92 | http://www.nomadafricamag.com | ...Celebrating the world’s richest continent | Issue 11
tion marketing across the Southern
African region’s 14 Southern African
countries. RETOSA aims to increase and
reinforce awareness of SADC as a desir-
able vibrant tourist destination, with
the purpose to increase tourism arrivals,
tourism revenue and investments into
the region as well as improved regional
competitiveness thus promoting socio-
economic development.
Better Tourism Africa (previously the
International Centre for Responsible
Tourism - South Africa), a non-profit or-
ganisation established in 2006, works
alongside government, the private sec-
tor and communities in Africa to imple-ment the objectives of Responsible
Tourism as described in the Cape Town
Declaration. We believe tourism should
be harnessed to create better places for
people to live and to visit. Our work in-
cludes advocacy, training and capacity-
building, research and technical
advisory services.One of our objectives is to mainstream responsible practices across
all RETOSA member states. The African Responsible Tourism
Awards not only recognises the efforts of tourism organisations to
operate responsibly, it also demonstrates the difference that taking
responsibility can make. It can educate and inspire others to be
more responsible. Highlighting individual achievements can help
SADC achieve theirs.”- Thembi Kunene-Msimang, Chief Executive Officer, RETOSA.