Full details about WTM Africa are on the show's website
Wednesday 9th April
10:30 – 11:15 Responsible Tourism – the Cape Town Experience
The 1996 White Paper on the Development and Promotion of Tourism in South Africa was the first national tourism strategy to adopt the principles of Responsible Tourism. In 2002, the 1st International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations was held in Cape Town, an official side event to the World Summit on Sustainable Development; 280 people from 20 countries attended the conference. The Cape Town Declaration is the founding document of a global movement. In this session, we’ll reflect on Cape Town’s contribution and current trends.
Moderator Harold Goodwin WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Advisor
Wahida Parker Board Member at Cape Town Tourism & Managing Director Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company
Theuns Vivian Destination Development Manager, City of Cape Town
Wednesday 9th April 11:15 – 12:00 SATSA & Responsible Tourism
In an exciting new development, SATSA and Fair Trade Tourism have partnered to promote Responsible Tourism. A collaboration designed to equip SATSA members with the tools and opportunities to thrive sustainably driving sustainable development for the tourism industry and communities. Come along to learn more about this initiative to drive positive change to benefit the industry and local communities. Sustainability is no longer optional; it is increasingly essential for resilience and competitive advantage.
Moderator: Harold Goodwin WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Advisor
Rachel Nxele SATSA Responsible Tourism Committee Chair
Lisa Scriven Fair Trade Tourism South Africa
12:00 – 12:30 The twin challenge of climate change for tourism – mitigation and adaptation
There is increasing awareness of climate change. 2024 was the first calendar year with a global average temperature exceeding 1.5°C above the pre-industrial level, with an average global temperature of 1.6°C above the target agreed at COP21 in Paris. Climate Change with drought, wildfires, storms, and flooding, poses real challenges for the travel and tourism sector, which is under increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We have to mitigate and adapt. What can our sector do to make its contribution?
Harold Goodwin WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Advisor
Ramese Mathews Infrastructure Specialist, Cape Nature
Meindertjan Rebel, Senior Professional Officer: Coastal Engineering and Design, Coastal Management, Environmental Management, Spatial Planning and Environment, City of Cape Town
Jacques Stoltz, Director of Tourism, Department of Economic Development and Tourism. Western Cape Tourism
12:30 – 13:00 The International Centre for Responsible Tourism Southern Africa
Throughout Southern Africa, many businesses and destinations take responsibility to make tourism more sustainable and to use tourism to make better places for people to live in. The ICRT Southern Africa is being launched to create a network of practitioners to provide opportunities to share ideas, approaches and proven ways of making tourism better for communities, for the environment and biodiversity, and for tourists.
Moderator Harold Goodwin WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Advisor
Hugh Bartis, Principal Lecturer in the Tourism Department at the Nelson. Mandela University.
Ruth Crichton Membership Engagement, Consultant, The Long Run
Glynn O’Leary, CEO, Transfrontier Parks Destinations
Morena e Moholo Montoeli Mota, Principal Traditional Leader of the Batlokoa Nation. The Batlokoa Nation represented by Morena Montoeli Mota are the owners of Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge, in the Drakensberg Mountains, Free State.
Jacques Stoltz, Director of Tourism, Department of Economic Development and Tourism. Western Cape Tourism
13:00 RT programme Closes
Thursday 10th April
13:00 – 14:00 The EU Green Claims Directive and what it means for Africa
The EU is preparing legislation to address greenwashing and ensure that consumers are not misled by green and sustainability claims made by businesses and marketing platforms. This new legislation will likely be applied in 2026 and will impact all businesses selling into the EU countries. In this session, we'll discuss the latest information we have on the impact of this legislation and discuss how you can prepare to deal with the consequences.
Moderator Harold Goodwin WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Advisor
Leonie Andereya (GM) of Radisson Red Cape Town,
Julie Cheetham, Chief Operations Officer at Travalyst
Emilie Hagedoorn, Greenheart Tourism
Lisa Scriven Responsible Tourism Advisor
14:00 – 14:30 In conversation with Michael Lutzeyer of Grootbos
Grootbos has often been recognized for its pioneering work in Responsible Tourism. Michael turned a “Farm for Sale” with fynbos slopes overlooking Walker Bay near Gaansbai. What began as a family holiday retreat, added five self-catering cottages, then a catered guest house and lodges. The Grootbos Foundation has worked to create employment and economic opportunities for the local community. Grootbos is a rare example of a tourism business successfully conserving a floral kingdom and benefiting the local community – how does it work?
Michael Lutzeyer in conversation with Harold Goodwin about Grootbos.
Thursday 10th April 14:30 – 15:30 Nature Positive Tourism
The old ecotourism mantra “Take only photographs, leave only footprints” is not seen or heard as much today as it was. Regenerative, conscious, nature-positive tourism is in fashion. We have begun to understand that conservation is expensive, and communities bear the opportunity costs of preserving land and species. Tourists are partly attracted to charismatic megafaunas because they were hunted out at home long ago. Our panel will explore how we can grow nature-positive tourism and ensure the local community benefits.
Moderator Harold Goodwin WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Advisor
Pam Yako, Chairperson of South African National Parks
Wilfred Chivell, MD Dyer Island Cruises Whale Watch and Marine Dynamics Shark Tours, Chairman Dyer Island Conservation Trust
Geordie Ractliffe, Executive Director, Sustainability Matters
Nick Tucker GOPA AFC Gmbh
Glynn O’Leary, CEO, Transfrontier Parks Destinations & CEO Piggs Peak Hotel Eswatini
15:30 – 16:00 Why Responsible Tourism Makes Business Sense
Your panel will explore the latest market research, the growth of the ‘experience economy’ and how a Responsible Tourism approach can benefit the bottom line. We’ll look at Harvard economist and business guru Michael Porter’s ideas about creating shared value and review the business cases for Responsible Tourism. It is not just about the market.
Moderator Harold Goodwin WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Advisor
Ruth Crichton Membership Engagement, Consultant, The Long Run
Malcos Sengwayo, Chairperson Piggs Peak Hotel, Eswatini.
16:00 The 2025 WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Awards
This year's Awards categories are
Come along to the Awards Ceremony to see who has won, and the Gold winners will be going forward to the Global Award.
