UK's first Fair Trade holiday package launches

Table Mountain. Photo: Kuoni

Kuoni has become the first UK tour operator to launch a Fair Trade holiday package, which they hope will pave the way for similar holidays across the globe.

The holiday is a Fair Trade Garden Route and Winelands driving tour in South Africa, following the country being given the world's first destination-based Fair Trade Tourism certificate programme.

Hog Hollow Country Lodge. Photo: Kuoni

Accommodation on the 13-night tour will be in Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) country houses, hotels and lodges in the Amakhala Game Reserve, Plettenberg Bay, Swellendam, Overberg, and Stellenbosch.

FTTSA launched its certificate programme in 2003 in a bid to ensure a better deal for small tourism providers.

Kuoni describes it best on its website, saying: 'FTTSA is a non-profit organisation, which supports sustainable tourism development through the award of a certificate to companies that commit themselves to the Fair Trade criteria of fair wages, fair working conditions, just profit sharing and respect for human rights, culture and the environment.

'This assures you that the people whose land, natural resources, labour, knowledge and culture are used to support the tourism activities you are enjoying are actually benefiting fairly from them.'

Stellenbosch. Photo: Kuoni

The organisation hopes the new Kuoni package will provide a basis for a worldwide Fair Trade label for tourism.

South African Tourism chief marketing officer Roshene Singh told Travel Weekly: 'South Africa is proud to be the world's first Fair Trade tourism destination.

'Tourism is one of South Africa's biggest earners and it is critical that we retain as much revenue as possible in our country and ensure that tourism creates sustainable, quality jobs and livelihoods.'

Visit kuoni.co.uk for more information and to book.


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