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The National Responsible Tourism Standard (SANS 1162:2011)​

The following standards have been developed by the South African Department of Tourism as a minimum for businesses wishing to be certified as 'responsible' tourism businesses.  These standards have been incorporated into the GreenLine Silver Class standard and must be complied with for recognition.

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Part 1: sustainable operations and management

1 The organization shall comply with all relevant national, provincial and local legislation, regulations, licences and permits, as may be required.

 

2 The organization shall establish a responsible tourism policy that is suitable to its reality and scale, and that considers environmental, socio-cultural, economical, quality, health and safety issues.

 

3 The organization shall have a long-term sustainability management system that is suitable to its reality and scale, and that considers environmental, socio-cultural, economical, quality, health, and safety issues.

 

4 The organization shall establish and implement procedures for evaluating the effectiveness of its sustainability actions. Such information should be used in the critical review of the sustainability management system.

 

5 The organization shall facilitate staff awareness of and training in its responsible tourism policy.

 

6 The organization shall make publicly available the responsible tourism policy and information about its associated activities.

 

7 Promotional materials shall be accurate and complete, shall not promise more than can be delivered by the organization and shall not make misleading claims regarding sustainability.

 

8 In the design and construction of buildings and infrastructure the organization shall

a) respect the natural or cultural heritage surroundings in the siting, design, impact assessment, and land rights and acquisition, and

b) use locally appropriate principles of sustainable construction.

 

9 The organization shall provide access for people with disabilities and special needs.

 

10 The organization shall invite customer feedback on responsible tourism in the organization and shall take corrective action where appropriate.

Part 3: economic criteria

1 The organization shall use fair and equitable processes for recruitment and advancement, in relation to race, gender and disability.

 

2 The organization shall employ people, including in management positions, from the local area, with a particular emphasis on designated groups.

 

3 The organization shall provide training opportunities for staff relevant to the organizational context.

 

4 The organization shall purchase local and fair trade services and goods, where available, and set targets for improvement.

 

5 The organization shall demonstrate support to small enterprises.

 

6 The organization shall pay employees a living wage that is equal to or above the legal minimum.

 

7 The organization shall prohibit child labour, forced labour and sexual exploitation.

 

8 The organization shall report transparently on the use of guest contributions, where relevant.

To help you understand the criteria more fully, a comprehensive Iinterpretation Guide is available. 

Part 2: social and cultural criteria

1 The organization shall contribute to the protection of sites that are of local historical, archaeological, cultural and spiritual importance and that are located on its properties.

 

2 The organization shall provide, to the local communities or residents, where applicable, reasonable access to sites of historical, social, cultural or religious significance that are located on its properties.

 

3 The activities of the tourism organization shall not jeopardize the provision of basic services, such as water, energy and sanitation, to neighbouring communities.

 

4 The organization shall use elements of local art, architecture, and cultural heritage in its operations, design, decor, food and shops. In so doing, the organization shall acknowledge the intellectual property rights of third parties.

 

5 The organization shall support local development initiatives in consultation with the people from the local area who are affected.

 

6 The organization shall provide opportunities for visitors to purchase local products and services.

 

7 Historical and archaeological artefacts may not be sold, traded or displayed, unless permitted by law.

 

8 The organization shall provide a code of behaviour for visits to local cultural, historical and religious sites or communities. Such code shall be developed in conjunction with the affected parties.

 

9 The organization shall provide information to staff about HIV/AIDS and general well-being.

Part 4: environmental criteria

1 The organization shall have a responsible purchasing policy.

 

2 The organization shall measure energy consumption, indicating all energy sources as a percentage of the overall consumption, and shall adopt quantitative goals and measures to decrease overall consumption.

 

3 The organization shall measure water consumption, indicating all sources as a percentage of the overall consumption, and shall adopt quantitative goals and measures to decrease the overall consumption and improve the reuse of waste water.

 

4 The organization shall implement and manage actions associated with its operations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other contributors to climate change.

 

5 The organization shall implement a waste management plan, addressing both solid and liquid wastes, with quantitative goals to minimize waste produced.

 

6 The organization shall limit the use of harmful substances (for example pesticides, paints, swimming pool disinfectants, cleaning materials, sanitation material and guest amenities); and substitute these substances with environmentally friendly alternatives where possible.

 

7 The organization shall implement practices to reduce pollution from noise, light, runoff, erosion, ozone-depleting compounds and other pollutants, as applicable.

 

8 The organization shall adhere to any national and international requirements that govern the trade in listed, endangered or threatened (or any combination of these) species and shall alert visitors to these requirements.

 

9 The organization shall not hold captive any wildlife without the required permits and appropriate enclosures.

 

10 The organization shall use plants of indigenous species for landscaping and restoration.

 

11 The organization shall take measures to eradicate invasive alien plant species.

 

12 The organization shall contribute to local biodiversity conservation, including supporting natural protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value.

 

13 The organization shall avoid adverse effects on ecosystems, and shall rectify any negative environmental impact resulting from its activities.

 

14 The organization shall provide environmental information to visitors so that they can reduce their impact on nature and natural resources.

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