South Africa was the first country to publish a national tourism policy with explicit reference to responsible tourism. The principles set out in the 1996 White Paper on the development and promotion of tourism in South Africa remain relevant today.
The 1996 White Paper also provides the framing for the current Tourism Act, Act 3 of 2014. Responsible Tourism has a prominent position in the legislation, being one of five objects of the act. The objects of the act are to:
The National Tourism Sector Strategy is created to realise Section 4 of the Tourism Act and such it should reflect and the objects of the legislation.
The 2011 National Tourism Sector Strategy is currently under review. The Department of Tourism has published a draft for public comment; the comment period closes on 5 July 2017.