Fair Travel Tanzania is a tour company with 100% charitable goals. This means that we depend on revenues from happy customers. It also means that we exist and work for the benefit of the local community. Social responsibility is not part of our business, it is the core. Why? Because people are dying and we believe that impoverished countries like Tanzania should keep profits and benefit from its own tourism. This way profits can improve living standards and locals are much more motivated to protect and conserve the wildlife and environment that future generations also would like to enjoy.
So, by delivering value and service to you, our beloved customer, we generate revenues that are used to support the local people and environment of Tanzania.
Fair Travel Tanzania in a nutshell:
- Happy customers
- Fair salaries
- Support of local economy and national parks
- 100% of profits are used to improve livelihoods for those in need
Budget 2011
The graph above shows where your money goes in Tanzanian tourism. We are a young company with very ambitious goals. We don’t believe in ‘green-washing’ and the misuse of fashionable words like ‘eco’, ‘green’, ‘sustainable’, ‘responsible’ etc…instead we conduct our business with transparency. It’s easy to do so since there are no private owners at Fair Travel Tanzania and we don’t need to hide anything from anyone. This means that we will tell you exactly how things are and where your money goes. In fact, we are the only company giving you a cost-breakdown in the itinerary we help build for you. Now, let’s have a closer look at the budget:
Fair salaries
Salaries account for 20% of our budgeted costs. It is about people, not numbers. A company is fully responsible for its staff and their salaries. We make sure that our guides, drivers, cooks, porters and other staff are not dependent on tips, gratuities or whatever other companies call them. Of course, if you like to tip our staff for exceptional service and quality, do so. But do it because it is what you heart wants, not what your conscience dictates. We know that any staff prefers this way.
National Park fees
National park fees are high in Tanzania and make up approximately 30% of a safari or trekking cost. However, the revenues are essential to ensure the work of Tanzania National Park, TANAPA, and Ngorongoro Conservation Area authorities. Whether it is research, protection, anti-poaching, expansion of conservation areas or administration – their work help protect the natural resource that really needs protection. The fees are high, yes. But the cost of not protecting our environment will be much higher in the long term.
Local economy
Supporting local economy means spending the money in Tanzania. This lubricates the economy, builds it and benefits the people in the market, shop owners, small entrepreneurs and service providers in Tanzania. Any product or service that is available locally, without comprising the quality for our customers, is preferred. We won’t get you Pringles chips but can get you great local cassava and potato chips if you crave it.
Business development
The budgeted cost for business development involves marketing, capacity building and constant quality improvement. We want to grow as a business so we can receive more guests with the same outstanding quality, safety and value. This requires investments that will compete with our mission of helping the community in the short-term, but in the long-term we know that the more successful business we become, the more profits we can generate to help our Tanzanian community.
Wells & schools
Helping the local community to benefit from tourism is also one of our passions. We especially look for villages in need that usually don’t benefit from tourism because of geographic location. When the operational and fixed costs are reduced, there is a profit that every tour operator in the world gains. Fair Travel’s profit are dedicated by our company memorandum to be used for the benefit of local communities. Our social project investments involve access to fresh water, education and health if they are sustainable. We do so in your name so you can see for yourself how ‘your footprints matter’. After all, seeing is believing.
If you have comments, suggestions or questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.