The FTTSA certification and associated brand are helping to create the conditions for the practise of
fairer tourism – tourism that respects people and the environment and contributes positively to the
ongoing transformation of post-apartheid society. FTTSA is thus contributing to an enabling environment for
community-based tourism and other types of tourism that explicitly seek to alleviate poverty and inequality
in South Africa.
On the one hand, FTTSA encourages mainstream tourism businesses to adopt fair and responsible business
practices that benefit and empower staff and communities. The certification Trademark provides an incentive
for “pro-poor” tourism.
On the other hand, FTTSA affords qualifying community-based tourism enterprises (CBTEs) with credibility
and improved access to niche markets. Certification also provides CBTEs and other small, emerging tourism
ventures with opportunities to improve internal systems and operations, and to establish commercial
partnerships with mainstream operators.
FTTSA thus contributes to the viability and sustainability of specific tourism enterprises, which
directly and indirectly benefits staff, owners, suppliers, communities and other stakeholders.
FTTSA's pioneering work is also helping to position South Africa as a leading responsible travel
and tourism destination, which in turn contributes to the growth of international arrivals.
