There are a number of dynamic responsible community tourism initiatives which visitors to Hessequa should be aware of:

Melkhoutfontein is a village seven kilometers from Stilbaai.  It is a PDI community of some 2000 residents and was originally developed as a fishing and farming community. 

By the 1990s, Melkhoutfontein was identified as one of the most neglected communities in the Western Cape. This prompted a leader within the small community to form a number of alliances and partnerships that would eventually lead to the redevelopment of the small village. 

By the end of the 1990s Melkhoutfontein had houses, tarred roads, running water and other essential facilities.

Through a PDI tourism initiative to develop a system of Homestays and to interact with international and local tour operators, a number of overseas visitors came to Melkhoutfontein to lend a hand with community development projects. 

Historical walking tours are popular as are tours to the ancient Khoi-San fish traps and shell middens. 

There are Homestays in the village and also "Cookup Kamammas" (locals that prepare traditional meals for visitors); however there are no clearly developed tourism products. 

The rapid growth of neighbouring Stilbaai contributed to the progress of Melkhoutfontein and today Melkhoutfontein is one of the more advanced PDI communities in Hessequa.

In the town of Riversdale the internationally recognised HA! - Qua program; an outcome of the ‘Out of the Bush’ project; deals with youth empowerment and job creation initiatives, including training in arts and crafts. Arts and crafts products are displayed and sold at the venue and contribute directly towards the youth-in-need and the unemployed.

The efforts of this initiative form the vision to empower communities to assess and assist their youth. The organisation also participates in local projects such as the community park under development at Theronsville, Albertinia. ‘Out of The Bush’ also co-operates with local volunteer artists to empower the youth-in-need. The arts and crafts are displayed at art exhibitions in the Hessequa on a regular basis.

Riversdale also offers homestay accommodation.

Albertinia has a unique women’s business initiative called “Albertinia Fine Foods’ comprised of a co-operative of women, based in a small factory, which produces various types of quality home-style jams.

The town of Heidelberg has a wonderful PDI based Arts and Crafts manufacturing centre; ‘African Twist’.