South Africa’s tourism and travel sector has launched a new sustainability initiative aimed at shifting sustainability from reporting frameworks to visible, on-the-ground outcomes.
The Tourism & Travel Green Lung, unveiled on February 3, positions environmental restoration, climate resilience and small-business participation at the centre of tourism
sustainability.
The initiative was launched at Vergelegen Wine Estate in the Western Cape, where industry stakeholders planted 250 trees across a 10-hectare site.
Globally, tourism markets are shifting as travellers place greater weight on sustainability and environmental stewardship. A global consumer study from Booking.com shows that 93% of travellers want to make more sustainable travel choices.
The Tourism & Green Lung initiative is led by Sigma International, a sustainability advisory and implementation firm, and is supported by several industry bodies and partners.
These include Anglo American Zimele, Southern Africa Tourism Services Association, Association of Southern African Travel Agents, and the Tourism Business Council of South
Africa. The partnership model is intended to accelerate uptake across the tourism value chain, from accommodation providers and tour operators to travel agents and destination
managers.
The planting marks the first phase of what organisers describe as a growing “green corridor” hub intended to demonstrate how tourism-linked climate action can be practical, measurable and replicable.
At the Vergelegen site, the corridor will double as an outdoor sustainability venue, hosting workshops, industry events and small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) market
activations. Organisers say this approach is designed to make sustainability tangible for operators and travellers alike.
The Green Lung responds to a longstanding environmental, social and governance implementation gap in the tourism sector, particularly for SMMEs.
According to the Word Travel and Tourism Council, SMMEs make up an estimated 80% of all businesses in the sector. Rising climate risks, from floods and wildfires to water stress, have added urgency, exposing tourism assets to growing physical and financial threats. The Green Lung seeks to address this by combining environmental action with education and enterprise development.
Participating tourism businesses are expected to work toward measurable carbon reductions, with an initial benchmark of a 10% reduction linked to operational improvements and offset activities. For South Africa, whose tourism brand is closely tied to natural capital, failure to protect ecosystems may create unintended economic harm due to the inability to respond to shifts in the tourism industry.
The Green Lung programme is expected to expand beyond its initial site in the Western Cape, with organisers indicating that similar sustainability corridors could be developed in other tourism regions over time, depending on funding commitments.
Additional details on timelines, geographic expansion and performance reporting are expected to be released later this year. – ESG Now News
