South Africa Powers Up New Grants to Spark Sustainable Travel Practices
Pretoria – The national Department of Tourism recently expanded financial incentives aiming to spur climate-friendly practices at tourism businesses of all sizes. Through the Green Tourism Incentive Programme (GTIP), qualifying accommodation providers, restaurants, tour operators and attractions can access grants covering up to 90% of costs to implement energy and water saving solutions.
Newly increased funding caps now enable businesses to receive up to R1 million (nearly $60,000 USD) in reimbursable grants for approved projects like solar installations, LED lighting retrofits, water recycling systems and advanced HVAC upgrades. The GTIP aims to accelerate South Africa’s tourism industry transition toward reduced environmental impacts and long-term cost savings. By offsetting the initial capital outlays for green upgrades, the program makes sustainability attainable especially for small and emerging businesses. The 9th GTIP WINDOW PERIOD FOR APPLICATIONS IS OPEN FROM 25 JANUARY TO 31 MARCH 2024.
The GTIP application form can be downloaded from the IDC website
According to the Tourism Minister, “The enhanced GTIP presents a significant opportunity to empower our sector to take measurable strides toward responsible tourism and doing our part for climate action.” The GTIP also now offers fully covered audits identifying tailored energy and water conservation opportunities for applicants. Ongoing performance monitoring further ensures implementations achieve projected utility savings.
With new grants smoothing the sustainability journey, South Africa’s travel industry can look to a greener tomorrow.
