AI 2018 Business Excellence Awards

Acquisition International - 2018 Business Excellence Awards 23 “Complimenting sustainable enterprise development, we also develop new travel routes expanding geographical spread innovatively, reimagining itineraries to empower the growing number of discerning ‘Global Citizens”’ to Go truly Local ’on a trip, (Incidentally now a Brand). Through this work we support aspiring local entrepreneurs to identify products and services within these routes. They are involved at all levels. We also encourage other countries to explore and implement this enabling “way”. We market tourism experiences in creative “out of the box” ways and channel the business through a central business directing service to the local communities. We have offered outcomes based volunteer and –intern programmes in a host of disciplines besides sustainable tourism, for over 25 years. I am honoured to participate as an invited tutor at various training institutions worldwide, key note addresses, motivational speaker and of late working with at local authority and education level in South Africa. The locals are reaping the lion’s share of the benefits. As communities grow, local entrepreneurs grow creating local jobs. The organisation’s commitment to supporting local communities has helped it to complete many successful projects over the years, as Anthea highlights. “At Dreamcatcher, we do not get bogged down with the “how to do”. We tend to take the alternative route by searching for the problems with a community constantly asking ourselves “why are we doing this?” Involving community stakeholders, we find the problem, we find the solution, then, based on our experience developed over the years we re-imagine, innovate and find the pathway to the “how”. Innovation leads to new opportunities. Today Dreamcatcher South Africa has evolved from a pioneer to specialisation skilled in many, if not most of the bases necessary to cover to ensure a sustainable tourism experience, service or destination. A product or service is not developed in isolation, removed from the locals or from the environment it is in. It is a holistic approach which looks at everything honestly and always with sustainability in mind. This approach is best illustrated with the ‘Wasteland - Graced Land’ experience we initiated with a community called Melkhoutfontein in South Africa. With significant cultural ancestry, Melkhoutfontein, situated between two waste dump sites, serving the region around it, was drowning in waste with significant impacts in close proximity to the community and the environment. Additionally, natural vegetation and life sustained in it, was decimated by invader plant specie. Situated over 5 kilometres from a busy resort town, living in recurring poverty, the future for this community was particularly bleak and found in 1992 in a research study, to be one of the most destitute communities in South Africa, in spite of geographically situated in one of the top visitor destinations: The Garden Route. Identifying local needs ranging from access to food and work, to health, social pride and environmental regeneration were taken into consideration with the community over a period of five years before the project even started. Today we are proud that Wasteland - Graced Land’ is growing into a sought-after visitor destination, recognised blue print and a world leader in sustainable, local socio-economic -and environmental development, appreciated by all who visit to experience, engage the locals, come to contribute and to learn”. Looking ahead, Dreamcatcher is poised to build upon its current success and support even more good causes for local socio-economic growth. As Anthea concludes: “The report released on 22nd March by the World Travel and Tourism Councils annual Economic Impact Research Study, shows that travel and tourism has outpaced all other GDP sectors worldwide. Growing by 7%, 50% faster than the global economy as a whole; creating over 7 million new jobs and for the 7th consecutive year outpacing other sectors of retail, wholesale, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and financial services. Realistically if those job creators could be intentionally scaled up to an inclusive representative increase in local ownership and enterprises in the communities offering their services, the results could be phenomenal. “The global challenges of poverty, inequality and environmental degradation continue to be felt and known around the world and the need to purpose socio-economic models to address these issues is a vital. In a country like South Africa, with so much to give in terms of natural beauty, resources and a people passionate to grow to their full potential Post Apartheid, (with the 100th birth date of Nelson Mandela coming soon), it brings these pressing need to effect change sustainably, sharply into focus. It is clear from a growing number of direct contacts to us from visitors around the world. Positive of late, locally in South Africa the number of tourists and people in South Africa wishing to contribute or engage in partnerships and initiatives to solve the issue of socio-economic development and growth in a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable way locally, are increasing. The trend to contribute and impact and participate directly at the source of these challenges and opportunities, and to see what impact they have had WITHIN a community, is good news. Much more can be done with many more people working together as global citizens to add their presence and contributions directly where the challenges are. They will be part of the solution.” “Travel and Tourism is in the ideal position to address the UN Development Goals. It is a people-based activity that is dependent on unique experiences that should be driven at a greater level in local communities with entrepreneurs adding value and content to responsible consumption to ensure sustainable outcomes. “Spending years in investment, research and resources to solve the issues discussed, has meant we literally had to “go it alone” at times. Pioneering is exciting, creative and enables passion. It has honed our expertise and enabled us to address challenges which many mainstream tourism and business service providers grapple with as they endeavour to find a way which can work. Dreamcatcher views challenges as opportunities. Our skills are honed to assist tourists, those who work in the industry and its peripheral services, training institutions and educators, industry, investors and enterprises to tackle them with gusto the “Dreamcatcher Go truly Local Way”. It would seem that Dreamcatcher has come of age and we are proud of this award. It is time and it is possible. We look forward to the opportunity to be part of the team.” Anthea Rossouw - Founder, Innovator and Programme Leader - Dreamcatcher South Africa