Go Sustainable Tourism (GST) offers a management method for tourism entrepreneurs focused on managing tourism stays in the direction of sustainability. GST emphasises local investment, effective management, and avoiding “greenwashing” through verification audits. It aligns business management with the entrepreneur’s higher purpose. Additionally, GST uses questions as management objectives, which contributes to it being a proactive management method.
The GST management method focuses on four equitable legs:
Conservation: Ethical utilization of local natural and cultural resources.
Community: Involvement of locals in management.
Customer: Guidelines for the visitor target market.
Company: Ensuring the profitability of the business.
Entrepreneurs manage their businesses according to their own standards, and the management objectives are annually tested for validity. An assessor verifies the management standards using an internationally accepted audit format to certify the business’s contribution to sustainability.
Verification audits occur every second year, and GST members receive a certificate, a confidential report, and a public report that can be used for marketing.
Download the Executive Summary by Dr Niël du Toit
Contact us
admin@gosustainabletourism.co.za
About the Team
Dr Niël du Toit: Founder, Publisher and CEO of GST
Raised in an entrepreneurial home with community-minded parents, Niël completed his schooling in Ceres, Western Cape, and studied natural sciences, becoming a secondary school teacher. He later advanced to Head of the Department of Education at a Teacher’s Training College. After business school, he ventured into tourism, including coach charter services, a destination management company, and restoring a heritage site into guest accommodation.
Annelize du Toit: Director
Eloise Costandius: Non-Executive Director
Eloise has worked as an environmental consultant, largely project managing environmental impact assessments, for 18 years. She holds an honours degree in zoology and masters degree in ecological assessment, both from the University of Stellenbosch. She is a keen hiker and bird watcher, with a special interest in reptiles. She tries to spend as much time as possible out exploring in nature.
Prof Eon Smit: Research Adviser
Prof Smit is a former Director of the University Stellenbosch Business School.
Selwyn Roup: Adviser
A Visionary for Sustainable Communities, a resident of Hopefield in the Western Cape, South Africa, Selwyn Roup is a passionate advocate for urban renewal and rural community revival. His work spans strategic capacity-building through regional infrastructure development. Selwyn’s dedication to the Water-Energy-Food nexus and tourism marketing reflects his belief in a balanced, spiritually enriched life. Selwyn has contributed significantly to various publications, including Sports Star weekly and Fishing Industry News. His interests in music, art, science, and innovation drive his holistic approach to community development.
Mark van Eyssen: Assessor
Mark is a born and raised Paarl with over three decades of experience in the insurance industry and financial planning. His career spans multiple sectors, including financial advisory, succession planning, NPO management, and sports development. His approach is always people-centered, guided by strong values of empathy, integrity, and service.
Rina Steyn: Korrespondent
Isobel Heunis: Admin Officer
Isobel was born in Mossel Bay, and came to the Boland to call Paarl her home since 1980. She worked in the bank industry and with a Non-Profit Organization for years. Currently GST is the work environment where she feels at home. Isobel and her husband love nature and travelling, especially in South Africa.
Neels Theron: Website Production
Neels has a background in printing and online publishing. He has produced a number of community and church newspapers.