Sustainable and Responsible Tourism

Working for conservation and with local communities.

Travel broadens the horizons. it's a beautiful thing. However often the short term plan is only thought of which often results in unregulated tourism. It can be disastrous for nature and the local people.

To ensure that tourism becomes beneficial to the environment & communities, quite a few organisations have set up basic ethical and sustainable ways to travel.

Sustainability principles refer to the environmental, economic and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development, and a correct balance must be established between these to guarantee its long-term sustainability.

Sustainable travelers can reduce the impact of tourism:

informing themselves of the culture, politics and economy of the communities visited
anticipating and respecting local cultures' expectations
contributing to intercultural understanding and tolerance
supporting the integrity of local cultures by favouring businesses which conserve cultural heritage and traditional values
supporting local economies by purchasing local goods
conserving resources by seeking out businesses that are environmentally conscious, and by using the least possible amount of non-renewable resources

South Africa's tourism industry is growing, and I believe that those involved should take responsibility for the development and preservation of the communities and environments.

For me, having a favourite word as "Ubuntu” it seems normal to promote any local job creation, social upliftment and ecological awareness.