<strong>Beyond</strong> <strong>Greening</strong>: Reflections on <strong>Tourism</strong> in the Rio-Process | PositioningpaperFair Trade <strong>Tourism</strong> StandardProduct Standard• Fair wages and workingconditions• Equitable distribution ofbenefits• Ethical business practice• Respect for human rights,culture and environment• Investment in staff andcommunity development• Participatory workplace culture• Transparent ownershipstructures• Safe working environment andmeasures to assure security ofvisitors• Implementation of HIV/AIDSprevention initiatives and assistanceto people affected by the pandemicTrade Standard• Prepayment to tourismsuppliers in the destination• Fair contracting anddiscounting practices by thetour operator/s• Ethical business practice• Commitment tosustainable trade• Prevention of commercialsexual exploitation• Contribution to Fair Trade<strong>Tourism</strong> Development Fund,which invests in skillsdevelopment, decent work andjob creation in destinations.Currently the averagecontribution per arrival is inthe range of €60.(FTTSA, 2012)Growth in the supply of Fair Trade holidays will be based on mutual recognition and dualcertification strategies with other certification systems and on certification modalitiesborrowed from other sectors, for example group certification and combined productcertification, which will make Fair Trade <strong>Tourism</strong> more accessible and affordable to theindustry. Certification will be out-sourced to an ISO65 accredited certification body, in linewith global best practice and thereby enabling FTTSA to support businesses to become andremain certified, without conflict of interest.Growth in demand will be driven through partnerships with tourism advocacy organisationsand Fairtrade organisations in source markets and through joint marketing agreements withtourist boards like South African <strong>Tourism</strong>. Sales of Fair Trade holidays can be measured, andoutbound tour operators make a mandatory contribution per arrival to a special fund thatsupports job creation, skills development and decent work in destinations. There are currently13 holidays for sale in Europe (FTTSA, 2012) and to date development contributions andcertification costs incurred by tour operators are not being passed on to consumers, meaningFair Trade holidays are not, by definition, more expensive than their conventionalcounterparts.72
<strong>Beyond</strong> <strong>Greening</strong>: Reflections on <strong>Tourism</strong> in the Rio-Process | PositioningpaperWhile Fairtrade is good for tourism to think with, FTTSA also believes that tourism cangenerate many lessons for Fairtrade. That Fair Trade <strong>Tourism</strong> is led from southern Africa bylocal organisations seeking high levels of coordination is historically and politically significantboth for the Fairtrade movement and for sustainable tourism certification more generally. Anyfuture marriage between Fairtrade and tourism must be based on a cooperative approach thatrespects international good practice while speaking to the needs and expectations of localdestination stakeholders.ConclusionsSince the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, the sustainable tourism certification sector has grownconsiderably, with a number of notable success stories. However the proliferation ofsustainability standards, schemes and labels in tourism has been accompanied by differentmanagement approaches and governance procedures, which need to be harmonized andprofessionalised. This will require leadership not only by the institutions being created to driveaccreditation in sustainable tourism but also by certifiers themselves. In the next decade thehallmarks of success in tourism certification will be cooperation, integration and impactassessment, all in support of improved market penetration. Schemes that cooperate are poisedfor growth, while those that continue to operate in isolation are likely to become increasingirrelevant in the market.ReferencesBien, A, 2011. Personal Communication to J. Seif [30 June 2011].CST, 2012. Available from http://www.turismo-sostenible.co.cr/en (Accessed on 29 May 2012).Eco Brazil, 2012. Brazil has done its homework, available fromhttp://www.ecobrasil.org.br/publique/cgi/cgilua.exe/sys/start.htm?UserActiveTemplate=ecobrasil_eng&infoid=231&sid=38# (Accessed 28 May 2012).Fairtrade International, 2011. Monitoring the scope and benefits of fairtrade third edition, 2011, availablefromhttp://www.fairtrade.net/fileadmin/user_upload/content/2009/resources/Monitoring_the_scope_and_benefits_of_Fairtrade_2011.pdf (Accessed on 28 May 2012).FLSA, Fairtrade Label South Africa, 2012. Report Highlights Fairtrade Impact for Producers. Availablefrom http://fairtradelabel.org.za/news/report-highlights-fairtrade-impact-for-producers.108.html(Accessed on 30 May 2012).FTTSA (Fair trade in <strong>Tourism</strong> South Africa), 2011. Fair Trade Travel Standards, Trade and CompanyStandards. Available fromhttp://www.fairtourismsa.org.za/fairtradetravel/ProjectInformation/FTT_Standards.pdf (Accessed onMay 30 2012).FTTSA (Fair trade in <strong>Tourism</strong> South Africa), 2012. Fair Trade Travel- Packages. Available fromhttp://www.fairtourismsa.org.za/fairtradetravel_packages.html (Accessed on May 31 2012).Goodwin, H. 2007. Advances in Responsible <strong>Tourism</strong> ICRT Occasional Paper No. 8, LeedsMetropolitan University, available from http://www.artyforum.info/RTD/OP08.pdf (Accessed on 28May 2012).GSTC, 2012. Global Sustainable <strong>Tourism</strong> Criteria (GSTC Criteria) available fromhttp://new.gstcouncil.org/page/adopt-the-criteria (Accessed on 28 May 2012).Lamb, Harriet, 2011. Leading Fair Trade Campaigner to Open WTM World Responsible <strong>Tourism</strong> Day2011. available from73