RESPONSIBLE TOURISM ECO-CERTIFICATION IN TANZANIA

AN INITIATIVE OF THE MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND TOURISM

Three Green Stars“Tanzania forever wild and authentic”

What is ecotourism?

It is a kind of tourism who provides for environmental conservation and who participate to the local development.

It is sustainable and fair, but also active in conservation and sustainable development.

It is a high level a requirement, a step after being responsible tourism.

What is responsible tourism?

It is concerning all kind of tourism who introduces sustainability’s issues in their management and fair relationship with local people.

All the tourism industry should become responsible and should not destroy anymore environment and local culture.

Why developing these kind of tourism?

Since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, all kind of development or economic growth must be sustainable. Economical, social and environmental sustainable developments are the “triple bottom line”.

A GROWING MARKET

If most of the tourists are still concerned with price, comfort, quality of accommodation and services, more and more are also concerned with environment and ethics.

International initiatives in sustainable and fair tourism

A few years ago it should has been possible to present shortly the most significant experiences in ecotourism development. Countries like Costa Rica or Australia where always shown as example and their code of conduct or certification have been used and copy by a number of other country for their own ecotourism policy.

Conditions for ecotourism development

Incentive for investment (tax, social contributions, import taxes…)

Safety of the investments (guarantees on the land one, the exploitation and the taxation)

Freedom of exploitation (clear concessions and guarantees) Definition of the responsibilities and protected contract

(engagement of the state and transparency of services) Quality controls Guarantee of the recourse (legislation and identification of

the circuits) Guarantee of public services (road and air accessibility,

maintenance of public spaces, public safety…)

Ecotourism Contribution to development and conservation

ECOTOURISME

Environmental Education

Justification for protected areas

Job creation

Conservation of natural, cultural and historical sites

Visitor awareness

Cultural exchanges

Potential negative impacts of tourism industry

TOURISME

Environmental damages Poor cultural experiences

Economical gaps

Local imbalanceSocial damages

Depends on market

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM NEED ECO-CERTIFICATION

Why an eco-certification?

A certification is a guarantee for a customer that his ground operator is an environmental and social friendly activity. But the main reason is in the activity itself. Government needs certification to minimize negative impacts of tourism industry on environment and on local communities.

Why a Tanzanian eco-certification?

A lot of certification already exists, international (as Green Globe, Rain Forest Alliance …) or national as Australia’s or Costa Rica’s one. All have the same purpose, to favor a responsible tourism, respectful of local culture and nature, and to reward the best companies or initiatives.

Are these certifications adapted to the Tanzanian environment and people? Is the situation in Costa Rica or New Zealand the same as in Tanzania? Do all our investors in Tanzania have the means to join directly an international brand?

Benefit of certification

FOR THE PROFESSIONAL

Competitive advantages with access to ecotourism label or brand

Financial saving resulting from new investment incentives

Access to baseline criteria to determine the degree to which their product meets the standards of ecotourism

Opportunity to promote their product as ecotourism

Access to information and advices

FOR THE CUSTOMERS

To find a way to identify real ecotourism offer and product

Access to technical information during all the travel (before, during and after)

Participation to local development

FOR THE CONSERVATION

Good practices to fewer negative environmental impacts

More efficient use of natural resources

Better identification of ecotourism product

FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Better involvement of local people in ecotourism industry

Direct impact of ecotourism in local development

Creation of local development fund

A PROPOSAL FOR TANZANIAN CATEGORIES OF ECO-CERTIFICATION

the green stars

ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY LEVEL 1

ABOUT A BETTER MANAGEMENT

Eco management Eco information for local staff and

customers Introducing interpretation and

education

Responsible tourism level 2

About investment

Investment in renewable energy Investment in waste recycling Low impact on environment Eco building Eco management Organic and local food supply Local recruitment Training and education of staff Social services as health, education, economical

support Fair income for staff and local communities

ECOTOURISM LEVEL 3ABOUT INVOLVEMENT

Investment in local development Support through association or

foundation Staff involved in conservation Local organic production Eco interpretation by eco trail, guide

book, brochure, board…

CREATION OF THE CERTIFICATION

A partnership An organization A brand A framework