FRIDAY October 18, 2024
By Adam Ihucha
The Tranquility News Correspondent, Tanzania
Tanzania Tour operators have promulgated a new Safari Guide Code of Conduct and Ethics to enhance professional standards in the East African country’s rapidly growing tourism industry.
Developed by the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO), the document serves as a key reference for promoting responsible and sustainable tourism.
TATO Vice-Chairman Mr Henry Kimambo described the document launched in Arusha, Tanzania, on Monday October 14, 2024, as a comprehensive set of principles for directing safari guides in fulfilling their professional requirements for serving tourists.
“For the document to be effective, we expect all parties—state-run conservation agencies like Tanzania National Parks, Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority, Tanzania Forest Services Agency, communities, tourists and other travel and tourism industry players—to embrace it,” Mr Kimambo told stakeholders gathered at Gran Melia Hotel in Arusha, Tanzania, to observe Nyerere Day on October 14 in commemoration of the demise and life well lived of the founding Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
The code of conduct aims at maximising benefits of the multi-billion-dollar industry while minimising its potential negative impacts on Tanzania’s environment, cultural heritage, and communities.
The TATO Chairman, Mr Wilbard Chambulo, praised the association’s Conservation sub-Committee for crafting the Safari Guide Code of Conduct and Ethics.
“This initiative will elevate safari guiding standards across Tanzania and strengthen our commitment to sustainable tourism and heritage preservation,” he remarked, urging all tour operators to adopt the code and ensure their guides comply with its standards.
“By embracing these guidelines, we can significantly enhance the image and quality of safari guiding in Tanzania,” Mr Chambulo concluded.
The Chairman of the Tanzania Tour Guides Association (TTGA), Mr Lembris Loipuko, endorsed the code, asserting that it would revolutionise the tourism industry.
“This is an invaluable tool for ensuring the sustainability of wildlife safaris in Tanzania, providing tourists with unforgettable experiences and safeguarding natural and cultural heritages,” Mr Loipuko emphasized.
The TATO Executive Director, Mr Elirehema Maturo, outlined the code’s seven key focus areas: Professionalism and presentation, conduct and ethics, training and experience, vehicle protocols, environmental impact, wildlife interaction, and cultural sensitivity.
He highlighted that the code stresses professionalism in dress code, language, and behaviour, while on and off duty.
It also includes compliance with national laws, respect for privacy, inclusiveness, and that it prohibits illicit drug usage and alcohol binging while on duty.
The revised code’s content
Mr Maturo emphasized the importance of safeguarding clients’ privacy and data, stating: “Guides should operate within their area of their expertise and pursue ongoing professional development. The code includes emergency protocols, and stresses the need for providing accurate information.”
Regarding vehicle protocols, Mr Maturo said the guidelines aimed at ensuring tourist vans’ safety, adherence to speed limits, and respectful driving, all of which are essential for conservation and client’s safety.
By embracing these guidelines, we can significantly enhance the image and quality of safari guiding in Tanzania,” Mr Wilbard Chambulo, the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators Chairman.
On environmental matters, the code encourages responsible waste management, avoiding disposable plastics, and protecting wildlife. Mr Maturo underscored the need for guides to become responsible by minimising their ecological footprints and educating clients on sustainability practices.
When it comes to wildlife interaction, the booklet emphasizes minimal interference with natural habitats, respect for animal comfort zones, and discourages disruptive behaviours.
Mr Maturo also addressed the cultural sensitivity component, advocating for safari guides to foster respectful engagements with local communities, thereby enriching tourists’ cultural experiences.
Established in 1983 with merely 35 members – thanks to the efficiency of the association in representing private tour operators before the government – the membership base of TATO has grown by leaps and bounds over the years, reaching 300 plus members to date.
This is equivalent to 78.48 per cent of the total licensed tour operators in Tanzania, the home of number one safari destination in the world. The association is the government’s recognised tour operator’s representativeΩ
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The Tranquility News Reporter/Sub Editor, Tanzania
Patty Magubira is an experienced environmental and business editor whose career started at the Tanzania's state-owned newspaper - The Daily News. He is a man of perfection. Aided by his extensive training as a community forestry expert before joining Tanzania School of Journalism. Magubira had successfully held various key posts in newsrooms, giving him an unmatched connections in media fraternity. Having worked as a bureau chief in Arusha and Mwanza, he managed to build a team work, boosting sales to the highest level ever. He was then promoted to a sub-editor after completing a training in Nairobi, Kenya. His incredible experience, critical thinking and exposure are critical to the quality of any media outlet.
