Maropeng congratulates Fair Trade Tourism on its 10th anniversary

Nov 28, 2014

Fair Trade Tourism (FTT), which has certified Maropeng as a fair trade destination, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Maropeng was awarded the certification in 2013, following a rigorous process.

FTT is the world’s only tourism fair trade certification programme, and was initiated as a project of IUCN-South Africa in July 2001. In 2011 FTT was the first tourism certification programme in Africa to be recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, and remains the only standard in sub-Saharan Africa to have attained this status.

Fair Trade Certificate
Maropeng received its Fair Trade Tourism certification in 2013

FTT is a market development organisation, which assists businesses to transform their operations so 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.

Maropeng marketing and communications manager Lindsay Marshall says Maropeng is proud to be associated with FTT, and be certified by FTT. “We love being part of an association of other like-minded organisations,” says Marshall.

“I wish Fair Trade Tourism well into the future and I look forward to seeing them continuing to grow, as more destinations realise the importance of being certified.”

Some of the reasons why Maropeng received certification include:

  • Staff are paid a fair wage and they work under good conditions
  • Maropeng’s commitment to “practise what it preaches” motivates the company to be involved in eco-friendly projects
  • Maropeng has been involved in several upliftment projects, including planting a food garden for Maloney’s Eye School
  • Maropeng has been involved in a vast number of campaigns that promote environmental awareness
Garden Planting 2 380 253 S
Children working in the Maloney’s Eye School garden

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!”

FTT’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 under way 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.

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 programme for “supporting essential practices, including the promotion of labour standards, fair distribution of economic benefits, and respect for culture and the environment”.