Welcome to the November edition of the FTTSA Newsflash !
Please note: This is FTTSA's last newsflash for 2008. We look forward to bringing you more exciting news after the holiday season in January 2009.
Reed Valley certified as number 42 in FTTSA's portfolio
FTTSA has recently certified Reed Valley which is home to two distinct products: Reed Valley Inn and Reed Valley Bush Lodge. Reed Valley is the fourth lodge on the Amakhala Game Reserve to receive FTTSA certification. Reed Valley is based in the Eastern Cape , 75 kilometres from Port Elizabeth and near the Addo National Park . Reed Valley demonstrates commitment to operating in a sustainable and responsible manner in a number of ways including collaboration with other Amakhala FTTSA-certified properties on conservation and socio-economic development initiatives . Each lodge within Amakhala contributes to a collective fund for education and uplifts their staff through training. For more information on the Amakhala FTTSA-certified products visit http://www.amakhala.co.za .
FTTSA attends the 3rd International Forum on Fair Tourism and Responsible Development (FITS) in Mali
FTTSA's Marketing Manager, Lolla Meyer, traveled to Bamako , Mali on 20 to 22 October to attend the 3rd International Forum on Fair Tourism and Responsible Development. FTTSA took part in a round table discussion titled “Legislative and Regulatory Framework for the Development of Responsible and Solidarity Tourism” attended by approximately 500 people. FTTSA was invited by FITS to present FTTSA as a case study and its label as a tool for policy implementation in South Africa . Lolla also participated in another round table discussion titled “International Cooperation and Responsible Tourism: Good Practices and Quality Approach.” For more information of FITS, please visit http://www.tourism-solidaire.org
FTTSA promotes South Africa at TTW 2008 in Switzerland
The Travel Trade Workshop (TTW) takes place every October in Montreux and is the most important event of the year for the outbound travel and tourism industry in Switzerland . Lolla Meyer, FTTSA's Marketing Manager, attended TTW 2008 from 30 to 31 October 2008. Together with the Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO), the South African Embassy in Bern , Switzerland and the Tourism Enterprise Partnership (TEP), FTTSA supported a delegation of 14 product owners to attend TTW 2008. The products represented were mostly SMME's, some of which were partly or fully black and/or community owned. Most products were certified by FTTSA or in the process of applying for FTTSA certification, ensuring that the products represented were sustainable both financially and in terms of their impact on local economies, communities and natural resources. For more information on TTW 2009, visit http://www.ttw.ch/
FTTSA Attends the Mail & Guardian's Symphony of Winners 2008
On 23 October, FTTSA attended the Mail & Guardian's Symphony of Winners 2008 ceremony announcing the 2008 Investing in the Future and Drivers of Change award winners. This event was held at Summer Place, Johannesburg and co-sponsored by the Southern Africa Trust. The Investing in the Future and Drivers of Change awards celebrate the contributions made by private and public businesses to the well-being of society. Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) was a finalist in the category “Drivers of Change: Civil Society Award” and received a certificate for our nomination as a finalist. For more information on these awards and the Southern Africa Trust, please go to http://www.southernafricatrust.org/ .
FTTSA attends the 7 th Annual National Tourism Conference
On 3 November FTTSA attended the 7 th Annual National Tourism Conference at the Emperor's Palace in Gauteng . FTTSA was represented by the Certification Manager, Lisa Scriven, the newly-appointed Certification Assistant, Sumayya Daya, and the incoming Regional Network Coordinator, Stela Luis. The theme of the conference was Building a Service Excellence Culture and Partnerships in Tourism for 2010 and beyond.
The conference was opened by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk. The morning session's discussions focused on Service Excellence from the South African perspective. The afternoon session provided insights and experiences from a panel of international speakers whose expertise provided an inspiring overview of opportunities associated with achieving service excellence, with particular reference to hosting an event such as 2010 FIFA World Cup. For more information on the National Service Excellence Strategy, please visit http://www.deat.gov.za/ .
FTTSA attends Regional Dialogue YEBO (REDY!) Workshop
On 18-19 November 2008, FTTSA Executive Director Jennifer Seif was invited to speak about Trends in Global and South African Tourism at the Regional Dialogue YEBO (REDY!) Workshop. This event was hosted by Aid to Artisans, in collaboration with its subsidiary organisation Aid to Artisans: South Africa Trust. Some of the objectives for this workshop were to maximise business success with increased knowledge of current trends in the global and regional tourist markets and to develop strategies for artisans and craft enterprises to capitalise on the growing green market. For more information about the REDY! Workshop and Aid to Artisans, visit http://www.aidtoartisans.org .
FTTSA goes regional!
In addition to FTTSA's contribution at the Regional Dialogue YEBO (REDY!) Workshop, FTTSA's strategy of expanding to other SADC countries is in progress. For more information about the Sustainable Tourism Network Southern Africa, please email FTTSA Regional Network Coordinator, Stela Luis at stela@fairtourismsa.org.za . Look out for the Sustainable Tourism Network Southern Africa website that will be launched in December 2008.
Mothers of Creation rural tourism route receives new technology
On 1 November 2008, Eden District Municipality Mayor, Rudie Laws, delivered ten computers to the Mothers of Creation Homestay Route in the Karatara Community Hall near Knysna. The Mothers of Creation Route is a community-based tourism project and consists of 12 female representatives that help manage the women-owned and operated rural route paralleling the Garden Route in the Southern Cape . FTTSA works in conjunction with the National Development Agency (NDA) to provide support and training to help ensure the success of the Mothers.
The computers will be used by the Mothers in several of the households to help run their businesses, which include homestays, farmstays, forest walks and horse riding enterprises. In addition to the donation of the ten computers, Eden District Municipality will also provide training on computer use, maintenance and servicing to the Mothers. Please visit http://www.fairtourismsa.org.za/projects_community.html for more information on the Mothers of Creation.
FTTSA welcomes Sumayya Daya and Stela Coutinho Luis to the FTTSA team
Sumayya Daya is replacing Carolin Stamm, the current FTTSA Panel Secretary, as the new Certification Assistant. Sumayya holds a B.Com in Management and Industrial Psychology from the University of South Africa . She is excited for the opportunity to learn from the FTTSA team and add value to FTTSA from her previous work experience in the tourism industry. Contact Sumayya at sumayya@fairtourismsa.org.za .
Stela Coutinho Luis is from Mozambique and is joining FTTSA as the Regional Network Coordinator. She has a BA (Hons) degree in Tourism Management from the Catholic University of Mozambique. She is excited to apply what she learns while working at FTTSA to further the development of tourism in Mozambique . Contact Stela at stela@fairtourismsa.org.za .
Two new faces on the FTTSA panel
FTTSA welcomes two new FTTSA panel members. Naledi Nkula, Director of Tourism Business Development from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) and Hanneli Slabber, Global Manager: Product for South African Tourism (SAT), joined the FTTSA certification panel on 17 November 2008.
FTTSA bids farewell
FTTSA bids farewell to Carolin Stamm who has been with FTTSA for twelve months serving as Panel Secretary. The FTTSA team thanks her for her contributions during 2008 and wishes her all the best in her future endeavors.
Request for Proposals for Business Development Services in connection with Agri-Tourism Cluster Development”
FTTSA is currently accepting proposals from consultants to conduct business development support (BDS) services to support the planned development of agri-tourism clusters in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces. Service providers are required for the following tasks:
- Business development services for the establishment of an agri-tourism cluster in the Eastern Cape .
- Business development services for the establishment of an agri-tourism cluster in the Limpopo .
Consultants are invited to submit proposals for one or both contracts, and in the case of the latter, consultants should indicate where costs can be saved by combining the work. Closing date: 10th December at 16h00. Proposals can be mailed to jennifer@fairtourismsa.org.za .
Singita Kruger National Park Wildlife Safaris broadcasted globally on National Geographic TV
National Geographic TV broadcasted FTTSA-certified Singita Kruger National Park game drives during the week of 9 to 15 November 2008. The programme, called ‘Caught on Safari: Live!', featured morning and afternoon game drives that were aired live to 166 countries around the world. The programme was hosted by UK wildlife presenter Michaela Strachan and broadcasted on National Geographic and National Geographic Wild TV Channels. The program is available online at http://www.natgeotv.com . Game rangers, wildlife trackers, veterinarians and ecologists from Singita shared insight into Africa's conservation issues and specific initiatives taking place in the Kruger National Park . Please visit, http://www.singita.co.za for more information.
Four FTTSA-certified products perform at this year's IMVELO Awards
A record 134 category entries were received for this year's IMVELO Awards. Twenty tourism and hospitality enterprises were chosen as finalists, four of them FTTSA-certified products. On behalf of FTTSA, we wish the following FTTSA-certified establishments congratulations:
- Adventure WithOut Limits (AWOL) Tours : Finalist in the “Best Practice: Economic Impact” category
- ACCOR Hospitality Southern Africa Group – including one of their hotels, FTTSA-certified Mercure Hotel Suites Bedforview: Finalist in the “Best Social Involvement Programme” category
- Shiluvari Lakeside Lodge: Finalist in the “Best Practice: Economic Impact” category
- Stormsriver Adventures: Winner of the “Best Social Involvement Programme (Independent)” category and finalist in “Best Practice: Economic Impact” and “Best Overall Environmental Management System” categories.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism launches Excellence Strategy
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) has launched its Draft Integrated Tourism Service Excellence Strategy. The strategy will aim to “champion service transformation, create a customer service oriented culture, craft a solution minded customer service culture, provide human behaviour solution, and touch the entire tourism service value chain”. DEAT hopes to set a benchmark for the South African tourism industry by measuring customer satisfaction levels over time. According to DEAT, one of the most critical factors for the success of the strategy is the involvement of both the public and private sectors. Parties that are interested in commenting on the draft strategy can find more information online at www.deat.gov.za . Comments must be received before the end of November.
World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) calls for entries for the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2009
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in association with Travelport and The Leading Travel Companies Conservation Foundation, is delighted to announce the call for entries for the 2009 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are WTTC's sustainable tourism accolade and are presented annually to tourism organisations that demonstrate best practices which include helping to improve the livelihoods of communities and supporting the protection of natural and cultural heritage through sustainable tourism development. The awards are given in four different categories addressing all sectors of the travel and tourism industry. The deadline for entries is 15 December 2008. To find out more about the awards, please contact Susann Kruegel, WTTC Manager of e-Strategy and Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, at susann@wttc.org or visit www.tourismfortomorrow.com
151 entries received for ETEYA 2009
South African Tourism's 2009 Emerging Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (ETEYA) recorded a staggering 300% growth in entries since last year. The ETEYA had 45 entries last year and this year closed with 151 entries. The awards are designed to encourage development, enhance job creation and financially sustain black-owned Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises within the tourism industry. Hanneli Slabber, Global Manager of Product at South African Tourism, says: “This is incredible growth on entries and we are completely overwhelmed by the positive response this year.”
“All areas of the hospitality industry were considered for entry from accommodation establishments to cultural villages, games reserves, restaurants and tour operators. The awards have come a long way in assisting sustainable growth opportunities in tourism,” concludes Slabber. The finalists will be announced at an awards ceremony at Indaba in May 2009. For more information on the ETEYA finalists visit, http://www.travelwires.com/wp/?p=3025
General Call for Papers: Journal of International Volunteer Tourism and Social Development
The Journal of International Volunteer Tourism and Social Development is a new peer-reviewed, trans-disciplinary and trans-national journal. More specifically, the compilation is a social science journal with a special emphasis on volunteer tourism. Although it will be anchored in the social sciences it also seeks to encompass contributions from related areas. The journal will provide an outlet for publication for tourism and leisure-related research and encourages inter-disciplinary approaches to the relevant subject matter. For more information visit
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~db=all~content=t794297797~tab=summary
Call for Papers: Special Edition of Current Issues in Tourism
The Current Issues in Tourism: Special Edition aims to draw together research on social tourism from different countries accompanied by discussion of the political, economic and social systems that support this type of tourism. Papers demonstrating the benefits from social tourism, as well as discussions of the challenges in enabling social tourism, are welcomed. Through this, Special Edition Current Issues in Tourism hopes to identify researchers interested in the topic and generate an agenda for future researchers. All papers submitted for the Special Edition of Current Issues in Tourism will be subject to double blind peer review before publication and should conform to all formatting requirements as described at: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/ . Full papers should be submitted by June 2009, but abstracts and expressions of interest need to be sent to the editors by 28 February 2009 c/o Dr. Lynn Minnaert at L.Minnaert02@westminster.ac.uk .
RESOURCES TOURISMOS Journal (Volume 3, Issue 2, Autumn 2008) has been published
TOURISMOS is an international, multi-disciplinary, peer-reviewed journal aiming to promote and enhance research in all fields of tourism, including travel, hospitality and leisure. The journal is published by the University of the Aegean (in Greece), and is intended for readers in the scholarly community who deal with different tourism sectors, both at the macro and micro levels, as well as professionals in the industry. TOURISMOS provides a platform for debate and dissemination of research findings, new research areas and techniques, conceptual developments, and articles with practical application to any tourism segment. For more information, please visit http://www.chios.aegean.gr/tourism/vol3iss2.htm .
Biodiversity: My hotel in action
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in partnership with ACCOR hotels and the International Hotel & Restaurant Association, launched a guide to the sustainable use of biological resources in hotels.
“Biodiversity: My hotel in action” parallels the FTTSA Certification Manual and guidelines for sustainable operations and is aimed at hotel owners and managers. The guide focuses on the biodiversity implications of specific products (such as spa products, room amenities, food and drinks, souvenirs, furniture), or activities such as landscaping and ground maintenance, excursions, partnerships and sponsorships with other organisations. The Guide also highlights the different ways in which hotels can influence biodiversity conservation, including:
- Internal operations (where the hotel has the maximum control)
- The supply chain (how biodiversity issues can be incorporated in purchasing policies)
- Customers (through awareness raising and information provision)
- Relations with surrounding communities through both partnerships for addressing biodiversity challenges in one or more areas of a hotel's responsibilities and through cooperation with outside partners and sponsors (traditional philanthropy through donations and support to local organisations and projects).
You can read the full story and download the guide from http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/business/index.cfm?uNewsID=1643 .
Hard copies are available at Earthprint - www.earthprint.com (Stock Code IUCN2268).
For access to the FTTSA Certification Manual and additional information about FTTSA guidelines, site assessments and certification, visit, http://www.fairtourismsa.org.za/certified_onlinemanual.html
EVENTS
Urgent Invitation to participate in the South African Service Excellence Strategy for 2010 and beyond: 3 to 5 December 2008, Johannesburg
The Deputy President of South Africa recently declared service excellence and quality customer service a national priority to underpin social transformation, economic growth, and sustainable global competitiveness of our country. To this end, the South African Service Quality Initiative (SASQI) is a public-private partnership that has been established with the responsibility to co-ordinate and drive the National Integrated Service Excellence Strategy for 2010 and beyond. SASQI, assisted by Global Service Quality Corporation and Service Quality Centre of Singapore, has developed a strategic framework anchored by the following four pillars:
- Up-skilling of service delivery
- Public awareness around service excellence
- Measurement and monitoring of service standards
- Consumer feedback system.
SASQI requests the urgent participation of senior representatives with strategic influence in their organisations to join other fellow South Africans who have committed to being part of this high level intervention that will take place from 3 to 5 December 2008 in Johannesburg . Please confirm participation or that of a fellow colleague by contacting Christine Benefeld at SASQI on the telephone number 086 173 7878 or at info@sasqi.co.za . Full details will be advised on confirmation of attendance.
Travellers' Philanthropy Conference, Arusha , Tanzania , 3 to 5 December 2008
Under the banner of “Making Travellers' Philanthropy Work for Development, Business, and Conservation,” this international conference – organised by the Centre on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development (CESD) – will focus on the growing trend among responsible tourism businesses to support community and conservation projects in the host countries where they operate. The 300 international conference attendees will include representatives from tourism companies, experts from development and conservation organisations, the United Nations (UN), other international agencies, academics, government officials, the media, and others interested in how responsible tourism can contribute to poverty alleviation and biodiversity conservation. For more information contact: Whitney Cooper on wcooper@ecotourismcesd.org or please visit www.travelersphilanthropyconference.org .
Tourism for Development: Environmental Sustainability, Poverty Reduction and Empowering Communities Conference, Gaborone , Botswana , 1 to 3 July, 2009
The Association for Tourism and Leisure Education (ATLAS) Africa, University of Botswana and the International Geographical Union's (IGU) Commission of Tourism, Leisure and Global Change will be hosting the ATLAS Africa conference. For more information, email leontine.onderwater@atlas-euro.org .
Did you know? • Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa 's portfolio has risen from 4 certified tourism products in 2003 to 42 certified tourism products in 2008. These products range from hotels, backpackers and lodges to game reserves and tours, www.fairtourismsa.org.za .
• The number of products carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark is now more than 4,000. This enables some 7.5 million farmers and workers and their families across the world to participate in Fairtrade, http://www.fairtrade.org.uk |
