Protecting conservation and working with communities need to go hand in hand with the commercial aspect of any sustainable tourism venture.

The tourism industry is well versed in what is known as the three pillars of sustainability: environment, community and economics. While the terminology may vary, the principle that all three elements need to be cared for, is taken as a starting point for sustainable tourism ventures.

In his early days as the founder of Wilderness Safaris, Colin Bell popularised the principle using the illustration of a three-legged cooking pot. He says the legs represent environment, tourism and community and that if any one of these fails, the pot would fall over.

Dr Sue Snyman, Group Community and Culture Manager and Project Director for Children in the Wilderness, says the three principles, together with culture, are integrated into every aspect of Wilderness Safaris’ operations as the Four Cs: Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce. The company’s most recent venture in Rwanda is an example.

The operation supports the conservation of mountain gorillas; entails a community partnership, including a the formation of a community co-operative for equitable procurement of fresh produce and other goods; and the design of the camp pays homage to the Royal Palace of the Rwandan monarchy. “We have already planted more than 7 000 trees on the Bisate site and will encourage our guests to spend time in the tree nursery and to plant a tree during their stay, thus contributing directly to the restoration of the area,” says Dave Bennett, Chief of Sales at Wilderness Safaris.

Vanessa Naude, Digital Marketing Manager at Gondwana Game Reserve, and Jonathan Berry, the reserve’s Sustainability and Conservation Manager, also highlight the need to support the three principles of environment, economics, and socio-cultural impact. “Tourism has to be sustainable in all three areas to truly be considered sustainable tourism.”

Both Vernon Wait, Marketing Director of Lalibela Game Reserve, and Tourvest Destination Management Contracting Manager, Guido Roeschlau, believe it is crucial that the tourism sector includes local communities. “The local communities typically live in the areas we sell to our tourists as attractions,” says Roeschlau. “If we do not make sure that the local communities will benefit from this tourism or understand the importance of protecting the environment, then even the most concentrated conservation effort will fail.”

Wait also points out that tourism is well placed to support rural communities. He explains that while there is increasing urbanisation, the tourism sector creates jobs within the rural diaspora, ensuring that locals no longer need to relocate for better employment opportunities, wages and living conditions. At the same time, this allows communities to keep their families together and sustain their traditions, he says.

The partnership between Return Africa and the Makuleke community is one example.

CEO of ReturnAfrica, Peter John Massyn, explains how the community is an integral part of the company’s Pafuri operation. The camp is situated on land owned by the Makuleke community. The community won the land back after being forcibly removed by the apartheid government in 1969. The lodge is run in partnership with the community and the lodge’s Operations Manager, Enos Mngomezulu, and General Manager, Godfrey Baloyi, are both from the community.

In addition to working with communities, product owners highlight the need protect and nurture the environment. Massyn says this can be done through supporting conservation initiatives in addition to paying conservancies levies.

Wait emphasises the need to carefully manage natural resources. “Having a balanced equilibrium ensures species are not being depleted or obliterated entirely and further enhances continual growth and longevity. The need for sustainable and responsible planning and management is imperative for the industry to survive.”

It is important for property owners to be involved in sustainable tourism in order to minimise the carbon footprint, say Naude and Berry. Lauren Ritchie, Chief Executive Officer or Rare Earth, agrees: “Tourism products are generally very heavy on electricity and water consumption and with the continued development of products, it now makes it easier and more cost effective to use products that allow us to decrease this dramatically and implement programmes for employee and guest awareness.”