Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa

As we are getting closer to the biggest soccer tournament in the world , Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) warmly welcomes you to its May newsflash!

Ethical Volunteering gets the nod from FTTSA
Two companies were awarded top Fair Trade in Tourism honours at Indaba 2010 as the first recipients of the new FTTSA certification for responsible volunteer programmes. Calabash Tours and Volunteer Africa 32° South are well-respected companies in terms of their commitment to responsible tourism, and have excellent track records to prove it. Calabash Tours, based in Port Elizabeth facilitates volunteer experiences in two focus areas; education and HIV home based care and support. The Calabash approach is structured around transfer of skills, and attracts international teachers and health workers to share skills to build capacity within township communities. Calabash Tours has also used the volunteer programme as a way to develop travel philanthropy models, in conjunction with the Calabash Trust. This has resulted in the possibility of ongoing support from volunteers, once back home, as fund raising ambassadors for the projects. The result has been the development of school libraries, nutrition support in schools and pre schools, and countless educational resources for schools. For more information, visit Calabash Tours .

Volunteer Africa - 32° South's volunteer programme works with schools in the Chintsa area of the Eastern Cape . It facilitates computer literacy classes, playing a supporting role for teachers and complementing the existing curriculum. It provides a vital resource for learners to gain hands-on computer skills that will prove invaluable as they progress through their education and eventually seek employment. The schools involved are all part of the “Ecoschools” project – initiated by WESSA and WWF – to give children access to environmental education via computer applications. The programme's next goal is to fund a mobile computer lab to be able to reach more learners in the area. For more information, please visit Volunteer Africa - 32° South .

FTTSA-certified tourism businesses scoop the 2009/2010 Welcome Awards!
FTTSA is delighted to congratulate two FTTSA-certified tourism businesses based in Cape Town that recently won the 2009/2010 Welcome Awards.

Cape Grace received an award for the best hotel and the best overall accommodation establishment. Cape Grace is a luxurious 5-star hotel in Cape Town that demonstrates that FTTSA principles can be implemented at all standards of the tourism industry; exceptional employment practices, supply chain management strategies and strong focus on staff welfare. Employees are valued as key assets, evident in the extensive training and development programmes in place and in the hotel's policy of recognising staff excellence through service awards. For a responsible but luxurious experience, visit Cape Grace.

The Backpack & Africa Travel Center received the award for the best backpackers in the category of “hostelling/caravan and camping sites” in the 2009/2010 Welcome Awards. The Backpack is a 5-star luxury backpackers that focuses on uplifting staff and community and it is committed to transparency, high-level standards and profit sharing for the majority of staff. Community involvement is a core feature of The Backpack's ethos. It has helped to build a crèche in a local informal settlement (financed from commissions earned by selling a cultural tour to the townships). They also have a positive and proactive attitude to working with staff affected by HIV/Aids. To find out more, visit The Backpack.

FTTSA is looking for a Project Assistant / Assessor at the Pretoria Office
FTTSA calls for applications for a Project Assistant / Assessor. Successful applicants will need the following skills and experience:

Practical understanding of project management
Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and work with financial information
Excellent written and verbal communications skills
Proven grasp of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tools and systems
Proven ability to plan and undertake field research with high level of autonomy
Proven ability to gather and manage data
Excellent report writing skills
Superior interpersonal skills
High level of proficiency in Microsoft software applications
Driver's license (code 08) and own vehicle is a must (i.e. non-negotiable job requirement)
Minimum 2 years work experience in a relevant sector e.g. tourism operations, event management, consultancy

Interested candidates should submit a covering letter, CV and references to Netsai Sibanda at FTTSA by emailing netsai@fairtourismsa.org.za or fax 012 342 2945 by 16h00 on 15 June 2010. To download the full job description, click here.

FTTSA welcomes Darla Bardine
Darla is a volunteer from the United States of America . She will be assisting FTTSA with one of its projects - the Tourism Child Protection Code of Conduct in South Africa - for a period of 10 weeks. Darla received her B.S. in Criminal Justice from Pennsylvania State University . She earned her M.A. in International Human Rights and Non-Profit Management from the University of Surrey-Roehampton in London and has over five years of experience working internationally on human rights issues. Presently, Darla is a Public Interest Law Scholar at Georgetown University Law Center and has completed her second year.

Tourism Child Protection Code of Conduct in South Africa project in progress
FTTSA officially announced the launch of a new project to institutionalise the Tourism Child Protection Code (“the Code”) of Conduct in South Africa at Indaba 2010 earlier this month. In its capacity of Local Code Representative (LCR) for South Africa , FTTSA is rolling out the initiative in partnership with funding and advisory partners UNICEF and the International Labour Organization (ILO), and in collaboration with South African tourism stakeholders.

The Code, which started as a project of End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes International (ECPAT International) , has been developed as a corporate social responsibility tool for tourism businesses and is an industry-driven, multi-stakeholder initiative that seeks to mobilize the tourism industry to protect children at risk of exploitation and report offenders.

The Code is now being rolled out by the South African tourism and hospitality sector as a means of raising awareness about the commercial sexual exploitation of children in tourism, as well as the role of the code as a prevention and reporting tool. Since Indaba, the Code has been very well received and the current applicant companies are displaying marvelous direction and initiative in applying The Code.

Community Tourism Takes Centre Stage
For the second time, six community based tourism experiences will be showcased under one umbrella at the Gauteng Outdoor Eco Adventure and Travel Expo on 28-30 May 2010 at the Kyalami Convention Centre. This is a result of a unique partnership between FTTSA and South Africa 's National Development Agency (NDA). The six beneficiaries operate on different business models: some are owned or co-owned by community trusts, while others are comprised of private entrepreneurs operating under a common brand or route. The idea was to create a practical platform that will help the community tourism initiatives with developmental support, and facilitate access to potential markets.

The Sustainable Tourism Network Southern Africa (STNSA) Annual Meeting a success!
The Sustainable Tourism Network Southern Africa (STNSA) Annual Meeting 2010 was held on 6 May at the International Convention Centre in Durban . It was attended by 41 delegates from 9 SADC countries.

Among other topics, some topics of discussion revolved around: the Tourism Sustainability Council's developing accreditation programme, other relevant sustainable tourism certification issues, how to utilise supply and value chains to increase local economic development and to increase the pro-poor impact of tourism expenditure. The STNSA is the voice of sustainable tourism stakeholders in the SADC region; it allows for the SADC community to respond to international developments in a unified way. Furthermore, it facilitates numerous networking opportunities for members and aids in relevant information dissemination. For more information visit, STNSA.

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.

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.

2010 International Tourism Conference on Global Sustainable Tourism, Mbombela , Mpumalanga , 15-19 November 2010
Mbombela Local Municipality and the Tshwane University of Technology's Department of Tourism Management are pleased to announce the 2010 International Tourism Conference on Global Sustainable Tourism . The aim of the conference is to provide tourism scholars, practitioners, and other stakeholders with an opportunity to explore and debate issues relating to sustainable practices in tourism. For more information, visit Global Sustainable Tourism.

Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC) 2010, Portland , Oregon , 8-10 September 2010
The Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC) is hosted by Travel Portland and Travel Oregon and it is North America 's largest and only conference focusing on sustainability in tourism. The conference provides invaluable learning and networking opportunities and will bring together 500+ business leaders, tourism professionals and community stakeholders. Focusing on latest developments in the field of ecotourism and sustainable tourism, and drawing lessons from tourism businesses' experiences with various economic, social and environmental challenges in recent years, one of the main session topics that will be highlighted at this year's ESTC is effective partnership strategies for sustainability initiatives.
For more information on the ESTC 2010, click here.

Fairtrade Label South Africa website is live!
The Fairtrade Label is the internationally most recognised label for sustainability and poverty reduction. It appears on products that are certified against Fairtrade standards and assures that they are produced using sustainable production and social development criteria. To view the brand new website, please visit Fairtrade Label in South Africa.

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.