2019 WTTC Global Summit is set to be hosted in Seville Spain from 3-4 April. It is known for being the only forum to represent the private sector in all parts of the industry worldwide. •

www.wttc.org

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SUSTAINABILITY PROFILE

WANT TO HELP THE PLANET? do your part by reycling glass

Our earth has supported mankind’s growth, health and development from the earliest of times.

So, it is important to remember that if we want the earth to continue supporting us, we need to support it in return. Sadly, there are only a handful of dates in the calendar when we take the time to celebrate the earth and its resources; beyond Earth Hour in March, Earth Day in April or Environmental Day in June.

Each of us really need to consider our role in ensuring a clean and healthy planet for future generations.

And we can all do this by recycling! The Glass Recycling Company urges you to start today and help keep our earth cleaner and healthier.

Not only does recycling prevent waste from being sent to a ‘waste graveyard or landfill’, but it has numerous benefits.

For example, here are just a few of the benefits of recycling glass: •

Saves energy – Making glass from raw materials or for the first time compared to

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making it from a recycled glass bottle or jar uses more energy.

Reduces pollution - Glass produced from recycled glass bottles or jars reduces related air pollution by 20% and related water pollution by 50%.

Saves scarce landfill space - Recycling glass bottles and jars extend the lifespan of landfills.

Recycling conserves natural resources - For every ton of recycled glass used in the manufacturing of new glass packaging, 1.2 tons of non-renewable natural resources are saved.

Glass is infinitely recyclable and can be recycled over and over again.

Start recycling today and drop off all your glass bottles and jars at your closest glass bank. You can locate a glass recycling bank HERE. And if you are interested in seeing what your recycling efforts can achieve, have a look using TGRC’s energy calculator HERE. •

www.tgrc.co.za A TGRC Buy Back Centre

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SUSTAINABILITY PROFILE

A TGRC Buy Back Centre responsible traveller 99