Many people do travel. Now, more than ever, human beings are exploring the world around them.

Sustainable tourism is a way of traveling and exploring a destination while respecting its culture, environment, and people. Common sense says that this is simply the definition of travel and that the term ‘sustainable’ is unnecessary.

We should travel in a way that can benefit the people and communities we’re in, and that mitigates negative impacts of travel on the environment. Sustainable travel is about showing we care.

South Africa is a leader in responsible tourism and is a magnet for those who are interested in adventure, wildlife, culture, and history. Its history is complex and poignant, from the San who first inhabited the land to the establishment of Cape Town as a stopover for the Dutch along the spice trade route.

Creating a positive and lasting impact on the environment and community has become an increasingly important factor when visitors plan holidays. As one of the fastest growing industries in the world, and with South Africa being such a diverse melting pot of cultures, heritage sites, tourist attractions and adventure activities, our focus should be towards sharing the stories of change and preservation.

South Africa is home to a large number of sustainable tourism service providers belonging to organizations such as Fair Trade, Green Tourism Active and Responsible Tourism South Africa.

“The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see”