Autumn Greetings to all FTTSA newsflash readers! Welcome to Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA)'s April 2010 Newsflash.

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FTTSA is looking for an Office Administration Intern in memory of Jennifer Caldwell
FTTSA calls for applications for an Office Administration Intern. This internship is in honour of Jennifer Caldwell who interned at FTTSA during 2008-2009. Jennifer was strongly committed to social and environmental justice and touched the lives of many South Africans before dying tragically in a road accident on 14 September 2009. To honour her memory, FTTSA provides an annual internship to a black South African citizen who:

The closing date for submitting applications is Wednesday, 5 May 2010. Please click here to download the full description and application procedure.

FTTSA at Indaba – Durban , 8-11 May 2010
FTTSA will be exhibiting at this year's Indaba Trade Travel Show to raise awareness about FTTSA, FTTSA-certified products and responsible tourism in South Africa . To meet with the FTTSA team or set-up an appointment, please contact the FTTSA team or visit stand number DECD 020. For those of you attending Indaba, please join FTTSA and South Africa 's National Development Agency (NDA) for our annual Indaba stand function on Sunday, 09 May at 18h00 at stand number ODW09b. You will have a chance to meet and mingle with FTTSA-certified tourism businesses and NDA's community-based tourism projects whilst enjoying Fairtrade Thandi Wines

FTTSA is proud to introduce 6 community based tourism experiences at Indaba 2010
In a unique partnership between FTTSA and South Africa 's National Development Agency (NDA), 6 community based tourism projects are being showcased for the first time promoting grant-aided efforts by the NDA and FTTSA to facilitate socio-economic transformation through tourism. Community based travel is a largely untapped market in South Africa . It offers authentic, inspirational cultural experiences, and with it an unrivalled potential for job creation. We invite you to come and meet the real people behind the projects and to use this opportunity to see how your business will benefit from being part of their development. Embrace our South African heritage and help us to make a difference. Contact Helen Turnbull to make appointments with any of the NDA projects on helen@serendipityafrica.co.za  or call + 27 84 571 5900

FTTSA Sustainable Tourism workshops on the rise!
Bookings for FTTSA's Sustainable Tourism workshops are on the rise as our industry is becoming increasingly aware of the need to operate more sustainably. The FTTSA Sustainable Tourism (ST) workshops are targeted at adult learners working in the tourism industry or residing in communities affected by tourism development. During the month of April 2010, FTTSA facilitated a two-day ST workshop on behalf of Nelson Mandela Tourism Bay and Intsika Yethu Local Tourism in Port Elizabeth . Since mid 2006, approximately 1200 learners throughout South Africa successfully completed the workshop. The ST workshop is conducted by specially accredited trainers throughout South Africa . To book your ST workshop, please contact FTTSA at info@fairtourismsa.org.za .

Cape Town Offers Best Value for 2010 FIFA World Cup Visitors
Cape Town is set to offer the best value for money during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, according to the results of a month-long accommodation pricing survey carried out by Grant Thornton South Africa on March 26, 2010. On the back of much international criticism that South Africa is price-gouging during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, a survey was contracted by the Minister of Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, to establish a clear picture of prices throughout the country. The survey polled 2,479 accommodation establishments from all nine provinces with 38 percent of respondents coming from the Western Cape region. Establishments included hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfast establishments, lodges, backpackers, camping, and self-catering facilities. The survey results have shown that 65 percent of Johannesburg establishments are charging more than 50 percent higher than their peak season rates, with Durban coming in at 53 percent, hiking their prices to 50 percent and over their high season rates. The survey found that less than 20 percent of Cape Town 's establishments are going this route, proving that a hands-on pricing message campaign by the region's tourism authorities has resulted in a fair, realistic pricing market for Cape Town .

The Grant Thornton Survey attributed the fair pricing in Cape Town to two occurrences, namely the excess supply of accommodation due to Cape Town 's excellent accommodation capacity and the recent opening of many new hotels adding to the already good levels of supply. This coupled with a significant slowdown in demand has forced operators to tightly control rates in order to achieve acceptable occupancies. The second factor is the efforts of Cape Town Tourism to promote ethical pricing during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and the signing of a 2010 FIFA World Cup™ pricing code-of-conduct. For more information visit Sustainable Tourism Network.

National Events

GREENEX 2010 , Nasrec Expo Centre, Johannesburg , 2-13 May 2010
This conference will focus on presentations by leading experts on sustainable energy solutions for today and the future of the continent. The exhibition will provide an environment where exhibitors will have networking opportunities with role players across the continent, tapping into new markets and industries, as well as having their products, projects, services and solutions displayed. For more information visit GREENEX 2010.

Gauteng Outdoor Eco Adventure and Travel Expo, Kyalami Exhibition Centre, Gauteng , 28-30 May 2010
This year's Gauteng and Cape Outdoor Eco Adventure and Travel Expos will be offering new exhibition areas called ‘GO EXPLORE.' Designed specifically for smaller establishments and first time exhibitors, GO EXPLORE will make it possible for businesses like B&B's and local attractions and adventure companies to market themselves to more than 25,000 consumers in Gauteng and 18,000 in the Western Cape . Please visit Outdoor Expo for more information, or book your stand with Shirley at Shirley@outdoorexpo.co.za .

The Getaway Show, the Coca Cola Dome, 10-12 September 2010
The Getaway Show is an informative and interactive experience of everything the Getaway brand epitomises - beautiful and unusual destinations, affordable accommodation, the latest outdoor gear and gadgets, 4x4 vehicles and accessories, an array of camping equipment and incredible adventures – all under one roof. For more information visit The Getaway Show.

International Events

International Rainforest Tourism Conference, Palm Cove, Cairns , Australia , 22-24 June 2010
The aim of this conference is to provide a platform to bring together researchers interested in rainforest tourism to share ides and research findings. The conference will also provide an opportunity to share ideas with researchers who are involved with rainforest management and rainforest science. For more conference information contact Professor Bruce Prideaux at bruce.prideaux@jcu.edu.au .

The 10th Global Travel & Tourism Summit will take place in Beijing, China on 25-27 May 2010
The Summit is the world's highest-level gathering of Travel & Tourism industry Chairs, Chief Executives and senior government officials, working together to unlock the tourism industry's significant potential for sustainable development and economic growth across the globe. The Summit will be hosted by the China National Tourism Administration and the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, and supported by the Beijing Tourism Administration and the Beijing Tourism Group. The summit markets itself as the ”World's Leading Industry - Reaching New Frontiers”. To find out more information visit Global Travel & Tourism Summit.

Announcements

Free Service Excellence Seminars!
As the host country for the World Cup, South Africa is seeking to improve overall customer service, in anticipation of the millions of guests to the games. In support of this vision, the National Department of Tourism (NDT) crafted the Tourism Service Excellence Strategy in 2008 which seeks to take Service Excellence in the Tourism Service Value Chain to greater heights. The Department of Tourism has commissioned The Disney Institute which has trained over a million professionals from more than 35 countries and 40 industries including over 50% of staff from over 100 blue-chip companies across the world. The Disney Institute has developed Service Excellence Seminars which are designed and focused in creating a culture of service excellence. These seminars are free of charge but, require participants to pre register. The seminars will be held in each one of the World Cup host cities from 28 April – 9 May 2010 . To find out more information click here.

2010 Inyathelo Philanthropy Awards
Inyathelo - The South African Institute for Advancement works to actively promote philanthropy in South Africa . The Inyathelo Philanthropy Awards recognise and honour individuals who have shown outstanding leadership in the area of personal philanthropy in South Africa and who, through their giving, have contributed to sustainable social change and inspired others to give. The Inyathelo spotlight is not only on those who give large sums of money but also on those who demonstrate a philanthropic spirit through personal giving and who have exhibited a long-term commitment to and passion for bettering the lives of others. There are five categories in which to nominate a philanthropist. Each category recognises someone who has combined passion, commitment and personal giving in order to support social causes. Nomination deadline: Wednesday, 30 June 2010 . For more information, click here .

2010 Imvelo Responsible Tourism Awards
Nominations for the Imvelo Responsible Tourism Awards are now open for the tourism and hospitality industry in Africa . The Imvelo Awards recognise tourism and hospitality businesses that make a real, measurable and sustained contribution to responsible tourism and have a huge impact on tourism in southern Africa , creating significant awareness of environmental management and social development issues in the industry. Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) won the 2009 Imvelo Responsible Tourism Chairman's Award. Entries should reach the organisers by Friday, 30 July 2010 . For more information contact Lynda Bacon on 011 467 5009 or visit Imvelo Awards.

Nominations for the Responsible Tourism Awards 2010
Nominations are now open for the Responsible Tourism Awards 2010 organised by responsibletravel.com and sponsored by Virgin Holidays. The Awards celebrate tourism ventures around the world that make positive contributions to conservation and the economies of local communities. The Awards are now in their seventh year and are the most prestigious of their kind in the world, with 13 categories having received nominations for 580 tourism organisations, individuals and destinations in 2009. Nominations close on: Monday, 14 June 2010 . For more information visit Responsible Tourism Awards.

Did you know?

• The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) partners with Pocketweb and Cleaner Climate to release a new green iPhone app offering an effective location-based mobile solution for responsible travelers. This initiative will incorporate support for sustainable ecotourism programmes as well as clean energy projects that reduce or displace greenhouse gas emissions. For more information visit International Ecotourism Society