Visit Stellenbosch Regenerative Tourism case study presented at the 2nd Annual SA Adventure Summit.

The South African Adventure Tourism sector came together in June for a four-day summit at the Mountain Splendour Eco-Resort in the Drakensberg. The event perfectly combined addressing sector priorities while getting delegates to participate in a range of adventure activities including mountain climbing, hot-air ballooning, quad biking, hiking, zip-lining, downhill scooting, mountain biking and touring-by-sidecar.
The summit was presented by Dirty Boots Magazine which also manages the 101 Adventures, together with the South African Tourism Services Association (SATSA).

Dirty Boots CEO Johan Radcliffe opened the summit and guests were welcomed by Dr Shamilla Chettiar, Deputy Director General of Destination Development, SA Department of Tourism.

The event featured 16 speakers and Visit Stellenbosch was represented by Nicolette Booyens who heads up the Visit Stellenbosch Regenerative Tourism initiative. She presented a case study on Visit Stellenbosch’s socio-economic development work and how it aligns with the organisation’s regenerative objectives. Her presentation brought the Visit Stellenbosch regenerative tourism message across that the sector should not only focus on leaving a lighter footprint, but rather to use their footprint to fertilise destinations so that communities can regenerate and grow stronger”.

Keynote speaker at the event was Rachel Colenso, an accomplished climber and mountaineer, who shared her account of a harrowing experience in the Italian Alps that she only just survived. Other topics covered included the value of reviews, risk, standards and liability implications, sector educational qualifications, guide training and more.

This SA Adventure Summit brought old colleagues together in person, nurtured new partnerships and collaborations, and reinforced the value of face-to-face interactions.