Responsible tourism (RT) is gaining ground as an emerging and growing global trend. So, what’s it all about?

What is responsible tourism?

Responsible tourism (RT) is a tourism management strategy in which the tourism sector and tourists take responsibility to protect and conserve the natural environment, respect and conserve local cultures and ways of life, and contribute to stronger local economies and a better quality of life for local people.

A national minimum standard for responsible tourism (SANS 1162), a first for Africa, has been developed by the Government and other stakeholders with the sole objective of establishing a common understanding of responsible tourism.

In South Africa, tourism month is celebrated in September. The Department of Tourism leads the celebrations with a number of events to create awareness of the important role tourism play in the economy of the country and in the lives of its citizens.

Key elements of RT

South Africa’s Tourism White Paper of 1996 points out the following key elements of RT:

    • Developing, managing and marketing tourism in ways that create competitive advantage
    • Assessing and monitoring the environmental, social and economic impacts of tourism developments, and openly disclosing information
    • Ensuring the active involvement of communities that benefit from tourism, including their participation in planning and decision-making and the establishment of meaningful economic linkages
    • Maintaining and encouraging natural, economic, social and cultural diversity
    • Avoiding waste and over-consumption, and promoting the sustainable use of local resources.

National policy further specifies that tourism development in South Africa should be government led, private sector driven, community based and labour conscious.

Doing your bit

Becoming a responsible tourist or tourist operator will include all the abovementioned key elements and more.

Measures have been implemented worldwide to offer tourists and tourist operators opportunities to try and minimise the carbon footprint and pollution they leave behind through their mode of travel (air, road, rail, ship, etc.), the accommodation they make use of, local resources they consume, etc.

Goodbye to fly in the sky

A point in case is air travel. We are all acutely aware of the growing contribution that aviation makes to global warming with 700 million (approximately 3% of global) carbon emissions every year. So, rather take out your bike, take a cruise or a leisurely train journey.

Where to lay down your weary head

Choosing the right accommodation (hotels, resorts, guesthouses, etc.) is another responsible tourism choice that may minimise your impact on the environment while at the same time uplifting local communities and people in terms of employment and the preservation of cultural and natural heritage.

Waste not want not

The waste not want not principle is a growing trend and has already started having an impact on hotels and other holiday accommodations. Avoiding waste and over-consumption, and promoting the sustainable use of local resources are becoming firm objectives. In future these venues may be forced to provide energy and water for guests on a metered system and perhaps to offer discounts for those who keep their energy and water use below a certain average. Don’t waste energy and water in any case!

Local is lekker

Also, many travel experts predict that in future people will be travelling to more local destinations and that the majority of hotels and other places of accommodation will try and get their produce, employees, materials, services and the like from sources within their immediate vicinity. “I refer to this as ‘hyper-local’ sourcing”, says Justin Francis, Managing Director of responsibletravel.com.

Be responsible

Think before you encourage tourists into ecologically sensitive areas which are vulnerable to irresponsible tourism practices such as irresponsible 4×4 use, hunting, diving or sand boarding.

South African RT initiatives

South Africa has become a world leader in RT. Apart from the abovementioned initiatives, many other creative RT initiatives have been successfully implemented such as the following two examples.

    • Food and trees for Africa initiative. You can calculate your carbon footprint with a calculator and donate money to plant fruit and indigenous trees at schools, clinics and the backyards of impoverished areas.
    • South African sustainable seafood initiative (SASSI) allows you to check whether the seafood item you’re eyeing on the menu is endangered or not. By texting your choice to a mobile number you will know within minutes whether the fish may be labelled green (feel free to order), orange (in trouble, but legal to eat) or red (kindly refrain).

“I’m optimistic that in the future, travel and tourism will be both sustainable and responsible, with a focus on preserving identities and cultures, celebrating the unique and conserving what is locally distinctive about a place. We’ll fly less and, in turn, we’ll fall back in love with travel closer to home”, predicts Francis.

 

Sources

Responsible tourism. Retrieved from: http://www.tourism.gov.za/CurrentProjects/ResponsibleTourism/Pages/Information.aspx
Responsible tourism. Retrieved from: http://www.responsibletravel.com/copy/responsible-tourism
Responsible tourism. Retrieved from: http://www.capetown.gov.za/
Responsible tourism in South Africa. Retrieved from: http://www.southafrica.net/za/en/articles/entry/article-southafrica.net-responsible-tourism-in-south-africa
http://www.southafrica.net/za/en/articles/entry/article-southafrica.net-responsible-tourism-in-south-africa
Responsible Tourism Manual for South Africa. 2002. Retrieved from:  http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/tourism/Documents/Responsible%20Tourism/Tourism_RT_Responsible_Tourism_Manual.pdf
Frances, J. Sustainable tourism: the future of tourism. Retrieved from: http://www.responsibletravel.com/resources/future-of-tourism/
Francis, J. Travel trends and predictions. Retrieved from: http://www.responsibletravel.com/resources/future-of-tourism/travel-trends.htm
Future of tourism quotes. Retrieved from: http://www.responsibletravel.com/resources/future-of-tourism/quotes.htm
Walljasper, J. Geotourism. Retrieved from: http://www.responsibletravel.com/resources/future-of-tourism/geotourism.htm