GREEN LUNG LAUNCHED AT VERGELEGEN

South Africa’s tourism and travel industry has launched the Tourism & Travel Green Lung at Vergelegen Wine Estate in Somerset West. This is an initiative designed to help tourism and travel sector businesses, including SMMEs, become climate-resilient while embedding environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices into daily operations.

The programme is led by Sigma International, in partnership with industry and funding partners such as Anglo American Zimele, the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association, the Association of Southern African Travel Agents, and the Tourism Business Council of South Africa.

Stakeholders launched this initiative by planting 250 trees within the 10 hectare Vergelegen site, which will grow into a tourism green corridor. The Green Lung provides a tangible example of how sustainability can move beyond reporting and compliance into projects that businesses and communities can see. It will not only be an example of tourism and biodiversity restoration, but will also serve as an outdoor auditorium for industry and community events, and a platform for tourism SMMEs to access markets through pop-ups, activations, and experiential trade opportunities.

The launch at Vergelegen symbolises the strong connection between heritage and sustainability, tourism and environmental stewardship, economic growth and ecosystem protection. The programme aligns closely with the estate’s long-standing commitment to sustainability.

Tourism is one of the sectors most exposed to climate risk. Recent environmental shocks, including flooding affecting key tourism regions, reinforce the urgent need for decisive measures.

 https://www.sigmaintl.co.za/projects3.html

 https://vergelegen.co.za/sustainability/