Sustainable Tourism Network Southern Africa (STNSA) Network Developments: ~ May 2009 to May 2010 ~ Kate Finlay SNTSA Secretariat (Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa) 6 May 2010

Background Network Communication Network Activities Overview

First stakeholder consultation - End November 2007First stakeholder consultation - End November 2007 –7 countries, 19 intermediary organisations Consensus reached on the following:Consensus reached on the following: –Benefits of working together –Common vision (terminology secondary) –FTTSA mandate as network secretariat 4 Focus Areas identified and agreed by participants4 Focus Areas identified and agreed by participants –Policy and advocacy –Standards and branding –Training and learning –Marketing and awareness-raising STNSA Background

May 2008May 2008 –11 countries, 25 intermediary organisations “Sustainable Tourism Certification” = initial priority / focus area identified by participants“Sustainable Tourism Certification” = initial priority / focus area identified by participants Inaugural STNSA Meeting (2008)

2009 STNSA Meeting May 2009 –11 SADC countries, 3 observer countries and 26 intermediary organisations Network should be more inclusive – i.e. non SADC countries should be encouraged to participate in the Network as observers and the Network should remain open to input from throughout Africa Engage with certification on a global scale Need more active participation by network members, greater support to the Secretariat

STNSA Communication: Website (1) New STNSA website: official launch at Indaba visits in April Visits from 67 countries (within SADC most visits from SA, Namibia, Botswana and Lesotho) Case Studies – contributions welcome! Policy Pages – all countries can provide input Sustainable travel country pages (tourism products that meet specific criteria can add their information to this page) Links Page (sustainable tourism stakeholders can add their contact details here) Newsletters, press releases and past meeting reports Forum (register for free and discuss relevant issues) …

Homepage postsHomepage posts Sustainable Tourism Awards and Certification Programmes available to/in SADCSustainable Tourism Awards and Certification Programmes available to/in SADC Practical tools e.g. Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) self-quiz, online training (under development), resource libraryPractical tools e.g. Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) self-quiz, online training (under development), resource library Events calendarEvents calendar Registration PageRegistration Page Stakeholders encouraged to offer suggestions to improve relevant country pages / other parts of the site.Stakeholders encouraged to offer suggestions to improve relevant country pages / other parts of the site. STNSA Communication: Website (2)

6 newsletter editions to date (tourism products, certification programmes and sustainable tourism organisations from throughout Africa have had content included)6 newsletter editions to date (tourism products, certification programmes and sustainable tourism organisations from throughout Africa have had content included) 436 newsletter subscribers (end April 2010) - up from 74 in April 2009 (489% increase)436 newsletter subscribers (end April 2010) - up from 74 in April 2009 (489% increase) STNSA collateral: pull up banners, redesigned brochure and business cards, ribbon advertisements in Indaba Daily NewsSTNSA collateral: pull up banners, redesigned brochure and business cards, ribbon advertisements in Indaba Daily News SNTSA Communication: Newsletter & Brochure

Signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA) (March 2010).Signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA) (March 2010). This understanding aims to aid in the:This understanding aims to aid in the: –Sharing of opportunities to support mandate of both parties –Sharing of information –Facilitating of network opportunities STNSA Collaboration

Coordinated and hosted by STNSA Secretariat (FTTSA)Coordinated and hosted by STNSA Secretariat (FTTSA) Consultative workshop with African stakeholders on international accreditation of sustainable tourism certificationConsultative workshop with African stakeholders on international accreditation of sustainable tourism certification –establishment of the Tourism Sustainability Council (TSC) under UNEP 9 sustainable tourism certification programmes from throughout Africa represented9 sustainable tourism certification programmes from throughout Africa represented TSC acquired knowledge on African perspective and contextTSC acquired knowledge on African perspective and context Delegates said that through working together in the past we now have a common understanding and are able to present common areas of concernDelegates said that through working together in the past we now have a common understanding and are able to present common areas of concern Tourism Sustainability Council (TSC) Africa Meeting, Jan

Development Southern Africa – internationally accredited, multi- disciplinary journal housed within Development Bank of Southern Africa.Development Southern Africa – internationally accredited, multi- disciplinary journal housed within Development Bank of Southern Africa. 4-5 issues per annum.4-5 issues per annum. STNSA advocated for special edition on sustainable tourism – will be published in December Kate Rivett-Carnac (DBSA) and Jennifer Seif (FTTSA) are guest editors.STNSA advocated for special edition on sustainable tourism – will be published in December Kate Rivett-Carnac (DBSA) and Jennifer Seif (FTTSA) are guest editors. Call for abstracts (August 2009) – investment impacts, leakages and linkages, new resources for community development.Call for abstracts (August 2009) – investment impacts, leakages and linkages, new resources for community development. Approx 35 abstracts received, 14 full papers requested and peer reviewed, estimated 10 will be published.Approx 35 abstracts received, 14 full papers requested and peer reviewed, estimated 10 will be published. Diverse authorship, diverse country focusDiverse authorship, diverse country focus Policy / research summit to coincide with launch of special edition (end 2010 or early 2011)Policy / research summit to coincide with launch of special edition (end 2010 or early 2011) Development Southern Africa – special edition on sustainable tourism

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