It is not fair that:
- Guides, porters and cooks do most of the actual work, are paid less than minimum wage and depend fully on the insecurity of tips/gratuity from customers.
- You, as a customer, are held responsible for paying staff salary and are put in the awkward situation of deciding the value of a person’s work with no knowledge of the living conditions in the country.
- Porter salary levels paid by most Kilimanjaro operators would require them to work at least 35-41 days/month to earn a descent living, which is of course impossible since a calendar month has maximum 31 days.
- Guides break national park rules, disturb wildlife and terrain for more tips.
- Porters are overloaded and get to eat only one meal per day to save cost, weight and offer cheaper prices to climbers
- Staff who complain will loose their jobs since so many others are standing in line.
- Much needed profits from Tanzanian tourism leave the country or increase income gaps.
The majority of people in Tanzania are exposed to such living conditions that they are dying from malnutrition, malaria, HIV and curable diseases like polio. Education is a luxury few can afford and the simplest thing like access to clean water is beyond the reach of more than 25% of the population.
Meanwhile, the tourism industry accounts for 25% of the total economy but the millions of dollars generated in profit goes to the pocket of foreigner owners in e.g. US, South Africa, UK and Germany or benefit already wealthy Tanzanians. Something is wrong with this picture!
Exploitation of people and natural resources, which lead to inequality and poverty, is not fair anywhere – it will never be.
Fair Travel Tanzania™ wants to change this by giving you all the reasons to book your trips with us – quality, safety, value and fairness.