Preliminary SAVE Tourism Assessment forMozambique

Produced by Bradley Weiss and Miro Guardafor the George Washington UniversityMarch 2011

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................3

B. METHODOLOGY......................................................................................................3

C. CURRENT OFFERING OF SAVE OPPORTUNITIES........................................................4

D. EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES OF MOZAMBICAN TOUR OPERATORS.................8

E. POLICY ENVIRONMENT.........................................................................................10

F. CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES........................................................................11

G. RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................................................12

ANNEX 1: Organizations Offering SAVE Opportunities in Mozambique......................14

ANNEX 2: SAVE Tourism Provider Questionnaire.......................................................17

ANNEX 3: SAVE Case Study 1-- Dolphin Encountours.................................................19

ANNEX 4: SAVE Case Study 2—Guludo Beach Lodge..................................................21

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A. INTRODUCTION

SAVE (Scientific, Academic, Volunteer, and Experiential) Tourism can bring significant benefits to destinations, particularly emerging ones within the developing world. Benefits tend to include increases in income generation activities for local communities, support for biodiversity and heritage conservation efforts, and capacity building of local individuals and institutions.

The potential of SAVE tourism was recognized by the Mozambican Ministry of Culture and Tourism when it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in March 2010 with the SAVE Travel Alliance. Yet, little study has been conducted to shed light on SAVE market conditions in Mozambique.

As such, this initial study was commissioned in order to provide a preliminary assessment of the current situation, as well as challenges and opportunities for SAVE tourism in Mozambique. The study examines three critical components of SAVE tourism:

1) The current offering of SAVE opportunities in Mozambique2) Experiences and perspectives of Mozambican tour operators 3) The Mozambican policy environment as it relates to SAVE tourism

After an explanation of the study’s methodology, summaries of findings from each of the three components are provided. These are followed by a discussion of challenges and opportunities. Finally, recommendations for catalyzing the SAVE tourism market in Mozambique are provided.

B. METHODOLOGY

The study was conducted from January 27-February 11, 2011 in Maputo and Pemba. First a preliminary (non-exhaustive) internet search was conducted of organizations offering SAVE opportunities in Mozambique. Sixteen organizations were identified, supplemented with four that the consultants personally knew. Basic information was gathered on the experience offered by these 20 organizations (see Annex 1 for the list). The consultants then chose the fifteen organizations they deemed to be most compelling to target for a survey. The survey instrument (see Annex 2) tries to ascertain information about the nature of the SAVE experience offered, profiles of their customers, experiences with visa issues, marketing

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channels, overall challenges, and interest in collaboration. Questionnaires were sent by e-mail to the 15 organizations, followed up by phone calls. Eleven of the fifteen responded (73% response rate). In the case of four, responses were gathered through a face-to-face interview.

As for the tour operators, face-to-face interviews with six of the top Mozambican inbound operators were held in Maputo (5) and Pemba (1). Finally, meetings were held with representatives of two government institutions regarding the policy environment. The first was the Ministry of Labor in relation to legislation on volunteer work in Mozambique and the second was the Directorate of Migration within the Ministry of Interior regarding the country’s current visa regime.

C. CURRENT OFFERING OF SAVE OPPORTUNITIES

Summary of Survey Responses

Highlights of responses from the eleven surveyed organizations are provided below:

a) Association of Development People to People (ADPP)Among the NGO’s activities is running a Tourism and Hotel School in the Nacala District of the Nampula Province. They receive volunteers for two week stints between the months of May and August. Most volunteers are from Europe, with the majority coming from Spain and Italy. ADPP has received 70 volunteers thus far. Volunteer work is performed in the surrounding neighborhood and includes activities such as school building and community education in malaria prevention . A two week package costs €700 including lodging (on hotel school premises) and meals. The program is promoted on ADPP’s website.

b) Youth Association for the Development of Volunteer Services in Mozambique (AJUDE) AJUDE is an NGO committed to bringing together young people to do volunteer work. AJUDE has a partnership with Canada World Youth (CWY). They send young Mozambicans on an exchange program to do volunteer work in Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland, Canada, and Europe. In return, volunteers from Canada and the Southern African region come to Mozambique. AJUDE works with partners to arrange for home stays for volunteers, for which the host families receive a fee. Volunteers generally cover 25% of the fee, with the rest being covered by CWY. Volunteer work lasts between three and six months and generally consists of construction work in

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remote villages, nature conservation and environmental education, restoration of historic monuments, health and HIV-AIDS awareness campaigns, and sanitation. Since 2003, AJUDE has been bringing 10 volunteers per year to Mozambique.

c) All Out Africa This tour operator specializing in voluntourism was founded in 2004 and currently operates in Swaziland, South Africa, Botswana, and Mozambique. It focuses on improving the quality of life of vulnerable children and conserving threatened species. Its only project offering in Mozambique is with the Foundation for the Preservation of Marine Megafauna in Inhambane. The program is in its early stages, with the first SAVE tourists having arrived in January this year. Volunteers have the opportunity to work with a marine biologist to collect data on species such as whale sharks, humpback whales, and turtles. The program lasts between two weeks and three months, with the latter costing US$5,500. The company markets the project itself, but also works with international agents that sell gap year programs. The target market is primarily UK tourists between the ages of 18 and 25.

d) Arco Iris This Christian NGO brings people from over 40 countries to do three months of volunteer work in Pemba. It started its operations in Mozambique in 1995. Since 2005, it has brought to Pemba an average of 700 guests a year through its Mission School Program. Volunteers, mostly from the US and Europe, work at the local orphanage, teach at the school, and do community work in the districts. They also engage in cultural experiences with the locals, learning about local crafts, dance and music. Volunteers must pay for the package which includes accommodation and meals, as well as travel expenses within the country. Some of the guests combine their stay with holidays in some resorts in the Quirimbas Islands.

e) Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM)UEM is the country’s oldest higher education institution, with courses in social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. UEM has cooperation agreements with several high education institutions abroad. Among them are agreements through which UEM receives every semester between 10 and 15 medical school professors from University of California at San Diego (UCSD) and Oporto University in Portugal. A total of 30 professors have participated in the program thus far. Their main activities are curriculum development at the Faculty of Medical Studies as well working at hospitals.

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Also, UEM is also developing an international accreditation system that will allow students from other countries to come and study for academic credits.

f) Industrial and Commercial Institute of PembaThis public education institution offers mid-level professional courses in Pemba. In 2009 they introduced a tourism and hotel management course. There are currently 110 students enrolled. The course is offered through technical assistance from an educational institute from Quebec, Canada called Cegep de la Gaspeside et des Iles. They normally send around eight people per year to help with ecotourism curriculum development as well as local tour guide training. Their lodging is normally at an Italian-Mozambican guesthouse called Reggio Emilia (charging US$60 per night). The bookings are made through Pemba-based tour operator Kaskazine.

g) Mozambique Horse SafarisThis company offers customized horseback riding holidays in Vilanculos, as well as volunteer opportunities. Initiated in 2006, they offer all-inclusive riding holiday packages including meals and accommodations. Volunteer activities include caring for horses and community-based work such as teaching English to local kids and working at a local orphanage. Their main target market is gap year students, although some adults also participate. The program varies between two to four weeks, with prices ranging between US$1,200 for a two-week program and US$2,000 for a four-week program. Since the beginning of their operations, they have received between 30 and 40 volunteers per year. Mozambique Horse Safaris promotes itself through its website and Facebook page.

h) Vilanculos Pre-school OrphanageThis project involves various aspects of community work and development. Volunteers spend mornings at a local preschool and most afternoons involved in a number of other community initiatives including language lessons, orphan care, rural home building and sports coaching. Volunteers also engage in local language learning. Prices vary between US$1,386 for a two-week stay and US$3,528 for an eight-week stay. Volunteers stay at a rural volunteer camp in rustic frame bungalows at the Aguia Negra Lodge. The pre-school has received 69 volunteers over the past two years.

i) Zavora Marine LabEstablished in 2009, the objective of the lab is to promote and facilitate research and conservation in Southern Mozambique. Since its inception, it has conducted research for

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the region and raised environmental awareness through educational programs with local communities and visitors. Zavora offers tourists the possibilities of engaging in several areas of research such as manta ray and sea turtle monitoring. They are now starting a process to create a Marine Protected Area to safeguard the population of manta rays and whale sharks in Inhambane Province. The price for an internship program is US$1,300 per month including accommodation and meals. The lab has received a total of 82 interns and researchers thus far.

j) Dolphin EncountoursDolphin Encountours is a South Africa-based tour operator that provides volunteer tourism packages in support of DolphinCare Africa, an NGO that since 1994 has focused on research and conservation of free-range dolphins in the Ponta d’Ouro area. In 1995, Dolphin Encountours started receiving volunteers and educational travelers. They receive around 240 per year and have received over 4,000 since they initiated the program. A one-month volunteer package costs US$1,575 while the cost of the internship is US$790 per month (minimum of three months). All packages include meals and accommodations in a local lodge. Volunteers generally help out with educational briefings, assisting tourists, and conducting research with focal species. Dolphin Encountours promotes the program through the web, holistic practitioners, travel agents and word of mouth. More information can be found within Case Study 1 (see Annex 3).

k) Guludo Beach LodgeOpened in 2005, the Guludo Beach Lodge is a British-owned luxury tented camp on one of the best stretches of beach on the Quirimbas National Park mainland. The lodge created the NEMA Foundation to educate the local community about conservation, as well to provide them key social services. The foundation is funded through donations made by lodge guests and British philanthropists. Most of the activities of the foundation are performed by volunteers. Volunteers apply online and stay at the lodge between three to six months. They are only required to pay for their air tickets, with the remaining expenses being covered by the lodge. Thus farn Guludo has received five individual volunteers, as well as six scientists from the American Wildlife Conservation Society. More information can be found within Case Study 2 (see Annex 4).

Key Findings from Survey

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Number of SAVE opportunities offered: The initial internet search revealed that the number of SAVE opportunities currently offered in Mozambique is far behind regional competitors. Volunteer Abroad, one of the largest clearinghouses of global SAVE opportunities, lists only 22 SAVE opportunities in Mozambique, compared with 213 in Tanzania, 310 in Kenya, and 363 in South Africa (it should be noted that some opportunities are repeated because they are offered through multiple distribution channels).

Organizations offering SAVE opportunities: There is a wide range including NGOs, education institutions, research stations, tour operators, accommodations providers, private foundations, and religious missions.

Age of programs: With only one exception, all surveyed organizations initiated their programs in the past five years.

Number of SAVE tourists received: These numbers range considerably. The largest program receives 700 per year with the smallest receiving only eight. The eleven surveyed organizations brought roughly 1,130 SAVE tourists last year.

Origin of SAVE tourists: The top countries of origin have been the US, UK, South Africa, Canada, and Italy.

Length of stay: Again, there is a very wide range: from two weeks to six months.

Prices of packages: Most of the packages cost between US$1,500 and US$2,000 per month, but several only charge minimal food and board fees.

Promotion: Most do their own promotion through their websites and Facebook. Several, however, use international agents to sell their programs.

D. EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES OF MOZAMBICAN TOUR OPERATORS

Key Findings from Interviews

Mozambican tour operators would have a critical role to play in the advancement of SAVE tourism in the country. As such, it is important to understand their experience and

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perspectives regarding the SAVE market. The consultants therefore conducted interviews with six key Mozambican tour operators:

1. Mozaic Travel2. Dana Tours3. Muhimbi Africa4. Africa Kruger Tours5. COTUR6. Kaskazine

Mozaic Travel and Dana Tours, both based in Maputo and owned by South Africans, are perhaps the two most established tour operators in Mozambique. Maputo-based Muhimbi Africa, owned by a foreign-educated Mozambican, is relatively new but well-respected and growing rapidly. Africa Kruger Tours, owned by a Portuguese-Mozambican, operates from both Mozambique and South Africa and specializes in tours to Kruger National Park. COTUR, owned by a Mozambican, is the country’s largest travel agency and does some limited tour operation. Kaskazine, based in Pemba and owned by a South African, is the only tour operator in the North.

It should be noted that there is an extremely small number of true tour operators in Mozambique. There are many more travel agencies, but most are primarily concerned with air ticketing and only occasionally arrange trips within Mozambique. A 2005 World Bank study compared the number of tour operators in Mozambique with that of some competitor countries. Only eight operators were identified in Mozambique, compared with 220 operators in Kenya, 75 in Tanzania, and 50 in Uganda. One of the principal reasons for the small number of tour operators is the lack of multi-destination tourism circuits in Mozambique--most leisure tourists come with their own vehicle from South Africa or simply stay at one beach resort which takes care of their travel arrangements.

Of the six tour operators interviewed, four (Dana Tours, Mozaic Travel, Muhimbi Africa, and Kaskazine) have some experience with the SAVE market. Dana Tours works with a group that does volunteer work at an orphanage in the Zimpeto neighborhood of Maputo. Mozaic Travel has provided tours for volunteers from the international NGO Habitat for Humanity. Muhimbi Africa has organized some high-end experiential trips relating to Mozambican architecture, cuisine, and theatre. They also receive a group of Italians who come to see projects to which they have donated money. Kaskazine has provided ground handling for Canadian volunteers working at the Industrial and Commercial Institute of Pemba.

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When discussing the potential of SAVE tourism in Mozambique, the Mozambican tour operators that have not worked with SAVE groups did not understand nor seem particularly interested in engaging the market. On the other hand, the four tour operators that have some experience with the market see that there is significant potential in Mozambique. They also recognize that their activities with the SAVE market have been quite limited because they have thus far only fulfilled tours for groups who have approached them. If they were to be more proactive in terms of packaging and promoting SAVE tours, they could receive many more SAVE groups. In fact, several mentioned that they are already losing market share to South African tour operators that are selling Mozambique SAVE tours to international clients.

E. POLICY ENVIRONMENT

According to the surveyed SAVE organizations, most SAVE tourists are coming through tourist visas. Individuals from most major tourism markets are able to obtain 30 day tourist visas upon arrival in Mozambique. These visas can be renewed for an additional 30 days while the tourists are in Mozambique. Some organizations with longer programs provide invitation letters that enable their tourists to obtain tourist visas in their home country. Such visas can be renewed within Mozambique twice, which allows for stays of up to 90 days.

In Mozambique, volunteer visas do not exist. Volunteers who want to stay for longer than three months have the option of applying for a business visa, which can be obtained with an invitation letter from the host organization. However, as Mozambican labor law does not acknowledge volunteer work, those that come are considered to be foreign workers, for which there are strict allowances. The current labor law allows only 5% of foreign workers for companies with 100 workers or more and 10% for companies with ten workers or less. It should be noted that the law is not binding for those who are hired to work for less than 90 days in the country, provided they inform the labor authorities.

Lack of observance of the Mozambican laws can have serious repercussions. AJUDE said that it was forced to pay close to US$1,000 per person for a group of 27 Canadian volunteers that remained in Mozambique for more than a month. However, the problem was solved through the intervention of the Ministry of Health. Ultimately an MOU was signed between AJUDE and the Ministry of Health that now allows volunteers from AJUDE to stay in the country for up to six months.

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Another key finding is that a law related to volunteer work (Law Nr.7/2011) was approved in December 15, 2011 by the Mozambican Parliament. The law is binding for all Mozambican citizens, and both national and foreign entities that promote volunteer work in Mozambique. It gives rights and responsibilities to volunteers as well as to the host organization. However, the law does not have a specific clause on voluntourism. This can represent a complication for providers of SAVE opportunities. For instance, Article 4 of the law obliges the host organization to pay for volunteers’ expenditures while on duty, as well as insurance and a subsidy. This may in some cases conflict with some SAVE tourism models that rely upon payment from SAVE tourists to cover associated expenses and finance their overall programs. Also, the law requires that the host organization be a non-profit organization, which may limit the involvement of pro-profit providers unless they operate the program through an associated foundation (see Guludo Beach Lodge experience in Annex 4).

F. CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES Through surveys and interviews with SAVE tourism providers and Mozambican tour operators, several key challenges emerged. One is the lack of marketing conducted thus far. Constraints seem to be both a lack of resources and a lack of knowledge about how to connect with the SAVE market. Currently, most of the SAVE providers are only promoting opportunities through their websites. Tourism operators have not taken any proactive steps to link to the SAVE market.

Another major challenge, as mentioned above, is the visa issue. The current visa regime is problematic for organizations seeking volunteers for periods longer than two or three months and who do not have space within the foreign worker quota. Another often cited challenge is the cost of airfare, both international and domestic, which makes travelling to and within Mozambique prohibitively expensive for some SAVE tourists. This in fact constrains development of numerous tourism market segments in Mozambique.

Also, as SAVE tourism depends on natural and cultural resources, their conservation is of the utmost importance. Some SAVE providers did not feel that the government was doing enough to enforce laws related to protection of marine fauna from illegal fishing/poaching or those related to the preservation of historic sites. In some cases, the SAVE providers themselves have taken actions try to deter poachers and other illegal activities.

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Another challenge mentioned by the tour operators is that some of the SAVE experiences being sold lack authenticity, quality, or significant attention to environmental concerns. They therefore feel that a set of standards must be created for any experience that would be promoted to the SAVE market.

One final challenge mentioned was the high cost of doing business in Mozambique. Mozambique in fact ranks quite low in competitiveness, placing 131 out of 139 countries in the World Economic Forum’s 2010 Competitiveness Index.

Yet despite all of the challenges, the opportunities associated with SAVE tourism in Mozambique are unmistakable. The country possesses a wide range of unique natural and cultural resources that can attract SAVE tourists. The country’s stability, beauty, and undiscovered feel are also strong selling points. Additionally, there is high-level support from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as signaled by the signing of the MOU with the SAVE Travel Alliance. Also, many of the interviewed SAVE providers and tour operators understood the untapped potential of the SAVE market and expressed strong enthusiasm for participating in an alliance that would help them strengthen their standards and promotional efforts.

G. RECOMMENDATIONS

Globally, SAVE is one of the fastest growing tourism markets. Yet Mozambique is currently far behind regional competitors in terms of attracting SAVE tourists. In order to tap into the market, there are a number of actions that should be taken. Currently, there is no coordination among tourism stakeholders in Mozambique with relation to SAVE tourism. Therefore, an alliance should be formed to enable key stakeholders to join forces and pool resources.

The first step should be awareness creation activities to educate stakeholders about the SAVE market, including profiles, characteristics, and effective marketing channels. Second would be the creation of a national SAVE tourism strategy. This should be a highly participatory process and informed by strong market research. In order to catalyze this process, a critical input would be provided through conducting a familiarization trip with influential international SAVE organizations. A workshop at the end of the trip would serve to raise awareness within the sector and also provide critical market input into the creation of the SAVE tourism strategy. The familiarization trip would help showcase some of the best current or future SAVE

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opportunities, which would certainly result in the building of valuable relationships and increased sales.

Once a national strategy has been created and endorsed, the alliance could work towards its implementation. This alliance would be comprised of stakeholders within the government, private sector, NGOs, and academic institutions. A key component would be the creation of a system of quality standards, perhaps evolving into a certification system. Another key component would be the creation of joint marketing programs. This would likely consist of an internet-based platform, creation of marketing materials showcasing new SAVE opportunities and itineraries, additional familiarization trips, and strategic direct marketing to selected international SAVE organizations.

Vital to an ongoing, sustainable marketing effort would be the collaboration of Mozambican tour operators. Based on the opinions expressed during the interviews, it seems fairly clear which tour operators would be most engaged in such an alliance: Dana Tours, Mozaic Travel, Muhimbi Africa, and Kaskazine. The tour operators would be asked to share in the costs of promoting SAVE tourism, as the benefits should be clear to them: the more SAVE groups that are attracted to Mozambique, the greater their earnings will be.

Policy reform will also be crucial. The new volunteer law provides an encouraging platform, but several amendments are necessary to encourage SAVE tourism. First and foremost would be a change to the current visa regime. This could take the form of creating volunteer visas that allow for long-term volunteer stays and which do not limit host organizations’ hiring of foreign staff. Best practices from countries that have successfully tapped into the SAVE market could guide this process. Also, clarifications and perhaps amendments are needed in relation to articles that maintain host organizations must be NGOs and assume all volunteer costs. INATUR would likely need to play a leading role in terms of lobbying the government for these amendments.

Finally, it would also be advantageous to provide technical assistance and seed funding to selected organizations that could create new SAVE tourism opportunities. This would not only increase the pool of attractive opportunities, but also create replicable models that could guide other organizations in the creation of new SAVE opportunities.

If Mozambique follows the strategic, market-based approach outlined above, there is no doubt that it will soon experience the substantial benefits associated with SAVE tourism. In doing so, it would also lay the foundation for a truly sustainable tourism industry.

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ANNEX 1: Organizations Offering SAVE Opportunities in Mozambique

1) Name: Ibo Island LodgeLocation: IboOffering: Volunteering on island kindergarten (Ibo Eco-School) and teaching English to adultsWebsite: volunteerabroad.com

2) Name: Mozambique Horse SafariLocation: VilanculosOffering: Volunteering to provide health care to horses, maintenance to facilitiesWebsite: volunteerabroad.com

3) Name: Escola IndustrialLocation: PembaOffering: Volunteering to teach ecotourism

4) Name: Guludo Beach LodgeLocation: Guludo (Cabo Delgado)Offering: Volunteering to monitor coral reef, build community playgroundWebite: HandsupHolidays.com, yougodo.com

5) Name: Pre-school Orphanage Location: VilanculosOffering: Volunteering to teach at pre-school orphanage and community project (home building, language classes, beach clean-up, etc)Website: africaimpact.com (operator)

6) Name: Whale Shark Conservation ProgramLocation: TofoOffering: Monitoring and data collection, tourist educationWebsite: africaimpact.com and at least 5 other operators

7) Name: Zalala Beach LodgeLocation: Zalala (Quelimane)Offering: Volunteering to teach English to community

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Website: ajude.org.mz, zalalabeach.com

8) Name: Nkwichi LodgeLocation: Lake MalawiOffering: Volunteering on various community projects such as teaching English to staff and guides, mechanics, permaculture for community farm, etcWebsite: www.ecoteer.com

9) Name: Dolphin Care AfricaLocation: Ponto D’OuroOffering: Research on dolphins, educational briefings for tourists, monitoring, beach clean-upWebsite: volunteerabroad.com

10) Name: Zavora Marine LabLocation: Zavora (Inhambane Province)Offering: Research on Manta Ray (American lady?)Website: volunteerabroad.com

11) Name: MozVolunteersLocation: ZavoraOffering: Volunteering at community schools, placements for medical students doing house to house research, health education, and clinical researchWebsite: mozvolunteers.com,

12) Name: Teran FoundationLocation: Mossuril (Nampula Province)Offering: Volunteering teaching at ecotourism school in Cabaceira, teaching English, healthcareWebsite: teranfoundation.org

13) Name: Carr Foundation/Gorongosa National ParkLocation: Gorongosa (Sofala Province)Offering: Periodic opportunities (more for Mozambicans)Website: gorongosa.net

14) Name: ADPPLocation: NacalaOffering: Volunteering teaching at tourism school

15) Name: Nova Escola de LinguasLocation: MaputoOffering: Portuguese classes for foreigners

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Website: novaescoladelinguas.com

16) Name: Universidade de Eduardo MondlaneLocation: MaputoOffering: Student exchange programs such as a global medicine rotation with the University of California-San Diego (UCSD)Website: med.ucsd.edu/globalhealth.shtml

17) Name: Habitat for HumanityLocation: Boane, Xai-XaiOffering: Home building program (through Mozaic Tours)Website: habitat.org

18) Name: Zimpeto Orphanage Location: Maputo (Zimpeto)Offering: Volunteering at orphanage rehabilitating classrooms (through Dana Tours)

19) Name: Instituto de Investigacao Agraria de MocambiqueLocation: Mt. Namuli and Gorongosa Offering: Field Research on endemic plants and birds along with Kew and Birdlife InternationalWebsite: http://www.kew.org/science/directory/projects/DarwinMozambique.html

20) Name: UnilurioLocation: NampulaOffering: Japanese academic exchange

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ANNEX 2: SAVE Tourism Provider Questionnaire

1. Name of organization offering program______________________________________________2. Type of organization (accommodations, NGO, university, research station, tour operator, etc)

______________________________________________________________________________3. Objectives of organization_________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________4. Scientific, Academic, Volunteer, or Experiential? (can be more than one)____________________ 5. Nature of experience offered_______________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Current/potential market profile (age, country of origin, income):Most Common Age Group:____________________________Top Countries of Origin:_______________________________Level of Income (High, Medium, Low):___________________

7. In what year did they begin to receive SAVE tourists?______________8. Length of participation:

Range (Minimum and Maximum):_____________________________Average:_________________________________________________

9. Number of SAVE tourists received per year____________________________10. Type of accommodations offered___________________________________________________11. Price of experience (specify what it includes)__________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

12. Who is it being sold / marketed through?_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

13. On what type of visa are participants entering the country?______________________________ 14. Benefits from program (to organization, community, etc) ________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

15. Challenges faced___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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16. Plans for future_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

17. Interested in being part of an alliance to help create standards and market experience?___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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ANNEX 3: SAVE Case Study 1-- Dolphin Encountours

Introduction

Dolphin Encountours (www.dolphin-encountours.co.za) is a South Africa-based tour operator that provides volunteer tourism packages in support of DolphinCare Africa (www.dolphincare.org), an NGO that since 1994 has focuses on research and conservation of free-range dolphins in the Ponta d’Ouro area. In 1995, Dolphin Encountours started receiving volunteers and educational travelers. They receive around 240 per year and have received over 4000 since they initiated the program. Their most common age group has been people between 20 to 40 years old, mainly of South African origin. A one-month volunteer package costs U$1,575 while the cost of the internship is U$790 per month (minimum of three months). All packages include meals and accommodations in a local lodge. Volunteers generally help out with educational briefings, assisting tourists, and conducting research with focal species.

Dolphin Encountours promotes the program through the web, holistic practitioners, travel agents and word of mouth. The organization works under a formal memorandum of understanding with the Natural History Museum of the Eduardo Mondlane University to which collected data is forwarded.

Benefits :

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The project has created the following benefits:

Ensures baseline data is collected and the home-range of resident dolphins Promotes long-term studies of marine life Data assists governmental decisions about protecting and conserving various species Helps local Mozambicans understand the impact they have on their environment Deters poachers/illegal activities and encourages prosecution of offenders

Challenges Faced and Conclusions:

According to Angie Gullan, founder of Dolphin Encountours, their biggest challenges has been that other companies have started offering this product without following a set of conservation principles and guidelines. There are now eight licensed operators offering “swimming with dolphin” tours in the area, despite the fact that the 2009 Ponta Partial Marine Protected Area Management Plan (PPMPA) calls for concessions to only two operators. Some of the other companies’ practices are unsustainable and have also to some degree tarnished the reputation of these tours in the eyes of some operators and consumers.

Another major challenge is the practice of illegal activities, most notably poaching, that undermine efforts to protect species such as whale sharks, dolphins, and marine turtles. Also the current threat of piracy in the Indian Ocean represents a major blow for tourism with the fear of kidnappings by the Somali pirates repelling tourists.

In conclusion, the model has largely been proven to successful, as contributions from volunteers and donations from tourists (supplemented by some external grants) has largely supported Dolphin Care Africa’s research and conservation efforts. Nevertheless, the increase in “swim with the dolphin” tours now being practiced by many operators in the area is undermining conservation efforts. Therefore Dolphin Encountours is planning to work with the government to require that all operators adopt Ethical Marine Mammal Tourism regulations.

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ANNEX 4: SAVE Case Study 2—Guludo Beach Lodge

Introduction

Opened in 2005, the Guludo Beach Lodge is a British-owned luxury tented camp on one of the best stretches of beach along the mainland of the Quirimbas National Park. If offers guests activities such as diving, snorkeling, bush tours, community walks, and daily excursions to Ibo Island and Rolas Island. Most of their guests are Europeans, with the majority coming from England. Most of the staff come from the local community and are trained in house. It is envisioned that within five to seven years, the lodge will be fully managed by local staff.

Since its inception, the lodge has been engaging the local communities in environmental conservation matters. The livelihoods of villagers have been very much based on often unsustainable usage of natural resources, both in the bush and marine area. According to Abidarre Alide, Operations Officer of Guludo , there was a need to provide alternatives for communities and as result the NEMA Foundation was born. It has five components: health, education, entrepreneurship, environment, and water/sanitation.

The foundation is funded through donations made by lodge guests and British philanthropists. Most of the activities of the foundation are performed by volunteers. Volunteers apply online and stay at the lodge between three to six months. They are only required to pay for their air

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tickets, with the remaining expenses being covered by the lodge. Volunteers work with the NEMA Foundation and local community in conservation of coral reefs. Thus far, though, Guludo has only received five individual volunteers. They also received six scientists from the American Wildlife Conservation Society.

Benefits

The foundation, through donations and volunteer work, counts among its achievements:

Provided training to the community on malaria and HIV issues such as transmission and prevention methods

Undertaken water sanitation campaigns and dug boreholes in the neighboring villages Undertaken awareness creation with local communities regarding conservation of coral

reefs, plants, whale protection Engaged in research on dead coral with researchers from the American Wildlife

Conservation Society

As a result the lodge has won several awards, including the WTM Responsible Tourism Award(2006, 2007, 2009), Condé Nast Traveller Award for Poverty Alleviation (2010), and Global Vision Award (2010).

Challenges and Conclusions

Guludo Experience has received eleven SAVE tourists thus far—five volunteers and six scientists. They were pleased with the volunteers’ contributions, but were somewhat disillusioned with the experience with the scientists. They had offered significant discounts to the scientific researchers but in the end they did not stay at the lodge due to “high costs” of the package (they simply camped out nearby). So SAVE tourism thus far has not been profitable, although other benefits have been gained. One such benefit is assistance with conservation, which is a major challenge for Guludo Beach Lodge. Further work is needed to encourage greater community collaboration and participation. Improved collaboration is also needed with authorites from the Quirimbas National Park.

During the interview, Guludo expressed great interest in being part of an alliance that would help create a set of standards and provide a joint marketing platform.

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