Green Tourism Incentive Programme: A Lifeline for Sustainable Tourism in South Africa

by
1 min read
green tourism sustainable tourism Cape Town

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the tourism industry in South Africa, with many businesses struggling to stay open. As a result, the Green Tourism Incentive Programme (GTIP) has been established to support small and medium-sized tourism enterprises to promote sustainable tourism practices.

Encouraging Sustainable Practices

The GTIP aims to encourage private-sector tourism businesses to manage their water and energy usage more efficiently, reducing costs and increasing competitiveness. By promoting responsible tourism practices, the program aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of the tourism sector in South Africa.

Newsletter

Stay Informed • Cape Town

Get breaking news, events, and local stories delivered to your inbox daily. All the news that matters in under 5 minutes.

Join 10,000+ readers
No spam, unsubscribe anytime

Success of the Programme

The program has been successful since its launch, with 130 approved applications and a total grant value of R76.1 million disbursed to businesses. Eligible applicants can qualify for various funding options, including the cost of an energy and water efficiency audit and grant funding of 50% and 90% of the cost of implementing approved solutions.

Supporting Climate Action

Minister Patricia de Lille highlights the importance of accelerating climate action in tourism and the role of the GTIP in addressing the impacts of climate change, economic constraints, and electricity shortages the tourism industry faces. By investing in water and energy efficiency measures, the government is supporting the tourism industry and contributing to the country’s broader sustainability goals.

Encouraging Applications

Eligible tourism businesses are encouraged to apply for the GTIP to take advantage of the opportunity to reduce costs and increase sustainability. The 8th application window will be open from the 2nd of May to the 30th of June 2023. Please visit the Department of Tourism’s website for more information on the program and how to apply.

Tags:

You might be interested in

Michael Jameson is a Cape Town-born journalist whose reporting on food culture traces the city’s flavours from Bo-Kaap kitchens to township braai spots. When he isn’t tracing spice routes for his weekly column, you’ll find him surfing the chilly Atlantic off Muizenberg with the same ease he navigates parliamentary press briefings.

View all

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

south africa gender-based violence
Previous Story

Media’s Responsibility in Addressing Gender-Based Violence in South Africa

fishing industry south africa
Next Story

The Fishing Right Allocation Process 2020/2021 in South Africa

Latest from Blog

Kiteboarding Extreme Sports

Forty Metres of Air: The Morning Kiteboarding Rewrote Physics

Hugo Wigglesworth, a young kiteboarder, defied gravity and rewrote the record books by soaring an incredible 40 meters into the air. He used powerful winds, a perfectly timed jump off a wave, and special gear to achieve this amazing feat. His careful planning and hundreds of practice runs made him fly higher than anyone before, showing the world what’s possible in kiteboarding.

housing crisis Airbnb

Airbnb Under Fire: How Cape Town’s Housing Crunch Became a Tourism Blame-Game

Cape Town’s housing woes are NOT really Airbnb’s fault, even though a viral photo tried to blame them! The real problem is that not enough homes are being built, and lots of new people are moving to the city. Getting building permits takes forever, making homes expensive. Airbnb brings in lots of money and jobs, and even if all Airbnbs disappeared, it wouldn’t fix the big housing shortage. The city needs to build more homes and make it easier to do so, not just point fingers at tourists.

Cape Town Restaurants

Cape Town’s Hottest Tables: Where Summer Tastes Like Salt, Smoke and Midnight Vinyl

Cape Town’s new restaurants are super exciting, offering amazing tastes from the ocean, farms, and even old recipes. Places like Amura serve unique sea dishes, while Tannin has a huge wine list and tiny plates. Café Sofi bakes heavenly pastries, Beach Buns makes awesome burgers, and Le Bistrot de JAN mixes French and South African flavors. These spots let you taste the city’s lively food scene, from fancy dinners to casual beach eats, making every meal an adventure.

South Africa Ocean

Between Concrete and Current – Four Inland Hearts Meet the Indian Ocean

This article tells a beautiful story of four South Africans from inland places who see the Indian Ocean for the very first time. For many, the sea is just a picture, far away and hard to reach. But when these brave people finally touch the salty water, it changes them deeply. They feel the ocean’s power, taste its salt, and understand that this huge, blue world is now a part of their own story, breaking down old ideas about who can connect with the sea.