About

Vision Statement: "To be a leading hub for innovative and transformative research, training, and capacity building that drives sustainable and inclusive tourism development, empowering stakeholders to thrive in a dynamic and equitable future."

Mission Statement: "The Centre for Sustainable Tourism and Innovation is dedicated to advancing the sustainability and inclusivity of tourism destinations and industries through interdisciplinary research, comprehensive training programs, and active capacity building programmes. We aim to foster resilient tourism practices that balance economic growth, environmental stewardship, and social equity, while engaging local communities and stakeholders to actively participate in and benefit from tourism development."

Core Values: 

• Excellence aligns with the goal of being a leading hub for innovative research and training. 
• Collaboration reflects the Centre’s commitment to engaging with diverse communities and stakeholders. 
• Integrity is fundamental in promoting ethical and developmental tourism practices.
• Innovation is essential for advancing resilient tourism practices and embracing digitalisation. 
• Sustainability is central to the Centre’s mission of balancing economic, environmental, and social aspects in tourism development. 

Goals and Objectives:

1. Offer Specialised Training and Workshops
2. Consulting Services for businesses in the Tourism Value Chain 
3. Engage in Research Grants and Partnerships 
4. Organize Conferences and Events 
5. Publications and Knowledge Resources 
6. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sponsorships 

The centre aims to achieve the following objectives:

• Create best-practice guides and training manuals about sustainable tourism development and innovation 
• Assist in the formulation of public- and private-sector policies that will lead to improvement in tourism planning and development 
• Facilitate collaboration between industry partners via the coordination of a newsletter, practitioner-oriented concept papers, lecture series and annual conference 
• Train tourism-related and government employees, as well as community residents, via workshops and certification programs, thus increasing capacities and opportunities 
• Research tourism-related impacts, including economic, environmental and cultural issues 
• Develop opportunities for tourism research in the industry and communities 
• Network, interact and collaborate with organisations and institutions that focus on tourism issues in the province, the country and the African continent 
• Communicate findings on tourism research to industry partners, elected officials and community organisations