Good tourism business and ethics are ‘green’
South Africa is a ‘carbon expensive’ destination for many visitors so the tourism industry in South Africa is applying itself to managing climate change and reducing its carbon footprint.
Some product owners are doing more to be environmentally responsible than others. So says Moeketsi Mosola, CEO of South African Tourism, at the launch of Tourism Month celebrations in Rustenberg in North West Province.
South African Tourism has supported numerous national initiatives to make South Africa a low carbon economy. These initiatives included the imminent launch of a Green Star grading mechanism for buildings and businesses; and the Indahlo Yethu campaign that was launched in 2006 by Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
Tourism Month’s theme this year is Tourism Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change. Numerous tourism businesses have already implemented sound environmental policies and operations. These include the installation of solar panels for power generation; fitting low energy lighting; insulating water pipes; recruiting staff and service providers from previously marginalised communities; replacing alien vegetation with indigenous trees and shrubs; and designing buildings to impact the environment as little as possible.
However, the Minister said that the industry needed to pay more heed to carbon emissions, become more environmentally conscious in its business practices and reduce the greenhouse effect in all operational areas. ‘We know that many international visitors are increasingly aware of environmental issues. There is a growing global trend to support businesses and services that demonstrate environmental responsibility. It makes good business sense, and it is a sound ethical and moral choice, to operate in an environmentally responsible way in this, and in any industry,†he said.
Mosola added that, South Africa was a long-haul destination for many of its estimated 9 million visitors each year and travel was a ‘carbon expensive’ activity. A round trip for one person from the UK to Johannesburg, for example, created about 1,500kgs of carbon dioxide. Ensuring that that their carbon footprint is minimized on arrival at their international destination will, increasingly, become a major factor motivating travel choices.
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