Fair Trade in tourism aims to maximize the benefits from travelers in the area to the local community. SERRV is a nonprofit organization that supports sustainable tourism and fair trade. The goal of SERRV is to eradicate poverty in Africa and other areas by working with local low-income farmers, artists, and business owners and marketing their handmade products. SERRV hopes to create economic opportunities for the locals. They advertise the local products by saying that every object has a story behind it and these stories are about "equality and dignity for all people." They want these small-scale merchants to achieve basic human rights, food, shelter, education, and health care. SERRV offers prepayments to the local merchants to keep their business afloat, they market their products to increase sales, they teach new skills, they pay the merchants, and they support sustainable development. They treat the local business owners like business partners and they promote long term relationships. This ensures fair working conditions and fair prices. All of the products are handmade and local so the proceeds go straight back into the local economy. Tourists in the area purchasing these products are fully supporting the local economy as well as getting a taste of the culture of the people.
I love this organization for obvious reasons. The main reason is that the focus of this organization is the local people. The benefit of tourists purchasing local handmade products is that it creates a better life for these people. A boost in the economy will hugely impact the people's ability to buy food, find shelter, and most importantly (which, I have to admit, is biased of me)... health care! The tourists don't even need to be directly purchasing tuberculosis treating medication; they are doing it indirectly! By purchasing the products of these merchants, the tourists will be providing more money to these people so they can take care of their health needs. In a way, the consumers that are taking advantage of SERRV's nonprofit organization are helping cure tuberculosis. That is why I love SERRV. As a bonus, these consumers get a taste of the local personality and culture by purchasing their handmade products. This is, without a doubt, a win-win situation.
The motto of SERRV is "to enrich and inspire." By immersing the tourists in local culture, they will be inspired to give something back. Everyone check out this awesome organization!
http://www.serrv.org/category/swaziland
I love this organization for obvious reasons. The main reason is that the focus of this organization is the local people. The benefit of tourists purchasing local handmade products is that it creates a better life for these people. A boost in the economy will hugely impact the people's ability to buy food, find shelter, and most importantly (which, I have to admit, is biased of me)... health care! The tourists don't even need to be directly purchasing tuberculosis treating medication; they are doing it indirectly! By purchasing the products of these merchants, the tourists will be providing more money to these people so they can take care of their health needs. In a way, the consumers that are taking advantage of SERRV's nonprofit organization are helping cure tuberculosis. That is why I love SERRV. As a bonus, these consumers get a taste of the local personality and culture by purchasing their handmade products. This is, without a doubt, a win-win situation.
The motto of SERRV is "to enrich and inspire." By immersing the tourists in local culture, they will be inspired to give something back. Everyone check out this awesome organization!
http://www.serrv.org/category/swaziland