Africa is taking its rightful place as a leader in responsible tourism.
Better Tourism Africa (previously the International Centre for Responsible Tourism – South Africa), was established in 2006 to lobby on behalf of the continent’s responsible tourism community.
We also enable tourism businesses, destinations, local people and natural and cultural heritage to thrive. We do so because better places for local people mean better places to visit.
Our Mission
Our mission is to harness tourism to create better places for people to live in better places for people to visit.
We work with government and the private sector in Africa to implement the objectives of Responsible Tourism as described in the Cape Town Declaration.
We believe tourism should help build prosperous and inclusive local economies, healthy natural environments, and celebrate and preserve cultures. Through our continent-wide network of activists we advocate and agitate for responsible tourism.
Latest responsible tourism news
The Best for Global Goals Reporting category in the African Responsible Tourism Awards
The Best for Global Goals Reporting category in the African Responsible Tourism Awards Since 2018, the African Responsible Tourism Awards has introduced the category for Best for Global Goals Reporting as a standard feature. Instead
Cape Whale Coast sets the bar high for responsible tourism destinations
On a drive to Hermanus to interview Frieda Lloyd, Manager of Cape Whale Coast Tourism, I pondered on what makes a tourism destination a responsible tourism destination. Is a responsible tourism destination one in
Opening date for the 2019 African Responsible Tourism Awards
Nominations and applications for the 2019 African Responsible Tourism Awards are scheduled to open in September 2018. There’s a range of categories, so most tourism organisations doing good work in responsible tourism can find a
Explore our recent work
African Responsible Tourism Awards
The African Responsible Tourism Awards is a continent-wide search for Africa’s most inspiring responsible tourism experiences. It forms part of a global family of awards, culminating in the prestigious World Responsible Tourism Awards. Better Tourism Africa has organised the African awards since its inception in 2015.
Strengthening the WOWZULU model for sustainable community-based tourism
Better Tourism Africa has partnered with KwaZulu-Natal-based rural development agency, Africa!Ignite, on a project funded by UNEP’s 10YFP initiative. The project aims to bring together tourism stakeholders to research, strengthen and document the WOWZULU tourism initiative as a model for sustainable community-based tourism in South Africa.