September is Tourism Month – a time to celebrate all that South Africa has to offer domestic and international visitors.
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For FTTSA this period was marked by the tragic loss of our dear friend and colleague, Jennifer Marie Caldwell.

We dedicate our September Newsflash to her.

FTTSA pays tribute to Jennifer Caldwell
It is with great sadness that FTTSA informs our friends and stakeholders that Jennifer Caldwell (Jen), who has been working at FTTSA as a Project Assistant (intern) for the past year, died in a road accident in Hatfield, Pretoria on Monday 14 September 2009. Jen was a tremendous person and a great asset to FTTSA and to Fair Trade in South Africa more generally. She worked on a number of donor-funded projects to assist community-based tourism ventures and facilitated training for black tourist guides in Soweto , the Wild Coast and Cape Town . Jen's input on these projects and many other FTTSA initiatives has had a huge positive impact on the lives of many people. 

The learners, entrepreneurs and communities that Jen worked with over the past year have lost a true and selfless advocate of change but FTTSA as an organisation will ensure that this legacy is not lost: FTTSA will from early next year fund an annual internship in Jen's name, to provide a young, newly qualified black South African with much needed work experience. This type of initiative is consistent with Jen's clear sense of what post apartheid empowerment is all about – providing skills transfer and practical experience to black people who were and would otherwise remain excluded from South Africa 's mainstream economy. More information on this internship will be available in the October newsflash.

Jen's tragic passing is a terrible loss to South Africa , to FTTSA as an organisation, to her many friends and colleagues in South Africa and of course to Jen's extended family in the USA and other parts of the world. Jen will be remembered by all of us at FTTSA for her quick wit, lovely smile, spirit of adventure and total dedication to Fair Trade in Tourism. May her soul rest in peace, we will always love her.

Making Small but Meaningful Changes: The Dunes Country House gets FTTSA-certified
The Dunes Country House is a four-star country house based in the Eastern Cape 's beautiful seaside village of St. Francis Bay . This eco-tourism business is committed to preserving coastal fynbos and wetlands and facilitates a variety of initiatives to ensure that staff are treated fairly and local economic benefits are realised. The Dunes Country House offers an ongoing education programme about HIV/AIDS in various languages (English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa). As a further commitment to its staff, The Dunes invests in a broad range of skills development including chef training, spa therapy, First Aid, fire safety, recycling and training on conservation. For more information on The Dunes Country House please click here.

FTTSA certifies Antrim Villa and Bickley Guesthouse
FTTSA recently certified two “sister” guesthouses situated at the foot of Signal Hill in the heart of Three Anchor Bay in Cape Town . Antrim Villa is situated only a 10-minute walk from Green Point stadium and 10-minutes from the Atlantic Ocean . Bickley House – a four star property – is one of Sea Point's oldest houses and is classified as a national monument. Both properties proactively address the legacies of apartheid as, apart from the owner, the staff complement is comprised entirely of historically disadvantaged individuals (HDIs), with the vast majority being women. These two establishments, whose motto is “Think local buy local” , consciously strive to purchase local goods (and organic, wherever possible) that add a uniquely South African ‘flavour' to the guest experience. In addition, these two small businesses assist local emerging entrepreneurs by utilising their services for airport transfers, garden services and spa treatments. New local suppliers are researched and utilised on an ongoing basis and guests are referred to local attractions and businesses in the area. Please visit these amazing establishments on Antrim Villa and Bickley House .

The Real Taste of Reality with Dreamcatcher Alternative Winelands Tour
FTTSA has certified the Alternative Winelands Tour, which is facilitated by Dreamcatcher and offers a heart-warming and educational alternative to the mainstream Cape Winelands experience. The tour features insights into the lives of labourers who worked the land during the establishment of the Western Cape 's wine estates and enables visitors to learn about the challenges of hostel and farm life and how the community has developed to the present day. The tour visits wine estates that have demonstrated a commitment to employees (such as providing access to land and technical assistance to start their own wine label) and features a unique opportunity to prepare (and sample!) traditional food during a “cook-up with the Kamammas” – a culinary experience with women from the local area. Dreamcatcher has an intensive training programme for its suppliers, part of which looks at how to calculate market-related and fair prices for their products. They also ensure that community-based suppliers receive 100% of the price they quote. Dreamcatcher also encourages other tourism service providers to support local small businesses in their communities.  Please click here to experience the tour.

FTTSA certifies three tours under andulela Experience
Andulela's Cape Malay Cooking Safari, Cape Malay Meal and Bo-Kaap Insights tours join the FTTSA club. Each tour takes place in the heart of Cape Town 's Bo-Kaap – or Malay Quarter – and captures the spirit and culture of a community known as the Cape Malays . As a direct result of the interest generated by andulela's unique tours, a number of home businesses have sprouted up in the Bo-Kaap area. Andulela's active presence in the community also enables its team to identify community projects worth assisting, whether through exposure, sponsorship or investment. To find out more on why these three activities have been certified by FTTSA click here. To go on the andulela Experience, click here.

Showcasing best practice in South Africa – the example of Avis
FTTSA has renewed its partnership with the leading car rental company in South Africa , Avis. Avis is the leading car rental brand in Southern Africa and is a key contributor to the global Avis delivery system. Avis Southern Africa continues to set the benchmark for licensees worldwide in terms of customer service, operations and brand development and has achieved CarbonNeutral accreditation for the offset of its internal fuel and energy usage CO 2 emissions. As part of its efforts to contribute towards a greener South Africa , Avis has already invested R1.9-million in the introduction of water recycling plants at its three new main depot car wash facilities in Johannesburg , Durban and Cape Town . These plants together save and recycle 95-million tons of water every year. For more information on Avis projects and accomplishments click here.

In recognition of FTTSA's impact on responsible tourism development in South Africa , Avis will provide FTTSA with 45 sponsored car hire days over a 12-month period. This follows on a similar sponsorship last year.  FTTSA would like to extend a big thank you to Avis for their support.

F air Trade Travel pilot study
FTTSA, in partnership with arbetskreis tourismus & entwicklung (akte) in Switzerland and EED – Tourism Watch in Germany , has initiated a project to pilot the Fair Trade auditing and labelling of travel packages to South Africa . The objective of this pilot is to test the possibility of developing a practical, commercially feasible framework for Fair Trade labelling of international packaged travel.  Seed funding for this project has been provided to FTTSA by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) for the period July 2009 to April 2010. The initiative has been formally endorsed by the International Fairtrade Labelling Organizations (FLO),  In addition, two Swiss tour operators (Imagine Reisen and Kuoni Travel Ltd) have committed to participate in the project through the development of indicative packages, with a third tour operator envisaged to join the pilot project before December 2009. Research findings, draft standards and initial recommendations will be made publicly available for comments by April 2010. For more information please visit Fair Trade Travel.

Developing standards and certification for Voluntourism experiences in South Africa
Voluntourism refers to travel that combines elements of organised voluntary work with leisure travel and is a fast growing niche market in the global tourism industry. Based on the Code of Good Practice for Voluntourism published in 2007, and complimentary research carried out by FTTSA, it has been established that there i s demand for certification by businesses involved in voluntourism, as well as a perceived need for self-regulation within this growing sector. In response to perceived demand for third party certification within this sector of the travel industry, FTTSA is currently working on a project to expand FTTSA certification to companies and organisations facilitating voluntourism experiences for tourists. This project is partly funded by the Swiss Foundation for Solidarity in Tourism (SST) which is based in Switzerland . As the opportunities and challenges associated with Voluntourism are not unique to South Africa , it is also hoped that project will be able to inform similar projects in other developing countries. For more information please visit FTTSA projects.

FTTSA bids farewell
FTTSA bids farewell to Mr. Percy Mkhosi who has been serving as the Chairperson of the FTTSA Board since 2004. He has resigned from the board due to other commitments. Percy is an independent tourism consultant who worked previously as a Tourism Specialist at ABSA Bank and prior to that, at the Tourism Enterprise Programme (TEP). The new Chairperson of the FTTSA Board is Dr. Matlotleng Patrick Matlou who is the CEO at the Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA). The Deputy Chairperson of the FTTSA Board is Ms. Xolile Caga who is Group Transformation Manager for the Edcon group.

FTTSA would like to thank Mr. Mkhosi for his valuable contributions throughout these years and wishes him all the best with his future endeavors.  He will remain part of the FTTSA family in his capacity as a member of the Section 21 company.

Stormsriver Adventures offers new triple adventure
Stormsriver Adventures was one of the first companies in 2003 to become FTTSA-certified for its wide range of sustainability measures including upliftment of local communities through skills development, HIV/AIDS education and awareness raising, and support for home-based care groups.  Currently, a local recycling initiative is being driven by Stormsriver Adventures as part of the company's sustainable development philosophy. Environmental policy is also rigidly applied, ensuring the protection of the surrounding sensitive environment.

While Stormsriver Adventures is best known for its famous tree top canopy tour, the company also offers a range of fascinating guided forest trails and, for the more laid back, the perfect ‘slow travel' experience, a tractor driven vehicle that ambles its way through the forest along the old ‘Storms River' pass with a tasty picnic or snacks on offer at the top. The new triple adventure – or Eco Combo - ticket is aimed at inspiring visitors to book in advance for the privilege of completing all three of the activities, and to encourage visitors to ‘stay for the day'. For details visit Stormsriver Adventures.

Tourism Month officially launched by the Tourism Minister
On 27 August 2009 in Newtown , Johannesburg , South Africa 's Tourism Minister, Marthinus van Schalkwyk officially launched tourism month. The minister stressed the importance of domestic and regional tourism, which he termed the “backbone of a sustainable and robust tourism industry.” He also noted that in 2008, the total number of tourists in South Africa was 42.5 million, of which 9.5 million were foreign arrivals, which means that the domestic market accounted for 77% of all tourist arrivals by volume in South Africa last year. Tourism Month is celebrated annually in South Africa in September. During the month the focus is placed on domestic travel experiences as well as the offerings in lesser visited provinces of the country. Tourism Month culminated in a World Tourism Day celebration in Kimberley on 27 September 2009. UNWTOs Tourism Day celebration theme this year is “Tourism Celebrating Diversity”. More information can be obtained on the newly launched National Department of Tourism in here.

Resources

The Global Fair Trade Reader
The Victoria Press ( Mishawaka , Indiana , USA ) introduces the inaugural volume in its newly launched "Focus on Fair Trade" scholarly anthology series in fair trade studies. The Global Fair Trade Reader , to be released in September 2009, is the first volume in this series.  Edited by Deborah McLaren (Minnesota, USA), a renowned expert in fair trade tourism and indigenous rights, this inaugural volume introduces readers to a wide variety of topics within fair trade studies, including fair trade tourism, ethical consumer behavior, neoliberalist economic policies, accountability, models of fair trade and business law.  The Global Fair Trade Reader includes essays from scholars, students and practitioners from Australia , Canada , India , Mexico , South Africa , the United Kingdom and the United States .  FTTSA's Jennifer Seif is one of the authors featured in the September anthology. The mission of this anthology series is three-fold: to represent the voices of producers, leaders and organisations around the world; to further the scholarly treatment of fair trade; and to affect policy change. A Special Consultant, Editorial Board and Advisory Council provide oversight and guidance with regard to the "Focus on Fair Trade" anthology series, and articles are peer-reviewed prior to publication.  Information on this series in fair trade studies may be found on the Victoria Press website . 

National Events

Destinations Expo 2009, Cape Town International Convention Centre, 22-25 October 2009
The Destinations Expo is a platform to market destinations, accommodation, recreation, holiday and travel products to local travelers. The expo welcomes exhibitors from all nine provinces in South Africa as well as from neighboring countries, world destinations and surrounding Indian Ocean islands. Destinations 2009 offers businesses the opportunity to meet travelers and holiday makers face-to-face, drive sales, build brand awareness and talk to the market. The show is marketed to consumers, business travelers and the industry in general. Space is limited, so interested parties are encouraged to book space now. For information, please visit Destination Expo.

Tourism Industry Charity Event (T.I.C.E.), International Convention Centre, Cape Town , 24 October 2009
The event will take the form of a black tie dinner-dance combined with a charity auction. Tickets are available from R395pp or R3 950 per table of 10 and include a three course meal, wine and live entertainment. Over the past four years the event as raised over R700 000 for various charities and this year the three charities to benefit from the function will include WARMTH, Dyer Island Conservation Trust and the Tourism Education Trust.

8 th Annual National Tourism Conference, Emperors Palace , Gauteng , 30 October 2009
The Department of Tourism will be hosting the 8 th Annual National Tourism Conference with this year's theme “Building a Service Excellence and Accessible Tourism Culture and Partnerships in Tourism for 2010 and Beyond.”

The conference programme includes :

• Lessons Learnt from 2009 Confederations Cup;
• Outcomes of the Discovery Phase;
• Gearing for the 2010 World Cup;
• Provision of Accessible Tourism for all Travelers;
• And many more.

Guests of honor include Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Minister of Tourism; Tokozile Xasa, Deputy Minister of Tourism; Nomvula Mokonyane, Premier of Gauteng; Ntombi Mekgwe, Mayor of Ekurhuleni and several other high profile international and local experts on service excellence. The Department of Tourism is expecting Tourism Industry Players (Decision Makers), Organs of State, Organised Labour Communities, Civil Society and Media to all be in attendance. For more information please email Glenda Esemang or e-mail  Nthabeleng Chokoe

Hospitality Investment Conference Africa (HICA), Sandton, Johannesburg , 4-6 November 2009
HICA provides a platform for members of the hospitality industry to discuss current global trends and showcase what the African continent has on offer for regional and international investors.  The focus of this year's conference will be on how responsible tourism can help create better areas for people to live in and visit. Visit the HICA website for more information about the 2009 conference.

International Events

Travel Trade Workshop (TTW), Montreux , Switzerland , 4-5 November 2009
The Travel Trade Workshop (TTW) is Switzerland 's largest travel show and a popular item on the international travel calendar. FTTSA will be attending to promote FTTSA-certified tourism products and to showcase South Africa as a leading international responsible tourism destination.  The South African Pavilion will be sponsored by the Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO), South African Tourism (SAT) and the South African Embassy in Switzerland . SIPPO helps small and medium-sized companies in emerging markets and markets in transition to gain access to Swiss and EU markets and is carried out by Osec Business Network Switzerland since 2008. For more information please visit the Travel Trade Workshop website. For more information on SIPPO click here.

World Travel Market, ExCel London , 9-12 November 2009
The World Travel Market is a must attend event on in the international tourism calendar. It is a four-day business to business event that showcases a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to UK and International travel professionals. It is a unique opportunity for the whole global travel trade to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business under one roof. By attending World Travel Market, participants efficiently, effectively and productively gain immediate competitive advantage for their business and stay abreast with the latest developments in the travel industry. For more information please visit World Travel Market .

Did you know?
Domestic and regional tourism is the backbone of a sustainable and robust tourism industry. In 2008, the total number of tourists in South Africa was 42.5 million, of which 9.5 million were foreign arrivals. Domestic tourists accounted for 77% of all tourists in South Africa last year. Over the three year period from 2006 to 2008 domestic tourists accounted for, on average, 79.6% of all tourists in South Africa . For more information visit National Department of Tourism