Ubuntu Experiences

Ubuntu Experiences is South Africa’s only responsible tourism marketing and representation collective managed by Emilie Hagedoorn from Green Heart Tourism. It was created specifically for South African tourism businesses that have taken part in a 3-year export coaching program provided by SIPPO in German-speaking source markets and are now ready to take the next step connecting with the travel tra

de and travellers in Europe. The Marketing and Representation Gap

Affordable responsible tourism marketing and representation in Europe is virtually non-existent for smaller South African tourism businesses. The cost gap between support given by SIPPO and an expensive marketing representation agency is huge. Opportunities provided by South Africa Tourism vary considerably per source market and sending your Marketing/Sales person overseas regularly is far too costly for smaller tourism businesses. Ubuntu Experiences aims to fill this need (in the middle of those extremes) with the main focus on helping tourism businesses leverage their first steps in overseas marketing in German-speaking markets and also to open a few new doors in markets such as: The Netherlands, Belgium, the UK and Scandinavia (both B2B and B2C). During the 3 years Emilie spent travelling overseas as part of the SIPPO roadshow programme, she came to the conclusion that all these exciting tourism experiences combined are what makes for a great destination. The success of one business is in fact a success for South Africa as a whole and working together presented a unique opportunity to market the country even more convincingly. The support and enthusiasm for each other was possibly the best sales tool the businesses had alongside their passion for their own businesses and the areas they work in. Forming a collective rather than a ‘portfolio’ or ‘collection’ makes sense for a group of tourism businesses that share a common objective and purpose. They all want to bring travellers to South Africa and provide them with extraordinary places to stay and things to do that give back to the destination. It is this spirit of Ubuntu (‘I am what I am because of you’) that makes for great hosts and responsible tourism experiences. All the businesses in the collective are exceptionally good at using tourism as a force for good and see their tourism activity as part of a larger ambition to create better places to live and visit in South Africa. Some of the businesses have even got Fair Trade Tourism certification to prove it! Which South African tourism businesses can participate? Former SIPPO export coaching participants
SIPPO export coaching participants in their final year
Fair Trade Tourism certified businesses
Former Fair Trade Tourism certified businesses
Tourism businesses that implement SANS 1162 (SA Standard for Responsible Tourism)

For more info contact Emilie Hagedoorn: [email protected]