The Green Piketberg Route 366 was placed at the centre of the Western Cape’s Tourism Month 2026 launch in Goedverwacht, highlighting how regenerative tourism can connect local livelihoods, agriculture, heritage, communities and the environment.
Held on 1 September under the theme “Green Piketberg: The Route That Gives Back to the Land”, the launch showcased the route as an emerging regenerative tourism destination and brought tourism stakeholders together with local entrepreneurs, farmers and community members.
Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, officially launched Tourism Month, with the programme highlighting local food production, community enterprise and tourism experiences along the route.
Tourism and agriculture come together
The launch began in Goedverwacht, where the Makers of Green Piketberg Route 366 showcased local produce through a locally prepared bread table.
Women from the village baked traditional bread and prepared condiments, while cheese was sourced from Piket-Bo-Berg producers and Eric Havenga of Berg Coffee served locally roasted coffee.
Green Route Maker and small-scale farmer Merle Dietrich shared how tourism supports women in Goedverwacht by connecting their gardens and fresh produce with restaurants and tourism businesses.
The garden-to-table relationship demonstrates regenerative tourism in action, ensuring that visitor spending creates opportunities within the community while strengthening connections between tourism and agriculture.
“Tourism Month is an opportunity to showcase how tourism can create shared value for our communities, our environment and our economy. The Green Piketberg Route 366 demonstrates that tourism growth does not have to come at the expense of local people or natural resources. By supporting regenerative tourism, we are building destinations that are authentic, sustainable and inclusive, while creating opportunities for small businesses, farmers and communities to benefit directly from visitor spending.” said Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer.
Green Piketberg showcases rural experiences
Following the official programme and a commemorative tree planting, delegates toured the Green Piketberg Route 366, including the Piketberg Historic Route, a farm-to-table lunch at Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort and a tea-tasting experience at Carmién Tea.
The route connects Goedverwacht, Piketberg, Wittewater and Redelinghuys through local food, agriculture, heritage, nature and community experiences.
Tourism Month 2026 is being celebrated internationally under the UN Tourism theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.” The Green Route brings the theme into a rural context by demonstrating how digital innovation can help small producers, community experiences and lesser-known destinations reach new tourism markets.
Building an inclusive visitor economy
Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander said developing tourism opportunities across Cape Town and the Western Cape means creating opportunities for visitors to discover the destination while ensuring local communities and businesses benefit from tourism growth.
“Unlocking the full potential of tourism in Cape Town and the Western Cape means creating more opportunities for visitors to discover the depth and diversity of our destination, while ensuring that the benefits of tourism reach the communities and businesses that make our province so special.
"Green Piketberg Route 366 is a powerful example of how tourism can connect visitors with authentic experiences, local enterprise, agriculture and heritage.
"As we grow tourism across the province, our focus is on building a more inclusive and resilient visitor economy where tourism creates lasting value for both the people who live here and the people who come to experience it,” says Wesgro CEO, Wrenelle Stander.
The launch positioned Green Piketberg Route 366 as an example of how tourism can extend beyond attracting visitors to supporting local livelihoods, strengthening connections between communities and businesses, protecting the stories of a place and creating opportunities for future generations.
