Emeritus Professor Harold Goodwin, chair of the judging panel and founder of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT), said responsible tourism is about making better places for people to live in and visit.

“All of the Global Responsible Tourism Award winners have explained what they took responsibility for, what they did and with what impact. We hope they will inspire other organisations to follow in their footsteps,” said Goodwin.

This recognition caps a breakthrough year in which T&V has so far channelled more than R1,000,000 in cash payments directly to local community partners – guides, hosts, cooks, artists and other entrepreneurs – through paid bookings and donations from guests, T&V and our partners.

“This award belongs to the people who make the experiences – our guides, hosts, cooks, musicians and storytellers,” said René Momberg, Head of Growth, Experiences & Partnerships at T&V. “The Global Silver recognises a consistent, collective effort by our community entrepreneurs, the Greater Stellenbosch Trust and other strategic partners that powers the work we do.”

“Our model for T&V is simple: co‑create with communities, keep the economics fair, and sell to the right buyers,” added Leana Kotze, Head of Strategy & Implementation at Greater Stellenbosch Trust (GST), T&V’s sole shareholder and long‑term backer. “With the right ecosystem support, responsible tourism amplifies every rand invested into community earnings. In 2025 we’ve seen this backing translate into at least five times that value in real local earnings.”

“Township and Village proves that responsible tourism isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’; it’s a powerful economic engine that creates dignity, ownership and sustainable livelihood,” said Annemie Liebenberg, CEO of Visit Stellenbosch. “As Stellenbosch’s tourism offering expands, T&V gives us the blueprint for ensuring that growth serves everyone, from the storytellers of Kayamandi to the artisans of Ida’s Valley. The T&V enterprise creates pathways to prosperity that honour our communities’ heritage while providing unique, enriching visitor experiences. That’s community tourism leadership at its finest!”

Powered by people and partners

None of this is possible without our community partners across Kayamandi, Ida’s Valley, Kylemore, Pniël and Jamestown – the entrepreneurs who open their communities and homes, share their stories and co‑own the experiences.

We also acknowledge our current and historic strategic partners whose patronage makes inclusive tourism work: the Greater Stellenbosch Trust, Cause Development Agency, Visit Stellenbosch, Cape Winelands District Municipality, Stellenbosch Municipality, Department of Economic Development and Tourism in the Western Cape (DEDAT) and Old Mutual Foundation.

The story of this year (highlights)

• Quality demand, real earnings: Large group bookings from Edwin Doran Sports Tours and Fairfield Tours, plus spectacular craft‑shop sales put consistent money into local hands.
• Experiences made with – not for – communities: Constant renewal and refinement of offers across home dining, heritage walks, music and craft in all communities we work in.
• People before product: A new guide cohort trained and mentored with regional partners – building careers, not just shifts.
• Doing it right: Completion of the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism-sponsored Sustainable Tourism Enterprise Programme (STEP) and adoption of a robust policy suite.

About Township & Village

Township & Village is a community‑based tourism initiative in Stellenbosch that co‑creates and delivers experiences led by local residents – from heritage walks and storytelling evenings to home dining, music and craft. The model prioritises dignity, ownership and fair economics for community partners and aligns with international responsible tourism standards.

Media enquiries & bookings
Website: townshipandvillage.co.za
Email: reservations@townshipandvillage.co.za
Insta and FB: @townshipandvillage

Notes to editors

• Awards: Responsible Tourism Awards 2025 – Global Silver (Peace, Understanding & Inclusivity; sponsored by Sabre); WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Awards 2025 – Gold (same category).
• 2025 milestone: R1,000,000+ paid in cash directly to community partners (Jan–Oct 2025).

Media assets: High‑res images and interviews on request.

“With the Japanese yen currently weaker than it’s been in decades, the country offers incredible value for money if you’re smart about it,” says Antoinette Turner, General Manager at Flight Centre South Africa. “We’re seeing more families take the leap because flights and experiences are far more accessible than most people think.”

This shift is evident as the Japan National Tourism Organization reports a record-breaking 36.9 million international visitors in 2024. A 47.1% increase on 2023.

“From cherry blossoms in bloom to historic temples and futuristic cities, the country offers a captivating blend of old and new,” Turner adds. “Now is the time to go and discover a world that’s vastly different from what we know here in South Africa.”

So, how do you stretch your rands while exploring Tokyo’s neon lights and Kyoto’s ancient alleys? Here are some savvy hacks from Flight Centre to help you explore Japan without the hefty price tag.

Visit during the shoulder season

The most cost-effective times to visit Japan are during the shoulder seasons, occurring twice a year from early April to mid-June, and again from mid-September to early December.

“Cherry blossom season, which runs from late March to early May, is a peak tourism period,” Turner explains. “However, travelling just before or after this can help you save significantly on accommodation and flights. Plus, you can still enjoy pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices if you time it just right.”

For those looking to avoid the crowds entirely and who don’t mind warmer, humid conditions, Turner recommends travelling during the rainy season. This begins around June and lasts until mid-July. Wintertime in Japan (December and early March) brings snowfall to Hokkaido and the Japanese Alps – great for skiing and snowboarding, if you have slightly more wiggle room in your budget.

Turner further notes that anime enthusiasts flock to Tokyo in early December for Tokyo Comic Con. Meanwhile, the Golden Week holiday period (April 29 to May 5) is one to avoid unless you book well in advance, as domestic travel surges during this time.

Stay in business hotels

When visiting Japan, consider staying in business hotels to keep cost low. These hotels are clean, well-priced, and conveniently located, providing an excellent alternative to luxury hotels. A good example is APA Hotels, a chain of hotels which tick the box in terms of both position and pricing. Think functional, minimalist stays with exactly what you need (like super-fast Wi-Fi) without any (expensive) bells and whistles. The rooms are small, but the hotels are centrally located, like APA Hotel Chiba Ekimae which is just minutes from Chiba station and the Chiba Urban Monorail.

For a more authentic and affordable experience, Turner recommends family-run minshukus (bed and breakfasts) while exploring smaller towns and cities. “These accommodations provide an authentic experience at a fraction of the cost of larger hotels.”

Embrace konbini life

Visiting local supermarkets around the world can be a really enjoyable experience. It offers a glimpse into local culture, food preferences, and daily life in a new destination. If you’re travelling on a budget, it can also help stretch your rands!

Japanese convenience stores, known as konbini, prove a true hidden gem when it comes to quick, affordable meals. They even earned high praise from the late Anthony Bourdain!

“Kids love the simple and tasty meals available at konbinis,” says Turner. “Think sushi, bento boxes, onigiri, and even piping hot ramen, all for under ¥500 (about R65).”

Of course, street food also gives you an authentic (and affordable) taste of life in Japan, and you’ll be able to sample everything from ramen and takoyaki to taiyaki, okonomiyaki, yakitori, tonkatsu, croquettes, gyoza, and udon. Depending on where you are, Japan’s markets and street vendors are a tempting invitation to sample the freshest fish, veg and local produce – an absolute feast for the senses!

Travel smart with a JR Pass

For those venturing beyond Tokyo, the Japan Rail Pass is a game-changer. “The pass offers unlimited access to Japan’s famous Shinkansen bullet trains and most local lines,” Turner explains. Another perk? Children under six years old can ride for free on most trains, making this option even more affordable and family-friendly.

Planning ahead can maximise both convenience and savings. She suggests downloading JR Rail timetables and purchasing a Japan Rail Pass before your trip to save time and money.

Overall, Japan’s public transportation is efficient, and prepaid IC cards like Suica or PASMO make city travel effortless. “A travel expert can help you get your hands on these, which can even be used for purchases at convenience stores,” Turner adds.

Travel beyond Tokyo

Overall, destinations like Kanazawa, Takayama, and Fukuoka are rich in history and culture, but with fewer crowds and better value.

“These hidden gems offer an intimate slice of Japanese life minus those steep Tokyo prices,” Turner explains. “Kyoto, the cultural heart of Japan, is home to iconic landmarks like Kinkaku-ji and Fushimi Inari Taisha (the Golden Pavilion), both of which offer free or minimal admission.”

Why Japan is a must in 2025

Japan’s prominence on the 2025 travel trend lists comes as no surprise. It’s a country that offers something for everyone. And with the current cost advantages for South Africans, now is the perfect time to start planning your adventure.

“For South Africans, the weak yen presents a prime opportunity to explore a destination that’s vastly different to those traditional fly-and-flop go-tos,” Turner adds. “There’s never been a better time for South Africans to seize this opportunity. It’s more accessible than ever before,” she concludes.

– The South African Roadshow includes meetings, training sessions, a hosted dinner, a ship visit on Norwegian Dawn, and an introduction to NCL Connect – the company’s new marketing platform for the travel community.

Johannesburg – 16 January, 2024 – Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, will introduce NCL Connect, a new co-branded marketing solution specifically designed for the travel partner community, on a South African Roadshow this week.

Kevin Bubolz, Vice President & Managing Director Continental Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Nirosha Sidat, NCL Country Manager South Africa, will host sessions with key partners – including a tour of Norwegian Dawn in Cape Town – to share the latest updates from NCL.

“Not only is South Africa fast-establishing itself as a world-class destination for cruise ships, but the South African market is increasingly interested in cruising, with the demand for cruise holidays and expedition cruises soaring,” says Sidat. “Our new More at Sea™ package meets this demand, enhancing the cruise experience with unlimited beverage packages, specialty dining, Wi-Fi packages and incredible shore excursions. When it comes to both our guests and partners, we’re committed to being the easiest cruise line to engage with, and as part of our longstanding ‘Partners First’ philosophy, we’re thrilled not only to be meeting our trade partners in person – but that we’re able to offer them an exciting new platform to grow their cruising business!”

NCL Connect is a tightly integrated marketing solution where travel partners can instantaneously co-brand digital content – pre-designed by NCL’s in-house marketing team – that offers their clients an immersive look into cruising with Norwegian Cruise Line. It offers travel agents and advisors the opportunity to leverage a co-branded website complete with NCL sailings for clients to explore while driving leads directly back to the travel advisor.

The new platform complements NCL’s robust Marketing Headquarters with 800+ ready-to-use or customisable assets such as videos, flyers and more. NCL Connect offers an extra level of marketing support available to travel advisors that provides instant, personalised co-branded content in just one click. The content is then easily shared via all social media, email, and other marketing media channels, with additional digital experiences introduced on an ongoing basis throughout the year.

“Our goal in terms of trade marketing in 2025 is clear: make it personal, make it impactful, and most importantly, make it easy for travel advisors,” says Sidat. “We’re bringing the full weight of our in-house marketing expertise to the table but packaged in a way which makes it easy for travel advisors to take full advantage. Promoting, selling and booking an NCL cruise has never been simpler. I know advisors are going to love it.”

NCL Connect, which is powered by technology from Approach Guides, will be introduced in Cape Town from 15-17 January and in Johannesburg from 20-21 January 2025. 

-Ends-

About Norwegian Cruise Line

As the innovator in global cruise travel, Norwegian Cruise Line has been breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising for 58 years. Most notably, the cruise line revolutionised the industry by offering guests the opportunity to design their ideal vacation on their preferred schedule with no assigned dining and entertainment times and no formal dress codes. Today, the company offers guests to ‘Experience More at Sea’ by providing them with more to see, more to do, more to enjoy, and more value on their vacation. To further deliver guests with more value, NCL’s ‘More At Sea™’ package provides added benefits and inclusions such as unlimited open bar; specialty dining credits; high-speed Wi-Fi; shore excursions credits; as well as free airfare and third and fourth guests sail free on select sailings. Its fleet of 19 contemporary ships sail to 450 of the world’s most desirable destinations, including Great Stirrup Cay, the company’s private island in the Bahamas and its resort destination Harvest Caye in Belize. Norwegian Cruise Line not only provides superior guest service from land to sea, but also offers a wide variety of award-winning entertainment and dining options as well as a range of accommodations across the fleet, including solo-traveler staterooms, club balcony suites, and The Haven by Norwegian®, the company’s ship-within-a-ship concept.

For additional information or to book a cruise, contact a travel professional, contact a travel professional, call 021 200 6586 or visit www.ncl.com. For the latest news and exclusive content, visit the NCL Newsroom and follow Norwegian Cruise Line on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube @NorwegianCruiseLine; and Twitter @CruiseNorwegian. 

Norwegian Cruise Line is a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. To learn more, visit www.nclhltd.com.   

NCL Media Contact

PublicRelations@ncl.com

Locally Issued By:

Celine Patterson | Big Ambitions | celine@bigambitions.co.za

Inclusive travel is a billion-dollar industry that Africa can tap into, and the panellists emphasised the unique spending patterns of this market segment. Travellers with disabilities often spend more, travel with companions, and stay for longer periods, making them a lucrative target for the industry. 

According to the World Health Organisation, over 1 billion people worldwide, or 15% of the global population, live with disabilities. This vast demographic encompasses a range of visible and invisible conditions, from mobility issues to cognitive and sensory challenges. As the world’s population ages, with the number of people over 60 expected to double by 2050, the need for accessible travel is only expected to grow. 

“It’s not just a social imperative, it’s a financial one,” said Tarryn Tomlinson, CEO of LiveAble. “The onus is on property owners to make their facilities as accessible as possible.” 

Panellists highlighted the unique challenges faced by travellers with disabilities, from a lack of information about accessible amenities to physical barriers that limit their ability to fully enjoy their travel experiences. “Disability doesn’t mean the same for everyone,” said Lois Strachan, host of podcast A Different Way of Seeing. “Needs are different, and we need to engage with them to find out what they need. Information about how you can accommodate their needs is the most important thing for travellers with disabilities.” She stated that guesthouses and hotels should incorporate this into their marketing to attract differently abled travellers.  

Jabaar Mohamed, the Provincial Director for DeafSA Western Cape, shared the specific challenges faced by deaf travellers, such as being offered wheelchairs at airports despite their hearing impairment. “It’s important for all those that work in hospitality to be trained to ask individual travellers what their needs ae, rather than making assumptions,” he said.  

Panellists shared inspiring success stories and best practices from destinations and businesses that have embraced inclusive tourism. Briony Brookes, representing the City of Cape Town, highlighted the city’s “Limitless CT” initiative, which includes features like braille QR codes at street art and audio options on the tourism website. 

“We want to appeal to all travellers, not only those that are fully abled,” Brookes stated. “We’ve seen fantastic results since we made small changes to showcase how we are a welcoming and inclusive destination.” 

The session concluded with a call to action for the African tourism industry to recognise the significant opportunities presented by the accessible travel market and to work towards making the continent a more inclusive and welcoming destination for all.