Vergelegen Wine Estate, Western Cape, South Africa
EuroCollege, a Dutch private university of applied sciences, was honoured to participate in the Sigma International Tourism Green Lung initiative supported by SATSA (Southern African Tourism Services Association) through the planting of four indigenous trees at the historic Vergelegen Wine Estate in the Cape Winelands.
The activity formed part of an educational visit to South Africa by 23 EuroCollege students undertaking an international business study tour focused on hospitality, entrepreneurship, and future career opportunities. The tree-planting initiative was facilitated through a collaboration between EuroCollege, Dutch tour operator Pangea Travel, South African destination management company Inspiration Travel & Tours, and partners involved in South Africa’s Tourism & Travel Green Lung sustainability programme.
Vergelegen Wine Estate, one of South Africa’s most renowned wine estates, holds significant Dutch heritage, having been established in 1700 by Governor Willem Adriaan van der Stel. Against this historic backdrop, students were afforded the opportunity to make a tangible contribution to environmental sustainability by planting indigenous trees that will form part of a lasting legacy for future generations.
The initiative forms part of South Africa’s Tourism & Travel Green Lung programme, a national sustainability platform designed to support carbon reduction, ecological restoration, and community-linked tourism development through measurable and verified environmental interventions.
While the tree-planting activity was a highlight of the visit, it was the people of South Africa who left the most enduring impression on the students.
Throughout their journey, the group engaged with tourism operators, hospitality businesses, educational institutions, and entrepreneurs. The students were particularly impressed by the number of young entrepreneurs they encountered and the optimism, innovation, and determination they demonstrated.
The energy, ambition, and entrepreneurial spirit evident across South Africa made a profound impact on the group. Many students remarked that they sensed something significant emerging within the country: a new generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders actively shaping the future.
“At EuroCollege, we believe that ambition recognises ambition. In South Africa, our students discovered a generation of young entrepreneurs determined to build the future.”
These student-led international study projects form an integral part of the EuroCollege educational philosophy, which encourages students to engage directly with real-world business environments and gain practical experience beyond the classroom.
Previous international destinations have included China, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. South Africa now joins this distinguished list as a destination that has provided exceptional educational value and meaningful exposure to global business and tourism practices.
The visit also highlighted the growing importance of sustainability within the international tourism and hospitality sectors. By participating directly in a verified environmental initiative, students gained first-hand insight into how responsible tourism can create measurable environmental and social benefits while enriching the visitor experience.
Thanks to the warm hospitality and support received from South Africa’s tourism sector, educational institutions, and wider business community, EuroCollege looks forward to strengthening its relationship with South Africa in the years ahead.
As the four indigenous trees planted at Vergelegen take root and flourish, they will serve as a lasting symbol of collaboration, sustainability, and a shared commitment to developing the future leaders of the global tourism industry.
More info: Tourism & Travel Green Lung – Sigma International
