TDC and Sustainable tourism in Tanzania

The Enduimet Wildlife Management Area is located in Tanzania, right next to Kilimanjaro. This area is mainly inhabited by the Masai, but is also the home of elephants and many other wild animal species. The local Masai community was looking for a way to improve their standard of living and at the same time take greater care of the animals and their environment. They found a solution in the development of responsible tourism with the support of the Trade for Development Center and the local NGO Honeyguide Foundation.

Check out for yourself how they do this!

Fair and community-based tourism

We all know fair trade bananas, coffee, chocolate... but do you know about fair tourism? It is less known, but booming! The United Nations declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development recalling the potential of tourism to advance the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Trade for Development presents presents 4 community-based tourism projects that it supports. 

The Masai in Tanzania

In regions where existing ecosystems suffer from human pressure, tourism can provide part of the solution. Inspired by successful experiences elsewhere in the world, the Honeyguide Foundation, with the financial assistance of the Trade for Development Centre, supports the development of sustainable tourism in the north of Tanzania. The Masai population is given an extra financial incentive to protect its natural environment.

A fair certification programme for tourism products

Around 2000, the South-African ngo Fair Trade Tourism started to put in place a fair certification programme for tourism products. The standard includes fair remuneration, decent working conditions, a fair sharing of revenue and respect for cultural traditions and the environment. Since then, more than 79 initiatives have been certified throughout the country: hotels, safari lodges, backpacker lodges and guesthouses, but also organised tours and ‘adventure’ type of activities. With the support of TDC FTT is exploring new opportunities on both the supply and demand sides. FTT wants to expand its activities to seven other countries of southern and eastern Africa and tries increase the number of European tour operators that offer FTT-labelled holidays. Since 2017, the first Belgian tour-operator was FTT-approved!  

Cordtuch in Ecuador

25% of the population in Ecuador comprises native communities with ancestral traditions and a strong identity, which helps Ecuador to pioneer community-based tourism. Cordtuch unites 11 community-based tourism initiatives such as the Reserva de Producción de Fauna Chimborazo, the Parque Nacional Sangay and the Tren. With the support of TDC Cordtuch aims to consolidate small community-based tourism businesses. It provides support to improve the general management capacities, the development of the tourism offer on local, regional and international markets by implementing quality improvement and control systems through sustainable tourism certification, and the participation to commercial fairs in view of presenting the community-based tourism offer.

Red Tusoco in Bolivia

Red Tusoco (Red Boliviana de Turismo Solidario Comunitario), the network of Bolivian community-based tourism, brings together and supports the development of 22 small enterprises in rural indigenous communities in Bolivia in an attempt to improve living conditions by boosting the community's natural and cultural patrimony. Red Tusoco provides training in management and tourism and fosters indigenous management. Tusoco Viajes, the business branch of the network that sells responsible community-based tours in Bolivia, forecasts significant growth of 22% a year. The project should boost job creation in rural areas.

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Sustainable tourism operations in Ecuador and Peru

Market research on improving connectivity of sustainable tourism operations in Ecuador and Peru to the European marketplace 

 The purpose of this study is to support tourism companies in Peru and Ecuador, especially those with a focus on sustainable tourism, on how to access the European market. While the content of the study is geared towards the conditions in Peru and Ecuador, readers from other Latin American countries may also find the information useful.

The coverage of the European market includes the countries Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain. The study includes a look at players such as tour operators (including databases) or trade associations, examines market access mechanisms (both with regard to the destination - Peru and Ecuador, as well as with regard to the mentioned source markets) and describes a wide range of approaches and tools to improve market access to the European market.  

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Fair Trade Tourism adds Shamwari to its portfolio

"Fair Trade Tourism has added Shamwari Game Reserve - one of South Africa's most high-profile and innovative wildlife conservation areas - to its portfolio of South African tourism businesses."

Read further on Bizcommunity.com 

Fair Trade Tourism joins forces with Botswana's Ecotourism Certification System

NEWS RELEASE
Monday June 20 2016

Fair Trade Tourism’s expanding footprint in southern Africa has been given a boost with the signing of a ground-breaking mutual recognition agreement (MRA) with Botswana Tourism Organisation’s Ecotourism Certification System. 

Under the terms of the MRA, Fair Trade Tourism’s approved travel trade partners and tour operators can now incorporate the BTO’s Ecotourism certified businesses in their listings regarding products that can be included in Fair Trade Holidays - holiday packages that represent global best practice in responsible tourism.

The BTO Ecotourism certified products includes but is not limited to some of the world’s leading safari lodges and globally lauded African safari operators including Wilderness Safaris, &Beyond and Great Plains Conservation. Currently, the available products are:

·        &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge;

·        &Beyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp;

·        &Beyond Xudum Okavango Delta Lodge;

·        Abu Camp

·        Banoka Bush Camp (Wilderness Safaris)

·        Chobe Game Lodge (Desert & Delta Safaris);

·        DumaTau Camp (Wilderness Safaris);

·        Jacana Camp (Wilderness Safaris);

·        Jao Camp (Wilderness Safaris);

·        Kalahari Plains Camp (Wilderness Safaris)

·        Kings Pool  Camp (Wilderness Safaris)

·        Kwetsani Camp (Wilderness Safaris);

·        Leroo-La-Tau Lodge (Desert & Delta Safaris)

·        Little Vumbura Camp (Wilderness Safaris);

·        Machaba Camp

·        Meno-A-Kwena Tented Camp

·        Mombo Camp (Wilderness Safaris);

·        Savuti Bush Camp (Wilderness Safaris);

·        Seba Camp (Wilderness Safaris);

·        Selinda Camp (Great Plains Conservation)

·        Selinda Explorers Camp (Great Plains Conservation)

·        Xigera Camp (Wilderness Safaris);

·        Zarafa Camp (Great Plains Conservation)

Designed to encourage and support tourism businesses in Botswana which demonstrate responsible and sustainable environmental, social and cultural ethics, the Botswana Ecotourism Certification System embodies a stringent set of performance standards founded on Botswana’s National Ecotourism Strategy of 2002.

The five pillars the system is built on are: minimising negative social, cultural and environmental impacts; maximising the involvement in and equitable distribution of economic benefits to host communities; maximising revenues for re-investment in conservation; educating both visitors and local people as to the importance of conserving natural and cultural resources and delivering a quality experience for tourists

The system’s development was guided by the Botswana Tourism Policy (1990) and the Botswana Tourism Master Plan (2000) - which call for tourism in Botswana to be both ecologically and economically sustainable - and involved close co-operation with Botswana’s thriving tourism industry.

The Ecotourism level of certification is the highest of the system’s three tiers and reflects the products’ commitment to and involvement with local communities in developing tourism, conserving nature and managing the environment.

Fair Trade Tourism is a leading Southern African non-profit organisation promoting responsible tourism development. It grows awareness about responsible tourism to travellers, assists tourism businesses to operate more sustainably and facilitates a globally recognised certification programme. In 2011 its certification standard became the first in Africa to be recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

The organisation’s steady expansion into Africa through direct product certification and partnerships is positioning it at the forefront of the sub-continent's sustainable, responsible tourism efforts, showing both travel trade partners and independent travellers in key source markets that it is now possible to travel the "Fair Trade way" through direct product certification in Madagascar, Mozambique and South Africa, as well as through mutual recognition partnerships in Seychelles, Tanzania, Namibia and now Botswana.

“Fair Trade Tourism is delighted to be formally associated with the Botswana Tourism Organisation and its robust Ecotourism Certification System through this MRA,” says the organisation’s managing director, Nivashnee Naidoo.

“The products certified by the system are recognised the world over for their commitment to people and planet and for their work helping to conserve Botswana’s incredible natural and cultural heritage. So it is exciting that these products can now be featured in Fair Trade Holiday packages,” she adds.

“As pioneers in sustainable and authentic ecotourism, we are extremely proud to have worked closely with BTO over the years to develop these high ecotourism standards, and look forward to the further promotion of responsible tourism that this new MRA with Fair Trade Tourism will encourage”, says Wilderness Safaris Chief Marketing Officer, Chris Roche.

“Both BTO and Fair Trade Tourism’s efforts mirror our ongoing commitment to our 4Cs sustainability ethos of commerce,  conservation, community and culture, and we are fully supportive of all efforts that promote and pioneer best practice in our industry”.   

Fair Trade Tourism website:          www.fairtrade.travel

Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) moves into Mozambique

Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) has successfully expanded into Mozambique with the announcement on june 3 of four new certified members in Inhambane and Vilanculos.

Tour operator Terra Agua Ceu, eco lodge Dunes de Dovela, boutique resort Bahia Mar and dive specialists Casa Babi/ Odyssea Dive Centre are the latest additions to a portfolio of 64 FTT certified tourism products spread across South Africa, Madagascar and now neighbouring Mozambique.

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Fair Trade Tourism puts the “Mark of a Good Holiday” next to five newly certified tourism businesses in Madagascar

Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) promotes responsible and sustainable tourism in southern Africa and beyond. The NGO operates the world’s first and still only Fair Trade Tourism certification programme. The programme was developed 10 years ago and in December 2011 became the first tourism certification programme in Africa to be recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

FTT is now proud to announce the recent certification of five Madagascar tourism businesses. With lemurs, baobabs, rainforest, beaches, desert, trekking and diving, Madagascar is a dream destination for nature and outdoor lovers – and half the fun is getting to all these incredible attractions.

Located on one of the most beautiful bays of Madagascar, with white sandy beaches, coral reefs with enchanting colours and well preserved primary forest, is Salary Bay, the first Madagascar tourism business to receive FTT-certification.

Not far from Salary Bay is the luxury eco-lodge, Hotel Le Paradisier. Overlooking the beach, Hotel Le Paradisier has been carefully designed to harmonise with the landscape, the lodge environs featuring stone pathways lined with fascinating spiny forest plants.

Mantasoa Lodge, is a boutique hotel on the beautiful Lake Mantasoa, not far from the capital city of  Antananariva.

BushHouse Lodge is a small eco-lodge located in the east coast Toamasina region of Madagascar, within the Canal des Pangalanes Lake District, where fresh water lakes merge with the Indian Ocean.

Lying in the Tsaranoro Valley, Tsara Camp offers perfect comfort in completely secluded settings with tented rooms.

These tourism businesses all adhere to the FTT standard and use the FTT label as a way of signifying their commitment to fair and responsible tourism.  This includes fair wages and working conditions, fair purchasing and operations, equitable distribution of benefits and respect for human rights, culture and the environment.

Specific initiatives range from contributing to the education of children in the local communities and offering health clinics on their premises to working with local fishermen and fish farmers, in order to support them in making their businesses more profitable and more resilient. Recognizing the importance of preserving the local farming sector and increasing the value generated from agriculture, FTT-certified businesses provide local farmers with the necessary tools as well as sharing technical and commercial knowledge with them.  The businesses are also dedicated to water and energy savings and make use of local handicrafts to decorate their rooms.

FTT General Manager, Kathy Bergs said, “We are absolutely thrilled that the FTT footprint is now visible in Madagascar.  These businesses are all pioneers of sustainable tourism and exemplify the FTT values of fair share, fair say, respect, reliability, transparency and sustainability.  We encourage responsible travelers to experience the best that Madagascar has to offer – while at the same time giving back to the people and the places they’ve visited.”

New name and logo for Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa

Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) has announced it is changing its name to Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) to signal its intention of becoming a regional responsible tourism certification programme. It has also announced that it will separate market development from certification to avoid conflict of interest, and has unveiled its new brand, which, it said, had been updated to represent the contemporary and streamlined approach to responsible tourism certification. 

A new website www.fairtradetourism.org.za will launch early May 2013

Read further the article of South African Tourism Update

Sustainable tourism central to the future of Africa’s Parks

Tourism is one of the most effective ways to preserve Africa’s national parks and protected areas while creating jobs and income for local communities. This was one of the main conclusions of the First Pan-African Conference on Sustainable Tourism in African National Parks, organized by UNWTO and the Government of Tanzania (Arusha, Tanzania, 15-18 October 2012).

 

“Nature is one of Africa’s greatest assets,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, opening the Conference. “Many of the 50 million international tourists visiting Africa each year are driven by the continent’s unparalleled wildlife and natural scenery. These tourists spend in the local economy, sustain jobs and provide an incentive for conservation, making tourism a powerful engine for sustainable development.”

 

The importance of sustainable tourism development for national parks and the people living in and around them was echoed in the Arusha Declaration, adopted by attending tourism ministers, tourism private sector representatives and conservation officials.

Signatories to the Declaration underlined the importance of good governance in managing park tourism, calling for collaborative action among the relevant stakeholders, particularly between public authorities and the private sector. The Declaration further stressed “the need to directly involve local communities in the management of parks and protected areas to ensure they gain concrete benefits in terms of employment and income generation”.

 

Knowledge exchange between African countries should be prioritized, agreed signatories, given the potential for countries with more limited experience in park tourism to benefit from best practices elsewhere in Africa