Knysna Visitor Information

Knysna Tourism has become the first organisation of its kind to achieve silver status in the GreenLine Eco-Rating System for tourist accommodation and products. The system has been developed to recognise and reward businesses that have committed to less environmentally harmful operating standards and to a greater respect for the environment.
According to Knysna Tourism CEO Shaun van Eck his organisation completed the online initial assessment in August this year. “We then received a Compliance and Performance Report from GreenLine outlining certain non-negotiable areas of improvement as well as options for improving our score – options that would really allow us to exceed.”
“According to this report there were certain areas within which we had to improve,” van Eck continued. “Our office generally operated within the specified guidelines, but we were lacking in our official recording and the monitoring of our movements.”
“But, with amazing teamwork from all our staff members, we were able to turn things around and with our monitoring schedules in place we are not only able to log peaks and valleys as they occur – we are also able to address and remedy specific situations. Mike Munro from GreenLine conducted an official audit on Knysna Tourism on Wednesday 2 November and we are pleased to announce that we have achieved Silver Status in the GreenLine initiative.”
Munro said that The GreenLine responsible tourism programme was delighted to award Knysna Tourism office with certification as a responsible tourism business. “The team at Knysna Tourism has gone to considerable effort to ensure that they not only meet, but surpass our stringent compliance standards,” said Munro. “Particular mention must be made of their community development programmes and support for the towns SMME’s. Although they are a small office, they now understand the potential environmental impacts of their operations and have implemented many effective resource-saving initiatives as well as a responsible waste disposal and recycling programme. Knysna Tourism is truly leading from the front and is setting an inspirational example for its members to follow.”
“There are only three levels of achievement,” van Eck continued. “Silver, Gold and Platinum. You have to enter on Silver, but, should you qualify at your next audit, you can skip Gold and move straight on to the Platinum level – this is our next aim.”
“And as part of our 24 month membership to GreenLine, we are subject to three audits during that time. We are confident that we will reach the Platinum level at our next audit.”
“One of the factors that contributed to our current success is our extensive Living Local campaign,” said van Eck. “Our community involvement and the support that we provide to our Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME’s), rivals that of any other tourism organisation in the country.”
“We have also offered our services to mentor those of our members who wish to become GreenLine accredited, but do not have access to the resources to do so on their own. They will also be able to tie in with our existing SMME projects to boost their scores in that department.”
“This is not a once-off fad,” van Eck assured. “As staunch supporters of the Naturally Knysna initiative we realise that we have to relook the way in which we do business. We also realise that having been awarded Silver status is not enough - that is why we have committed to attaining Platinum standard.”
“Our staff are committed to this way of thinking, of conducting business – of living,” van Eck concluded. “Should you have any queries about GreenLine or how your business or establishment could operate on a more earth-friendly basis, please do not hesitate to contact us.”
GreenLine has been developed from the Heritage Environmental Rating Programme, Africa’s leading tourism-based environmental management initiative, and one of the most successful systems internationally. The GreenLine Responsible Tourism Rating Programme enables businesses to enjoy the benefits associated with being environmentally responsible. It assists in: reducing your operating expenses through improved management and operational processes; increases your market share through access to the environmentally aware traveller; and provides you with practical and appropriate environmental management tools for improved efficiency.
Knysna Tourism Office may be contacted at 044 382 5510 or visit them in Knysna’s Main Road. For more information on GreenLine, please visit http://www.heritagesa.co.za/brochures/greenline/index.html.