Tourism Cares has expanded its Meaningful Travel Map to include more than 550 vetted partners worldwide, with eight destinations recently joining the platform, including South African Tourism as the first African member.
The Meaningful Travel Map serves as a digital platform that connects travel professionals and travelers with responsible, community-driven tourism enterprises and aims to help build itineraries that generate positive social and environmental impacts.
South African Tourism's inclusion marks a significant milestone as the first African destination to build a Meaningful Travel Map. The country's map features wildlife rehabilitation centers, Indigenous-led cultural tours, eco-lodges that reinvest in community development and organizations focused on coastal preservation. South Africa offers more than 21 national parks, 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and nearly 2,000 miles of coastline.
"South Africa's landscapes, wildlife and cultures are among the richest and most diverse in the world, and we recognize the importance of safeguarding them for generations to come," said Darryl Erasmus, chief operations officer at South African Tourism. "The launch of the Meaningful Travel Map of South Africa allows us to spotlight the remarkable efforts of local tourism changemakers and invite the world to experience South Africa in a more conscious and meaningful way."
Seven additional destinations have recently joined the platform alongside South Africa, including Tourism Ireland, Greater Miami & Miami Beach, Visit Pittsburgh, Visit Houston, The Palm Beaches, Visit Joplin (Missouri) and Discover Newport (Rhode Island).
"The rapid growth of the Meaningful Travel Map is a reflection of our industry's shared vision for a more equitable, sustainable and impactful future," said Greg Takehara, CEO of Tourism Cares. "Each new destination and partner strengthens our collective ability to drive positive change, empower local communities and offer travelers experiences that truly matter. We are proud to welcome these new members, including our first in Africa, and look forward to seeing the ripple effects of their work across the globe."
The organization describes the Map as one of the largest global networks of its kind focused on responsible tourism.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by Tourism Cares. It has been fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
