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Abang Africa

Aims
To use Responsible Tourism as a Sustainable Development tool for the people in Southern Africa; benefiting local communities and visitors, through sharing and mutual understanding, empowerment and sustainable partnerships.

Economic responsibility
  • The success of minimizing leakages and maximizing revenues towards the local communities depends on the effective market place value and quality of products developed and upon meaningful community-private-partnerships. ABANG AFRICA TRAVEL ensures to work on the development of a commercial viable organization which at the same time functions as a effective development tool via the involvement with the projects. ABANG AFRICA TRAVEL is cooperating with well established and trustworthy companies, commercial and non commercial suppliers who believe in the mission of ABANG AFRICA TRAVEL.
  • ABANG AFRICA goes beyond the renowned African highlights in tourism; all tours include an element of guiding the tourists off the beaten tracks, providing the unique possibility of interaction with local people; sharing cultures and traditions and benefiting the local community. All destinations are carefully selected ensuring that the people, whose land, natural resources, labour, knowledge and culture are used for tourism activities, actually benefit from tourism. These projects are selected throughout different countries. People get a real intercultural experience and get familiar with the locals, through skills exchange and leisure activities. The main focus of the projects is on education and job creation; benefiting the local community in a sustainable way. Projects vary from school-, hospital-, wildlife- and sports-projects, business partnerships, farming and HIV-AIDS projects, to upgrading ghost mine town.
  • A selection of these projects can also be supported by volunteers who want to spend 1 month – 1 year on a particular project. Their tasks depend on the needs of the projects and the volunteers’ skills and qualifications, while ensuring that no jobs are taken away from locals.
  • ABANG AFRICA TRAVEL TRUST IT 9139 /06 ABANG AFRICA TRAVEL has been set up by Abang Africa Travel to support tourism related project in southern Africa. Abang Africa Travel redistributes up to 10% of its profit into the Trust. Private donations from visitors and clients can go to the Trust as well. The Trust and trustees administer funds and assets for the projects, for assurance of sustainable development of the projects. Financing of coordination and matching volunteers and if needed training and/or training consultants for the projects will ideally be derived from (external) subsidies, to be derived for the Trust. Projects in need of financial, training or consulting support can apply with the Trust. The board of trustees, volunteers and travelers can give input and feedback on which project and what amount will be redistributed.
  • ABANG AFRICA TRAVEL and the Trust work on transfer of knowledge to people in the projects by forwarding volunteers and/or consultants/ guides with skills and specific qualifications to projects with specific needs. For the matching & coordination of projects to the volunteers, no fee is charged. Where available volunteers can organize accommodation facilities during their volunteering period directly with the projects or via ABANG AFRICA TRAVEL. Responsibility of the volunteering work is on both project and volunteering side.
  • The volunteers and visitors, the exchange of skills and knowledge, will be supporting the set up of vibrant tourist stops and community development projects. The assistance and participation, visits and feedback of visitors and volunteers, creates sustenance and boost the local economy. On its turn generating direct income and employment opportunities.
  • Reviving and sustaining the economy, reducing inequalities and alleviating poverty, by establishing an active and viable operation to revive the economy. -Facilitating local community access to the tourism market.
    -Build on and complement existing livelihood strategies through employment and small enterprise development
    -enhance the level of community participation in tourism
    -improve and enhance the overall visitor experience
    -creating employment opportunities within the projects and by employing locals with disadvantaged backgrounds.
Environmental responsibility
  • ABANG AFRICA TRAVEL pledges a commitment of responsibility to preserve the environment and natural wonders of Southern Africa for future generations to enjoy. We cooperate with destinations that adopt good social and environmental practices which contribute to the conservation of Africa’s wildlife, habitats and natural resources, improving the experience for travellers and the living standards of local communities.
  • To ensure creditworthy, tours and accommodations offered are, where available and applicable, accredited by Fair trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) or Namibian Community Based Tourism Association (NACOBTA), Heritage Environmental Rating Programme or Natural Step.
  • ABANG AFRICA TRAVEL promotes a minimum of two nights stay at destinations to minimize environmental impact. Were applicable and possible we inform and educate tourists on Sustainable tourism practices, Fair Trade, Fair Trade in Tourism and positive impact within the communities and environs. We promote the inclusion of World Heritage Sites in itineraries as well as Wildlife and Nature parks as part of awareness rising with regards to Natural and Cultural heritage and conservation.
  • We support Food & Trees for Africa by including their brochures in the travel packages and calculating the distances travelled; with the suggestion to clients to offset carbon emissions locally via FOOD & TREES for Africa. IFAW ( International Fund for Animal Welfare) and Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI) are supported by including their Consumer Seafood Pocket guide in the voucher booklets.
Social responsibility
  • ABANG AFRICA TRAVEL and TRUST educates staff, volunteers & Guides to the principles of responsible tourism. Projects and itineraries are carefully selected following Responsible Tourism Guidelines, ensuring that the people whose land and knowledge are used benefit from tourism. We contribute to the benefit of the local community through sustainable tourism.
  • We support local income generation by supporting locally owned shops and restaurants. Destinations with sustainable and responsible policies are used. When contracting of destinations these policies are requested and promoted.
  • We use locally owned, responsibly run accommodations and excursions by preference. We support the communities by promoting the use of local guides for all types of excursions Our guides promote sustainable, Fairtrade & responsible tourism. Towards destinations they visit, the people they meet & the tourists they travel with.
  • The Abang Africa Trust has been set up to facilitate the support of different tourism related projects in southern Africa. Where possible and required, the Abang Africa TRUST links projects and local people with support agencies and donation facilities, which can assist them in community development programmes.
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