The business case for Responsible Tourism Calabash Tours 2016

What is Calabash? It is a Social Enterprise consisting of a tour company, and an NGO called Calabash Trust. It is a micro enterprise. It creates tourism routes and experiences that include marginalised communities. Focus on day tours, short cultural routes in the Eastern Cape. We have been certified with Fair Trade Tourism since Volunteer Programmes for individuals, schools from abroad, and academic institutions seeking “service learning” experiences. We operate of an Asset based approach, as opposed to a “needs based” approach. Thus harnessing existing community assets. Create awareness around the different kinds of poverty – poverty of mind, poverty of spirit, poverty of pocket. Creates a more inclusive understanding of community dynamics and strengths. Changing the narrative - Most tourists engage with disadvantaged communities on a basis of poverty of pocket only. This undeniably shapes the experience within a particular colonial paradigm. Calabash Tours 2016

Economic Inclusion Since 1997 the purpose of Calabash Tours has been to deliver greater economic inclusion for marginalised communities. This has been done through ensuring every tour includes services from small enterprises from within informal economy. This includes simple things like meals, cultural performers, craft. It requires on-going outreach and training and development for these service providers who often exist outside the mainstream tourism realm. Requires a good understanding of Fair Share, to ensure relationships are equitable. Fairly easy to monitor, as impact can be measured on the basis of payments made to these providers. Currently 30% of annual turnover is paid out to these small businesses. Cultural performers entertaining in a local tavern Calabash Tours 2016

Environmental and Social Impact Our tourism products and NGO work focuses on creating biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods through permaculture methods. Includes education and training of parents at schools as well as learners. We use (highly skilled – often retired professionals) volunteers (tourists) to build capacity in our teachers in schools we support. All our efforts are to create a greater self reliance – both for schools and individuals. In the last 2 years we have invested R 1 million in permaculture design, water harvesting, water tanks, training, and community resource development. In the last year we have invested more than R in the development of sport facilities in township schools. We have channelled thousands of hours of skilled volunteers work in HIV community based care, and in teacher development. All these opportunities come through tourism and tourism partnerships. We achieve this as a micro enterprise – imagine what large organisations could do if they had the desire. Calabash Tours 2016

The Benefits Credibility within the communities where we generate income. Staff are recruited from same communities and are flag bearers within the community. They are proud of their company Impacts on the client experience – staff care, so they are reliable and engaged. Entering and winning awards has brought publicity In a competitive environment we have a good story to tell. Passion is built as successes keep adding up. We contribute to a better South Africa by making money. It’s a no brainer! Calabash Tours 2016

Conclusion There is an appetite for change – driven by consumers. We must hear them Tourism requires a stable society to sustain itself. It thus needs to contribute in this regard. If we refuse to examine our own role in terms of economic beneficiation to the poor, our contribution to social change through our supply chain, our contribution to climate justice and environmental good practice – we may kill the goose that lays our golden egg. Calabash Tours 2016