by Niël du Toit, CEO of Go Sustainable Tourism Fundamentals of sustainable tourism In a recent article published in Tourism Update, the question was asked: “Green certifications: Value-Add or red tape?” I thank the editor of Tourism Update for this article because it is a question that is relevant for the tourism industry. From the […]
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Growing interest in sustainable travel – surveys
by Anne Kruger, GST Correspondent Sustainable travel has been a buzzword for some time now, but surveys reveal that cost is still king with consumers. A report by the World Travel & Tourism Council has shown that consumers are in favour of sustainable travel but that cost is the biggest influence on their choices. The […]
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Leon Hugo: hiking trail rating innovator
by Anne Kruger, GST Correspondent WHAT MAKES a good hiking trail? This question has taken up much of the time of Prof Leon Hugo, former head of the Department of Geography at Pretoria University and international authority on hiking trails. An avid hiker in his day, he has developed the international Green Flag certification system […]
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The best barbecue experience in South Africa?
By Mark van Eyssen, GST Assessor, Boland area I HAD THE PRIVILEGE of assessing the Adara Palmiet Valley Boutique Hotel, for sustainable tourism. It is situated on Sonstraal Road in the Klein Drakenstein region of Paarl. I booked in on a Sunday afternoon prior to the assessment the next day. The Hotel, situated on a […]
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Mount Ceder: A Perfect Escape for the Sustainability-conscious Nature Lover
By Rina Steyn, GST Correspondent Mount Ceder, a working olive farm, is a certified member of Go Sustainable Tourism (GST), using the GST management method consisting of the following four equitable legs: Conservation, Community, Customer and Company. Why is it such a perfect escape? The customer leg of the method has to do with how customers […]
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La Provence: A Haven for Tourists
by Rina Steyn, Correspondent Go Sustainable Tourism (GST) is a management method for entrepreneurs in the tourism stay industry interested in managing their businesses sustainably. The GST management method consists of four equitable legs: Conservation: Ethical utilisation of local resources to retain natural and cultural biodiversity.Community: Involvement of locals in management and employment.Customer: Guidelines for […]
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Cape Leopard Trust: Guardians of the Mountain Predator
by Anne Kruger, GST Correspondent The Cape Leopard Trust (CLT) is not just any predator working group – it’s a beacon of hope for the majestic leopards of the Fynbos mountains! With a vision as grand as the mountains themselves, the CLT is dedicated to ensuring the long-term survival of leopard populations, securing their habitats, […]
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Kogelberg – Heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom
by Anne Kruger, GST Correspondent A short trip south of Cape Town in South Africa brings you to a natural sanctuary so valuable that UNESCO has declared it a biosphere. The Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve spans around 100,000 hectares – an area larger than Singapore – and is dedicated to protecting this vast natural wonder. With […]
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Grow a sustainable hospitality-stay business
by Selwyn Roup, GST Advisor In locations – places – as diverse as the Karoo is to the lush surrounds of the Warm Bokkeveld, tourism stay operators attest to growing a more sustainable business through implementing transformative actions and normative steps using the GST management method. South Africa is one of the top six most […]
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