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04 December 2017

Wilderness Safaris Launches Cultural Tourism Ethics Charter

By Tarryn Gibson, Wilderness Safaris

Wilderness Safaris has launched an innovative Cultural Tourism Ethics Charter to ensure best practice for all community engagement and authentic cultural experiences across the Group. This further demonstrates the company’s ongoing commitment to its 4Cs sustainability ethos and Culture ‘C’, with the other three Cs being Commerce, Community and Conservation.

Cultural tourism involves any guest activity that results in engagement with a local community, such as a village visit, cultural/traditional dancing, or an educational encounter, and therefore the Charter states that, “Care must be taken by all Wilderness Safaris staff and guests to ensure that there is always respect and sensitivity in all forms of engagement, and that all involved parties are enriched by the experience”.

“Culture and Community are important components of our core 4Cs sustainability framework. Within Wilderness, we’re proud to work with more than 50 different cultures across the eight countries where we operate. By compiling an Ethics Charter, we aim to foster healthy respect, understanding and appreciation for the cultures of all our employees, as well as the remote rural communities that neighbour our conservation areas”, says Dr Sue Snyman, Wilderness Safaris Group Sustainability Manager.

The document sets out pre-, during- and post-cultural tourism codes of conduct which ensure that all Wilderness Safaris guests are given a high-quality experience that results in satisfaction and enrichment, as well as greater knowledge and appreciation of natural and cultural heritage.