Case Study: !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre

The !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre in the Western Cape exemplifies the South African responsible tourism model in action.

The Challenge

The San people, South Africa’s first inhabitants, had historically been marginalized and exploited, with their culture often misrepresented in tourism contexts. They needed a platform to share their heritage authentically while creating sustainable livelihoods.

The Approach

Applying responsible tourism principles, !Khwa ttu was developed as a San-owned and managed center where visitors could engage with San culture through experiences designed and delivered by San people themselves. The center combined cultural tourism with training programs that built San capacity in tourism management.

Implementation

The development of !Khwa ttu involved:

• Land acquisition and legal structuring to ensure San ownership and control
• Capacity building programs that prepared San individuals for tourism roles
• Careful cultural interpretation that respected San intellectual property
• Sustainable design that minimized environmental impact
• Marketing that positioned the center as a premium cultural experience

Results

!Khwa ttu has become an internationally recognized model of responsible cultural tourism. It provides sustainable livelihoods for San individuals while offering visitors authentic cultural experiences. Most importantly, it has created a platform for San people to reclaim their narrative and share their heritage on their own terms.