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Sustainability

Youth Employment in Tourism

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The Visit Stellenbosch Youth Employment Project is an initiative designed to connect tourism graduates from Stellenbosch’s local training institutions with job opportunities in the tourism sector. This project is a collaboration between Visit Stellenbosch, Bergzicht Training, PYDA, and Stellemploy, all of which offer free training and job placement services to graduates. The shared goal of these partners is to boost youth employment in Stellenbosch.

We encourage Visit Stellenbosch members to get involved by offering internships or considering graduates for permanent positions. More details about our Youth Employment initiatives will be shared at upcoming member events.

Training programs offered by our partner institutions include wine practitioners, food service assistants, kitchen assistants, chef assistants, and other hospitality-related roles.

The Stellemploy Chef Assistant training program is one year in duration and learners require a seven-month internship.

The accredited Bergzicht Food Service Assistant course is 14 weeks in duration and learners require a 3-week work-integrated learning (internship) period.

New Tourism-Focused Training Programme

PYDA is expanding its offerings with a new Tourism Practitioner Course, launching in 2025. This full-time, year-long course will run alongside their successful Wine Practitioners Course. A recent focus group hosted by Visit Stellenbosch brought together industry representatives to provide input on shaping this course to meet the sector’s needs. Discussions included topics like graduate competencies, sector employment needs, and employability requirements.

The PYDA Tourism Practitioner Course will provide a unique combination of accredited qualifications and industry-recognized credentials, offering both in-depth knowledge and practical skills for the tourism industry. This comprehensive program also includes informal skills training and personal development. Applications open in September 2024, and youth aged 18 to 25 are encouraged to apply.

For more information about the Visit Stellenbosch Youth Employment Project, please reach out to Nicolette Booyens at development@visitstellenbosch.org.

To learn more about the participating training institutions and their programs:

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.

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Embracing Sustainable Tourism in Stellenbosch

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The demand for sustainable tourism experiences is not merely a trend but a fundamental shift in consumer behaviour. Travellers are increasingly discerning, seeking out destinations and businesses that align with their values of environmental conservation and social responsibility. Embracing sustainability is not just a “nice to have” for your business; it is an imperative for long-term success and relevance in a competitive market. 

The Vision of Stellenbosch: Becoming a Pioneer in Sustainable Tourism 

Stellenbosch aims to be the first fully certified sustainable destination in South Africa. This ambition isn’t just about earning a title; it’s about genuinely enhancing the sustainability of the area to provide long-term benefits to both residents and visitors. Visit Stellenbosch, the town’s dedicated tourism body, supports this transformation by offering guidance throughout the certification process and ensuring the sustainability message reaches the market effectively. 

Understanding Sustainability

Sustainable tourism encompasses practices that minimise negative impacts on the environment, preserve cultural heritage, and promote social and economic benefits for local communities. Regenerative tourism goes a step further by actively contributing to the restoration and enhancement of natural and cultural resources. Responsible tourism, on the other hand, emphasises the ethical and mindful behaviour of tourists and tourism businesses towards the environment, society, and economy. 

Steps Towards Sustainability: From Surveys to Accreditation 

The journey to sustainable tourism in Stellenbosch begins with the Good Travel Scan, which helps businesses gauge their current sustainability practices and start the process toward accreditation.

Deepening Commitment Through the Green Destinations Certification Programme

Further embedding our commitment to sustainability, Stellenbosch aims to be recognised at the first certified sustainable destination through the Green Destinations Certification Programme.  This programme supports destinations in managing their sustainability effectively through a structured management cycle, which includes regular assessments and independent verifications.

Vision 2030: A Strategic Blueprint for Future Growth

Underpinning these initiatives is Visit Stellenbosch’s strategic plan, dubbed ‘Vision 2030.’ Developed under the guidance of its Board of Directors in 2023, this five-year strategy aims to marry the concepts of Regenerative and Sustainable Tourism. The goal is clear: to make Stellenbosch a better place through the power of tourism by maximising positive impacts while minimising negative ones.

The Future of Tourism in Stellenbosch

As Stellenbosch strides towards becoming a leading sustainable destination, it sets a precedent for other towns and cities. The comprehensive approach – embracing regenerative tourism – ensures that our town not only improves its economic viability but also enhances social cohesion and environmental stewardship. Through these efforts, Stellenbosch is not just preparing for a sustainable future but is actively shaping it, offering a model for others to follow in fostering responsible and impactful tourism.   

We understand that navigating the complexities of sustainability can be daunting. However, you are not alone in this journey. Visit Stellenbosch is here to provide unwavering support, guidance, and resources to assist you in achieving and marketing your sustainability compliance. Together, we can create a legacy of environmental preservation, cultural enrichment, and economic prosperity for generations to come.   

Click here to complete the Visit Stellenbosch Sustainability Questionnaire and for the link to the Good Travel Scan,

Drafting a Sustainability Strategy for our region:

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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.