“When work and meaning align, magic truly happens…”
Family-owned and -operated since 1962, Ghost Mountain Inn needs no introduction to most in the southern African travel industry, and Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) is thrilled to share today that this pioneer in Zululand tourism and hospitality is now FTT-Certified! During a rigorous, on-site audit conducted by an independent auditor, Ghost Mountain Inn’s commitment to Fair Trade and responsible tourism was evident. It sailed through its first-ever FTT certification audit, which entails a review of over 180 sustainability criteria, including environmental impact management, cultural heritage, local social and economic benefits, biodiversity conservation, good business practice, and communication.
Craig Rutherford, Managing Director of Ghost Mountain Inn, had this to say about their experience:
“GMI’s Fair Trade Journey has been nothing short of remarkable. The GMI team have always aimed at being a responsible tourism destination and have spent years sowing into our local community.
However, when we officially embarked on the FTT journey, it was much like the overwhelm of holding a brand-new infant and wondering if you held the competencies needed! The challenges arose, the adaptations to the “norm” morphed, but before we knew it, we were well on our way and tracking our growth like a proud parent marking those growth spurts on the door frame. All staff became hands-on in holistically nurturing our growth, weaving old and solid practices with new and exciting ones.
We were, and will remain challenged to think differently, discuss differently and behave differently – on both a company and personal level. When work and meaning align, magic truly happens. This process has pushed us to go above and beyond in holistically considering all our operations. Thank you to Lisa and the FTT family for nurturing and guiding us on this path. We look forward to proudly donning this prestigious certification and we encourage our partners to jump on board.”
FTT General Manager, Lisa Scriven, shared that Ghost Mountain Inn is the first newly FTT-Certified business since the pandemic, confirming their resilience in the market and positioning them well to benefit from the increasing demand for independently verified sustainability claims. Research conducted by Booking.com of more than 29,000 travellers across 30 countries showed that 61% stated that the pandemic has influenced them to want to travel more sustainably, while 76% say it is difficult to find sustainable tourism products and they have concerns about unverified sustainability claims. On FTT’s role in addressing this market need, Scriven explained that, “FTT supports businesses of all sizes and contexts to align their operations with tourism that creates benefits for the destination, and ultimately more rewarding travel experiences. Independent verification then provides assurance to the market that this foundation is in place and that a tourism business is well positioned to progress on its journey of creating positive impacts.”
Tourism businesses in Africa that would like to join Ghost Mountain Inn and the like-minded community of businesses committed to Fair Trade and responsible tourism are invited to reach out to FTT or visit www.fairtradetourism.org for more information. Select “login” to register and start your journey now!
For all media enquiries, please contact Mercia by telephone on 072 233 0674 or on email [email protected]
For high-res images please click on the link below.
GMI community projects
About FTT
Fair Trade Tourism is a not-for-profit company that provides a networking platform, business support, and certification to enable the tourism sector to operate with FTT’s six principles and responsible tourism embedded in day-to-day tourism operations. The FTT logo is the mark of a good holiday and best practice in responsible and Fair Trade Tourism, defined by fair wages and working conditions, fair purchasing and operations, equitable distribution of benefits, and respect for human rights, culture and the environment. It means that the people who contribute their land, resources, labour and knowledge to tourism are the ones who reap the benefits, and that the natural environment on which it all depends is treated with respect in pursuit of more resilient destinations.
Contact: Lisa Scriven, General Manager | email: [email protected] | website: www.fairtradetourism.org
About Ghost Mountain Inn
An experience at Ghost Mountain Inn exudes a tale of family, history, and a deep love for Africa – and now also a story of doing tourism in a responsible and Fair Trade way. Located at the foot of the legendary Ghost Mountain in Mkuze, Northern KwaZulu-Natal, this intimate and award-winning hotel is the ideal location from which to explore the game and coastal reserves of Zululand and the Elephant Coast. From the inevitable romance with Lake Jozini to the remarkable scenery of the Lebombo mountains, from the wildlife of uMkhuze Game Reserves and the heritage of the Zulu culture to the tranquillity found at the spa, Ghost Mountain Inn promises an experience beyond compare.
Reservations: tel: +27 35 573 1025 | email: [email protected] | website: www.ghostmoutaininn.co.za
