Be a savvy shopper this Responsible Tourism Week and purchase hand-crafted goods from local traders, including those at the Montebello Craft and Design Centre in Newlands. Photo courtesy of Cape Town Tourism

As the 2009 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Award winner, Cape Town – the responsible Mother City – prides herself on being environmentally conscious through supporting like-minded causes and businesses, and celebrating the worldwide Responsible Tourism Week from February 11 to 17, 2013.

Now in its fifth year, Responsible Tourism Week, a week-long online "unconference" hosted by Planeta.com, is dedicated to creating better places for people to live in and better places for travellers to visit.

In the Mother City, that means making positive contributions to natural and cultural heritage, embracing our cultural diversity, involving our residents in decisions that affect them, and embracing environmentally positive ideals and infrastructure.

This year’s theme is Redo, Re-Imagine, Remix, a topic that encourages participants to remix media that enlightens and engages visitors and locals about responsible travel.

As a much-welcomed visitor to our inspirational city, we invite you to share in our responsible tourism initiatives by doing the following:

Be a green traveller

Minimise your carbon footprint by using one of our eco-friendly transport systems in and around the Peninsula. Hop on board the certified City Sightseeing Bus; take a scenic train ride from Cape Town to Simon’s Town aboard the Southern Line Tourism Route, participate in an informative, cultural tour with Coffeebeans Route Tours, or travel in style with The Green Cab.

Be a local-savvy shopper

Get your retail therapy fix by swiping your credit card at locally-owned businesses or purchasing hand-crafted goods from Cape Town’s innovative entrepreneurs. Our favourites include the Montebello Craft and Design Centre in Newlands, furniture and handbag suppliers Mielie, and eco-aware fashion store Hemporium in Long Street.

Eat and drink your greens

Or, at very least, dine at one of the fine establishments in our fair city. Reserve your table at the Rondvlei Reserve Tea Room, grab a cup of Joe at the Bean There Café in the city centre, or enjoy a night of entertainment at the community-friendly AmaZink in Stellenbosch.

Sleep eco-easy

You can catch your much-needed 40 winks at The Vineyard Hotel & Spa in Newlands, the Peninsula Hotel in Sea Point and Boulders Beach Lodge, which are all accommodation venues with a strong responsible tourism focus, specifically on recycling and equal-opportunity employment. 

For more information about Responsible Tourism Week 2013, visit www.responsiblecapetown.co.za/ or follow the conversation on Twitter with #RTWeek2013.