Adventure Tourism Consultative Workshop on Self – Regulation

Background and Introduction
        
The National Department of Tourism (NDT) in partnership with Southern African Tourism Services Association (SATSA)   is in the process of facilitating the development of regulatory measures for the Adventure Tourism Industry in South Africa. NDT conducted a preliminary research on the current state of Adventure Tourism in South Africa. One of the preliminary findings revealed that there was a need for a comprehensive study which will provide a thorough analysis regarding the regulatory framework related to safety and operational standards that guide adventure tourism in South Africa.

As a result, a consultative tourism leadership dialogue in the form of a workshop was convened in December 2012. The primary objective of the dialogue or workshop was to provide a meaningful space for information sharing, exchange of best practices and seek interventions to the challenges and experiences identified in the Adventure Tourism Industry, in order to unlock the growth potential within the industry. The dialogue was attended by key representatives of the Adventure Tourism Industry. This processes culminated into the development of the Adventure Tourism Report by NDT.

Rational of the adventure tourism provincial consultative workshops

The rationale for a sound regulatory environment for adventure tour operators is based on the reasoning that if South Africa is to excel as an adventure tourist destination, it is critical to build the credibility and profile of a reliable adventure tourism industry in South Africa.  It will assist in protecting our tourists and also growing the adventure tourism industry as a whole.  It was however clearly indicated that as much as there is a need for improved regulations, the National Department of Tourism should caution not to over regulate the adventure tourism industry as most of these operators are small operators and often businesses consist of two or three people only. Should regulations have heavy financial implications, the financial burden will be too much to carry and businesses will have to close down.  In this context there is need for Government to create enabling environment for self-regulation of the industry. 

It has been noted that there is a need for a specific adventure tourism section within the Southern African Tourism Services Association. The rationale for this is that a dedicated section for adventure tourism activities within SATSA will assist with better alignment, coordination, service excellence and will ensure that safety standards are implemented.

NDT in partnership with SATSA has scheduled a series of provincial workshops in 2014/15 to draw the attention of the industry towards the gaps identified in the report and to reach general consensus of establishing generic standards for self-regulations of the adventure tourism.

The aims and objectives of the provincial consultative workshops are;
  • To present the outcome of the National Department of Tourism’s Adventure Tourism Report
  • To promote awareness of the importance of development of a self-regulatory system for the adventure tourism in South Africa and
  • To solicit inputs from stakeholders on the safety and operational standards which guide adventure tourism in South Africa
Expected outcomes of the consultations
  • Awareness programmes about the importance of the development of a self-regulatory system for adventure tourism in South Africa
  • A detailed report outlining the issues pertaining to the development of a self-regulatory system for adventure tourism after a twelve month consultation period.
Adventure Tourism Workshops

​Date​​ ​Time ​Location ​Description
​11/06/2014 ​10:00 - 13:00 ​Beacon Isle hotel in Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape ​SATSA and the National Department of Tourism have partnered
to present a workshop on self-regulation in the adventure tourism
 sector. The workshop is part of a countrywide consultative
process to seek the views and opinions of all role players.
A representative steering committee has been established
and key members will present on various facets of
Adventure Tourism and  implications on regulatory processes.
Attendees will be addressed by Department of Tourism
Deputy Director General, Morongwe Ramphele, and
SATSA CEO, David Frost. Topics covered include ‘Background,
Definition, Purpose and Process of the Adventure Tourism’
and ‘What Does Self-Regulation Mean and How Will This
Play Out in Your Sector?’. There will also be a general discussion
and time for questions. The workshop is open to members of
the trade and will take place on Wednesday, June 11 from
10h00-13h00 at the Beacon Isle hotel in Plettenberg Bay,
Western Cape. To RSVP for the workshop, contact Sinenhlanhla
Mazibuko on or by Wednesday, June 9, at
smazibuko@tourism.gov.za or telephonically on 012 444 6576
 or 079 913 5083.
​ ​ ​ ​
Durban adventure tourism workshop​​​ ​ ​ ​
​14/07/2014 ​09:30-12:30 ​Southern Sun Elangeni Maharani Hotel, Durban The workshop is open to members of the trade. To RSVP,  contact
Rathabana Mabuela on or by July 11, by email at
rmabuela@tourism.gov.za​ or telephonically on (012) 444 6705​
or 079 210 5012.​
Adventure Tourism Invite 14 July 2014
​​ ​ ​ ​
Adventure Tourism Workshop on Self- Regulation​ ​ ​ ​
​29/07/2014 09:30-12:30 ​Southern Sun Bloemfontein Hotel, Free State Province You are invited to attend a workshop on Self-Regulation in the
Adventure Tourism sector. This is part of a country wide
consultative process in which the views and opinions of all 
role players are being sought. The initiative is driven jointly by
the 
National Department of Tourism in partnership with
SATSA. A representative steering committee has been
established and key members will present on various facets of
Adventure Tourism and implications on regulatory processes.​
Adventure Tourism Invite 29 July 2014
​ ​ ​ ​
​ S​elf-Regulation' of Adventure Tourism Workshop
​28/08/2014 ​09:00-12:00 ​Coca Cola Dome, Johannesburg ​You are invited to attend a workshop on Self-Regulation in the
Adventure Tourism sector. This is part of a country wide consultative
process in which the views and opinions of all role players are being
sought. The initiative is driven jointly by the National Department of
Tourism in partnership with SATSA. A representative steering
committee has been established and key members will present on
various facets of Adventure Tourism and implications on regulatory
processes. RSVP to Ms Sinenhlanhla Mazibuko on or by
22 August 2014, at smazibuko@tourism.gov.za, (012) 444 6576 or
072 913 5083
Adventure Tourism Invite 28 August 2014