Cape Town is celebrating Tourism Month in September and is ensuring the motto of responsible tourism is being followed. Responsible tourism is about creating better places for people to live and visit.
It is about meeting the needs of tourists while also promoting positive social, economic, cultural and environmental interactions in the city – Cape Town.
Cape Town is one of the world’s premier tourism destinations, which recorded approximately 2,172,836 international and domestic visitors in the year 2016 and R14.1 billion was spent by tourists, that time.
However, tourism is not just a means to economic growth only but it is also a field through which operators and tourism businesses can help in creating positive social, economic, cultural and environmental interactions in the country.
Responsible tourism aims to meet these needs of tourists and the needs of the city too. Many tourists nowadays are also looking for more unique travel experience and intimate relationship with the countries they visit.
They want to leave after knowing that their trip or travel did not have any negative impact or effects on the people or the environment, they are or were in.
South Africa’s legislative capital have supported the principles of responsible tourism since the Cape Town Declaration in 2002 and the principles are included in the Tourism Development Framework (2013-2017).
The City of Cape Town wants tourism businesses to develop more responsible business strategies and approaches, so that the officials can minimise any negative economic, environmental and social effects of tourism.
Can generate greater economic benefits for local people and enhance the well-being of host communities. Are able to improve the working conditions of our industry, which might involve local people in decisions that affect their lives.
These strategies are meant to make positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, embrace diversity and provide more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people and environments.
Approach to tourism is especially linked to the approach to economy and city at large, that is needed to build a city which is sustainable, secure and inclusive on all counts. The authorities enable and co-coordinate leadership in the tourism sector by creating a supportive policy environment and rewarding those who deliver on the goals.
Everyone should read the Responsible Tourism (RT) Policy (2009) and action plan in the document to see how the city – Cape Town is helping to facilitate the city-wide adoption and implementation of RT actions.
To note, how the city is serving as a decision-making reference point for all divisions within the city, as it also serves as a decision-making reference point for external stakeholders and offers easy-to-use planning, management, product development and marketing ‘good practice’ guides and information to all tourism service providers.