What is Green Heart Tourism?
In 2011, after completing an MSc in Responsible Tourism Management from the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) at Leeds Metropolitan University and writing my professional report on how travel companies can reduce child labour in tourism destinations, I decided to focus on establishing a niche responsible tourism & market access consultancy business and Green Heart Tourism was born!
With a background in teaching in international schools and several years working for Fair Trade Tourism as the European Representative and Sales Manager, I have extensive knowledge of the latest responsible tourism developments in southern Africa and globally and an in-depth insight into of the demand for responsible tourism experiences by the European travel trade and travellers. I have a large network of contacts in Europe and Southern Africa as well as a great understanding of the needs of smaller responsible tourism businesses.
I like to break down complex topics into understandable everyday actions that all tourism SMMEs can implement and enjoy helping them not ‘re-invent the sustainability wheel’ but rather make use of all the useful information and best practice examples that are already out there.
Green Heart Tourism activities focus on responsible tourism consultancy and training, certification preparation and auditing as well as market access coaching and B2B matchmaking for tourism SMME’s in developing countries. In some cases the activities overlap or complement each other. Examples of activities:
- SME Export and Company Development Expert in Sustainable and Community-Based Tourism for CBI Netherlands’ program ‘Promoting Sustainable and Community-Based-Tourism’ in Egypt (since Jan 2025)
- Community Tourism Developer for Traditional African Homestays Southern Africa (TAHS-SA) (focus on replicating responsible tourism award winning community tourism & homestay model outside of South Africa, since May 2024)
- Sustainable Tourism Expert for CBI Netherlands’ Transforming Uganda Tourism program (ToT and capacity building of Ugandan consultants/trainers, 2023/2024)
- Sustainable Tourism Supply Chain Management Coach for ECEAT/Travelife for Tour Operators/SUSTOUR project (2023)
- Sustainable Tourism, Marketing and Communications Expert & Trainer for ECEAT/Switch Africa Green/GreenTour project (2022)
- Senior Tourism Expert PUM and Trainer Tourism Restart and Sustainable Tourism for GoNegosyo (BSO for SME’s) in The Philippines (volunteer position, 2021/2022)
- Sustainable Tourism Certification Expert for The Bahamas (desktop research on best options for tourism destination & product certification, 2021/2022).
- Marketing & Digitalisation Expert for Tourism Cluster4Development project (EU/GIZ) in Kakheti and Emereti regions – Georgia (2021/2022)
- Sustainable Tourism & Certification Expert & Trainer for e-learning series for GIZ Business Scouts Tourism Academy – Africa and Asia (2021)
- External Sustainable Tourism Expert for Import Promotion Desk (IPD) tourism market access program – Tunisia, Nepal, Ecuador and Uzbekistan (since 2018)
- Sustainable Tourism Consultant and Green Globe hotel auditor for Green Label Service – The Netherlands & Belgium (since 2018)
- Market Access Trainer and INDABA Trade Show Readiness Coach for Pilanesberg Tourism Incubator SME’s – South Africa (2017)
- Sustainable Tourism and Travelife Certification Expert for CBI Netherlands’ tourism market access program in Indonesia (2016/2017)
- Manager Ubuntu Experiences – Europe (a Green Heart Tourism B2B marketing collective for tourism SME’s active from 2015-2017)
- Auditor and Certification Coaching for Travelife for Tour Operators – Europe & Africa (since 2012)
- Consultancy, Market Research, European Sales & B2B Marketing Expert for Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) – South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia and Uganda (since 2011)
To get in touch and discuss Green Heart Tourism’s consultancy & training services email emilie@greenhearttourism.com.
