NGO Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) has been praised by partner organisations for its work over the past 10 years in promoting responsible tourism in Southern Africa and beyond. FTT is the world’s only tourism fair trade certification programme, and is celebrating its 10th year as a sustainable organisation.
FTT, a market development organisation, assisting businesses to transform their operations in a manner that ensures that the people who contribute their knowledge, labour and land towards tourism reap the benefits. FTT-certified businesses gain market advantage in connecting with sustainability-savvy trade partners and consumers. Their broader contributions to the industry include awareness raising, advocacy and small business development.
Congratulating FTT on reaching its 10-year mark, Arianna Baldo, Director of South Africa’s national Fairtrade organisation, Fairtrade Label South Africa (FLSA), says: “We congratulate our friends and colleagues from FTT on their 10-year anniversary, and especially for the work done in establishing the first fair trade model for the tourism industry in the world! We work closely together developing the market for fair trade and increasing awareness among consumers. It has been wonderful to work with like-minded organisations, like FTT, which have a vision to transform the world into a more equal and sustainable place! Cheers to another 10 years!”
The organisation’s programme has been rolled out in Madagascar, where Salary Bay, Hotel Le Paradisier, Mantasoa Lodge, BushHouse Lodge and Tsara Camp have recently become FTT-certified, and plans are underway to roll out the FTT programme in Mozambique.
By selecting an FTT-certified experience, travellers are assured that their holiday benefits local communities and contributes to improved quality of life in the places they love to visit. This leads to tourists having a more fulfilling holiday experience.
FTT’s general manager, Kathy Bergs, says “it has been a privilege and an honour to have been involved with Fair Trade Tourism. Bergs first worked with FTT when she was general manager of Motswari Private Game Reserve, which became FTT-certified in 2006. Bergs has been FTT’s general manager since 2011. “I am inspired on a daily basis by the certified businesses themselves, by concerned and committed donors, by industry affiliates who share our passion for sustainable development, and by FTT’s executive director, Jennifer Seif, who founded an organisation that is now firmly established as a model of best practice in the southern African region,”
Louise Twining-Ward, president of Sustainable Travel International, also lauds FTT for the work the organisation has done in promoting responsible tourism. “At Sustainable Travel International, we believe partnerships are critical to achieving large-scale social change. Collectively we are harnessing the power of tourism to enrich people’s lives, strengthen communities, and conserve natural resources, culture, and heritage. We are honoured to call Fair Trade Tourism a long-time partner. We have admired the work of FTT in Southern Africa over the past 10 years, and its efforts have raised awareness of social equity in tourism globally.” Twining-Ward goes on to applaud FTT’s certification program for “supporting essential practices, including the promotion of labour standards, fair distribution of economic benefits, and respect for culture and the environment”.
“FTT has come a long way over the past decade and will continue working to develop the market for Fair Trade Tourism in southern Africa and beyond, to the benefit of people, business and the environment,” says Bergs.
