Invitation to Participate at South African Tourism UK Bush Academy September 2024
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Glamping Expo Partnership
As Glamping Expo, we are reaching out seeking the participation of provinces at this year’s Glamping Expo (Johannesburg Expo Centre on October 28th – 29th 2024). This is Africa’s first Glamping Expo and is aimed at bringing value and into the glamping sector, with South Africa as the epicentre of this growing tourism trend. The glamping sector, in its entirety, includes accommodation providers within the unique stays sector and experiences such as cabins, pods, tree-houses, safari lodges, tented, domes, cottages, villas, yurts, eco-lodges, caves, caravans, tipis and more more unique stays. The Glamping Expo focuses on the whole value chain, which means manufacturers, suppliers, operators, financiers, service providers and regulatory authorities will take part. We are seeking the involvement of provinces in securing pavilions and bring along SMEs from their provinces to participate.
About the Glamping Expo
The Glamping Expo is an annual platform for businesses across the glamping value chain. Participants will showcase their glamping innovations and products, network with industry peers, and seek potential collaborations and investments. Attendees will have access to market and research intelligence. The Glamping Expo is the first one in Africa and will take place at the Johannesburg Expo Centre on October 28th – 29th 2024.
Why Attend the Glamping Expo?
The Glamping Expo is designed to empower businesses in the Glamping space with insights, connections, and innovations that drive success in the luxury outdoor accommodation sector.
Join us to:
- Forge Strategic Partnerships: Connect with leading glamping providers, suppliers, and service providers to cultivate lucrative partnerships.
- Face-to-face meetings and meet qualified buyers
- Discover Cutting-edge Solutions: Explore the latest trends, technologies, and design concepts transforming the glamping landscape.
- Gain Industry Insights: Attend enlightening seminars and workshops led by industry experts, offering valuable strategies for growth and sustainability.
Who is Attending?
- Glamping Resort Owners and Managers
- Tourism Boards and Destination Marketers
- Eco-friendly Suppliers and Innovators
- Retailers
- Outdoor enthusiasts
- Travel agencies and Tour operators.
- Investors and Developers in Hospitality
- Designers and Architects Specializing in Outdoor Accommodation
Learn more about the Expo:
Visit the Glamping Expo website (www.glampingexpo.africa) to register for the expo.
Kindly feel free to let us know should you need more information or setting up meetings. For more information, contact:
Gugu Sithole
Director, Glamping Adventures
SATSA Membership No: 2797
ASATA Membership No: GLA200
www.glamping-adventures.co.za
+27 73 539 3154
+27 11 958 5140
https://www.youtube.com/glampingadventuresafrica
facebook.com/glampingadventuresza
instagram.com/glampingadventuresza
twitter.com/glampingza
The Cape Winelands District Phenomenal Women 2024
Do you know an exceptional woman who is making a difference in our community?
This is your opportunity to shine a spotlight on her.
How to enter
Complete the form (Afrikaans / English) in full and email it to info@historium.co.za, Whatsapp to 076 017 6026 or hand the form in at the Historium or any Cape Winelands District Municipality office near you.
Entries close 31 July 2024
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.
Save Big with FEDHASA’s Exclusive 25% SABC TV License Discount
FEDHASA is committed to supporting members by reducing operational costs. Once again, we’ve negotiated a 25% discount on SABC commercial TV license fees, exclusively for our members.
In 2023, this initiative helped members save nearly R4 million in total.
Maximise Your Savings
Pay only R198.75 per TV set, saving R66.25 per room.
For a 20-room property, save R1,325 annually (vs. membership fee of only R3,775).
For a 200-room establishment, save over R13,250 yearly (vs. membership fee of only R9,845).
Reinvest these savings into facility upgrades, staff training, and enhancing the guest experience.
Renew and Qualify
- Ensure your SABC account is up to date
- For existing members, renew your FEDHASA membership by June 30, 2024
- Non-members, join FEDHASA before June 30, 2024, to qualify, apply here
In most cases, this 25% discount offsets your annual FEDHASA membership fee, making it a cost-saving opportunity.
Renew your membership today and enjoy exclusive discounts like this, plus access to valuable resources and networking opportunities.
For more member benefits, please click here.
Safety and Security in the Stellenbosch CBD
April 2024
The safety and security concerns in the Stellenbosch CBD have escalated to a critical level, posing significant challenges to the well-being of our community and the prosperity of our town’s economy. The proliferation of vagrancy, youth gangs engaging in bicycle theft and petty crime, frequent car break-ins, and a surge in tourism crimes are alarming trends that demand immediate attention.
The Short-Term Solution
Recognising the immediate need for action, the Siti Steering Committee has launched the Siti Middedorp Safety Initiative, an interim solution to address the most pressing crime concerns in central Stellenbosch.
Through collective funding, the initiative aims to deploy an expanded team of guards for foot patrols in the enlarged CBD area, supplemented by a dedicated armed response vehicle, backed -up by 24/7 control room monitoring. These patrols will be supported by an integrated communication system linking to SAPS, Municipal Law Enforcement, and private security stakeholders in the area.
The existing Middedorp Safety Initiative, covering Church Street and sections of Plein and Ryneveld Streets since 2019, will be absorbed into the new extended Siti Middedorp Safety Initiative.
Phase 1 of the proposed geographic area spans from the bottom of Plein Street, and a section of Ryneveld Street in the North to Dorp Street in the South, and from Drostdy Street in the East to Mill Street and Checkers in the West.
Siti Middedorp Safety Initiative Features and Cost
Key features of this safety program include comprehensive oversight led by experienced coordinators, integration with existing security networks, round-the-clock armed response capabilities, and centralised radio communication for rapid reporting and response.
| Monthly Expenses | |
| 24/7 Control Room Monitoring | R 35 716 |
| 1 x 24/7 Dedicated Armed Response Vehicle | R 77 107 |
| 3 x 24/7 Foot Patrol Guards | R 75 000 |
| Additional 3rd Party Armed Response Support | R 25 000 |
| R 212 823 |
Siti Middedorp Safety Initiative Funding Model
Half of the required R212 823 per month is already committed to and thanks to the generosity of Stellenbosch Publicity and Marketing the armed response vehicle was deployed in early December 2023. To deliver on the rest of the safety deliverables, we need help through collective funding from Property and Business owners.
Property Owners | Contribute according to Municipal Property Value – an amount equal to future Siti contributions
Business Owners | R500 | R750 | R1500 | R4000 – depending on the size of the business.
The Long-Term Solution
Recognising the urgency of the situation, community members have rallied behind the establishment of the Stellenbosch Improvement Initiative (Siti) – a Special Rating Area that will address these pressing issues through collaborative efforts funded by property owners. Similar models have proven successful in communities across South Africa and beyond, with Stellenbosch already benefiting from two well-functioning Special Rating Areas: the Jonkershoek SRA and Techno Park SRA.
With a Steering Committee in place and the formation of a dedicated NGO, we are currently engaged in a crucial voting process. Securing 1000 votes from property owners by 30 September 2024 will pave the way for the commencement of Siti operations on 1 July 2025.
For more information, visit the Siti website: https://www.siti.org.za/
Watch Video: https://www.facebook.com/SitiStellenbsch/videos/1089959222059141/
Drafting a Sustainability Strategy for our region:
It is critical for the continued growth and to retain a competitive edge of our travel and tourism sector to adopt a regional Sustainability Framework. With this in mind Visit Stellenbosch hosted an insightful session with Lisa Scriven recently.
Member Session:
Lisa Scriven’s presentation effectively communicated the urgent need for a comprehensive sustainability strategy in travel and tourism, leveraging her deep expertise and relevant market data. Her insights into consumer demand for sustainable travel options set a compelling context for the discussion. By linking sustainability with direct benefits for destinations, including conservation, cultural preservation, and economic development, she illustrated the multifaceted value of sustainable practices. Scriven’s practical advice for stakeholders and emphasis on collaboration offer a clear roadmap for implementing sustainable initiatives. Overall, the presentation serves as both a call to action and a guide for creating more sustainable and responsible travel experiences worldwide.
Key insights from the presentation include:
Market Demand Trends: Scriven emphasised the growing demand for sustainable travel options, citing statistics that demonstrate a clear consumer preference for sustainability. According to the Booking.com Sustainable Travel Report 2023 and other sources, a significant majority of travellers express a desire for sustainable travel experiences, with 80% stating that traveling sustainably is important to them. However, 76% also find it difficult to locate sustainable travel products, indicating a gap between demand and availability.
Sustainability-aligned Experiences + Responsible Operations = DESTINATION BENEFIT: Lisa further outlined how integrating sustainability into both the visitor experience and operational practices leads to benefits for the destination as a whole. She illustrated this with examples that link conservation, cultural preservation, wellness, and rural development to sustainability practices.
Practical Steps for Stakeholders: Lisa shared concrete advice for stakeholders on how to engage with sustainability. This includes walking the talk, using sustainability frameworks to identify opportunities, managing environmental, economic, and socio-cultural impacts, being transparent about sustainability claims, and avoiding greenwashing. She also stressed the importance of crafting sustainability-aligned excellence and sharing stories without jargon.
Collaboration for a Sustainable Future: The presentation underlined the critical role of collaboration in achieving a sustainable tourism economy. She encouraged improving existing partnerships and being proactive in forging new ones. Participation in forums to co-create sustainable destinations and brands was recommended as a path forward.
Lisa concluded her presentation with the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” encapsulating the collective effort needed to achieve sustainability in tourism.
Visit Stellenbosch Regenerative Tourism:
Nicolette Booyens, Visit Stellenbosch board member and Socio Economic Specialist has been working on our Regenerative Tourism initiative that aligns seamlessly with the framework concepts introduced by Lisa. In the latter part of 2023, Visit Stellenbosch unveiled their Vision 2030, a strategic blueprint for tourism within Stellenbosch. Central to this vision is the integration of Regenerative Tourism as a fundamental strategy, signifying Visit Stellenbosch’s commitment to utilising tourism as a force for the town’s rejuvenation and improvement. With Regenerative Tourism gaining momentum worldwide, Visit Stellenbosch is positioning itself at the forefront of this innovative approach, aiming to transform Stellenbosch for the better.
Nicolette gave an overview of Visit Stellenbosch’s Regenerative Tourism efforts – click here to download her presentation.
Since its establishment in 2019, Visit Stellenbosch has spearheaded numerous projects and social enterprises with a focus on sustainability. These initiatives encompass a wide range of objectives, including economic development, social integration, and environmental conservation.
The overarching aim is to mobilise the collective efforts of all tourism stakeholders in Stellenbosch towards regenerating and revitalizing our town, ensuring it thrives for the benefit of all its inhabitants.
Next Steps:
Framework Development: Visit Stellenbosch is drafting a basic yet effective framework to facilitate the adoption of responsible practices among all members, ensuring accessibility and ease of implementation.
Self-Assessment Questionnaire: Members will receive a straightforward self-assessment questionnaire. Completing this questionnaire will not only raise awareness but also gauge how your business aligns with responsible tourism principles.
Strategy Formulation: Following thorough consultations, Visit Stellenbosch will analyse the gathered data to create a comprehensive overview. This will help us to design the best possible strategy, which will include easy-to-implement tools and actionable tips for members.
Sustainability Strategy Launch: With this in place, we will launch our Sustainability Strategy, positioning our town as a responsible tourism destination, meeting consumer demands.