10th Application Window for Green Tourism Incentive Programme Opened

Gugulethu Nogaya from Imvomvo Country Lodge in MaXesibeni, Eastern Cape, reported a dramatic reduction in energy consumption and costs.

The Department of Tourism has announced the opening of the 10th application window for the Green Tourism Incentive Programme (GTIP), inviting eligible tourism enterprises to apply for support. This window, which began on 2 September 2024, will remain open until 28 February 2025.

The GTIP, a collaborative initiative between the Department of Tourism and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), is designed to encourage tourism enterprises to enhance their energy and water efficiency. By doing so, the programme promotes responsible tourism principles, helps businesses reduce operational costs, and enables them to operate more sustainably and competitively.

Tourism enterprises that have previously benefited from the GTIP have shared positive feedback. Mokgaetji Flora Phala from Mminanoko Eco Guesthouse in Limpopo highlighted significant savings on electricity costs, stating, “I was spending R2,500 on electricity costs per month. I now spend R500 a month, saving between R1,500 to R2,000 following the installation of energy solutions.”

Similarly, Chris de Vries from Maribelle's B&B in Pretoria, Gauteng, noted, “It is still too early to tell the exact amounts, but I have noticed a significant saving from the installations. I would definitely recommend other businesses to access this programme; it is very beneficial.”

Gugulethu Nogaya from Imvomvo Country Lodge in MaXesibeni, Eastern Cape, reported a dramatic reduction in energy consumption and costs. “Our monthly energy consumption has halved, and we were spending approximately R60,000 on diesel during peak load shedding, but that has now dropped to less than R5,000 per month. I highly recommend the GTIP programme.”

The GTIP offers partial grant funding to cover the costs of retrofitting tourism facilities with energy and water efficiency systems. The application process is conducted in two phases:

Phase 1: Applicants undergo a resource efficiency audit, fully funded by the GTIP, during which appropriate efficiency measures and solutions are recommended.

Phase 2: Eligible applicants who have completed Phase 1 can apply for grant funding covering 50% to 90% of the installation costs for recommended technologies and equipment, with a maximum grant of R1 million per applicant.

The GTIP, administered by the IDC, has seen significant uptake since its inception in November 2017. By June 2024, nine application windows had resulted in 216 approved applications, with a total grant value exceeding R140 million.

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille emphasized the importance of initiatives like the GTIP in supporting the greening of the tourism sector. “As we work towards the attainment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), programmes such as the GTIP become critical in reinforcing and supporting tourism enterprises to adopt responsible tourism practices,” she said.

Tourism enterprises interested in applying for the GTIP can visit www.tourism.gov.za or www.idc.co.za for more information on requirements, eligibility criteria, and the application process.