ENGAGEMENT OF TERRA GROUP AGENCIES

It is important for Terra Group to propose a responsible tourism, otherwise called fair-trade in tourism, sustainable tourism, or ethical tourism. Two worlds meet every time a person moves from one country to another. But we are always guests, the countries that we visit are our hosts.
The entire enjoyment of the trip can rest on this somewhat delicate relationship.
There are numerous ways to travel, to understand other environments, but we inevitably leave marks as we travel. Warm, generous, discreet, dangerous and unalterable.
• Our managers and teams are held by contract to respect the policy of responsible tourism.
• Respect towards the suppliers, clients, employees and the people met along the journey.
• Respect of the environment (particularly in the management of waste).
• Respect and maintenance of materials and equipment.
• Qualifications (language courses, IT, cooking, first aid).
• Higher salaries than usually awarded locally when they are not judged as fair. Particularly in Bolivia, drivers, guides and office employees are paid about 30% more than generally given.
• All work utensils and equipment to be of high quality (catering tents, vehicles...)
• Bonuses (guides – drivers – managers – employees) are granted in accordance with financial results and the level of satisfaction of our clients.
• Participation in local development projects (see below).

… MORE CONCRETELY FOR EACH DESTINATION...

TERRA ANDINA BOLIVIA

SALARIES
- Salary of an English speaking guide: 50 $us/day.
- Salary of an English speaking driver with vehicle: 100 $us/day.
- Salary of a cook on trek: 20 $us/day
- Salary of a graduated mountain guide: 70 $us/day.
- Salary of a porter in the mountains: 10 $us/day.
- Salary of a mule driver: 3 $us/day
- Location of one mule : 7 $us/day (the mule driver is the owner of the mule / a mule is worth about 40 $us / in general a mule driver will have 5 mules at his disposal, the pay each day is in practice equivalent to the price of a mule).
- We have set a rotation of mules in place in collaboration with communities in the Royal Cordillera. During a crossing of the Andes every part of the itinerary is received by a different community which thus directly receives the benefits of the groups crossing their land.

ACTIONS AT GROUND LEVEL
- In 2005, participated in financing the first meeting of South American mountain guides in La Paz.
- In 2005, participated in financing health services in four areas of the Andes.
- In 2004 and 2005, participation in forming diverse tourism programs and regulations of mountain use, financed by BID and Swiss Contact.
- In 2004, participation in financing the cleaning of base camp Huayna Potosi.
- In 2004, giving of a mess tent to every community of mule drivers in the Royal Cordillera.
- In 2003, editing of a photographic book by photographer Serge Vincenti and redistribution of a part of the sales to finance a carpentry workshop in the prison in Potosi.
- From 2003 to 2005, Terra Andina Bolivia was in charge of the drafting of the Petit Futé tourist Guide Bolivia. Certain direct contacts (guides/mule drivers) were integrated in the guide, thus giving them an opening in the international market (market of local «treks» and short tours).
- In 2004 and 2005, financing of 50% of a French course for 12 guides and 4-wheel drive drivers
- Since 2003, financing of first aid courses for about 40 guides and drivers (4-wheel drive).
- Since 2003, financing of a cooking course for 20 guides and drivers - For several seasons, Terra Andina Bolivia has enforced the furnishing of guides and mule drivers in the Royal Cordillera with personal equipment (sleeping bag, polar jackets, and mountain boots).

THE TUNI RURAL COMMUNITY TOURISME PROJECT (Cordillera Real 2007/2008)
Co-financing of a rural community project in the Cordillera Real in order to develop community tourism:
Immersion in the Aymara world;
Valorization of the natural patrimony;
Valorization of the cultural heritage;
Reconcile tourism with a local and sustainable development.
See our special page about the Tuni Community Project

TERRA ANDINA PERU

SALARIES
The association of cultural guides plays an important role. This sector is becoming increasingly regulated with an aim to protect these tourism professionals, often victim to terrible salaries. Respect for these norms is not taken lightly; we observe them to the letter.
- On the subject of salaries, fixed rates are established regionally. Remuneration for a day of work oscillates, according to services and number of clients the guide is responsible for, between 45 and 100 $us/day. We respect these fixed rates.
- There is little or no regulation concerning trek guides. Our remuneration reaches 50 to 60 $us/ day (minimum) + expenses, for a trek English speaking guide.
- The mule drivers (with mule) receive a salary of 13 $us / day, the chief mule driver 15$us / day, a cook 20 $us / day and an assistant cook 15 $us/ day
- Work and expenses amounted before (preparation of equipment, relocation to point of departure) and when the treks are over (cleaning and storage of materials) are compensated for.
- We make a point of immediately reimbursing the guides after they have lent their services to us.

GUIDES QUALIFICATIONS
- Most of the « cultural » guides who work with us are official guides; they have either completed 4 years of tertiary study with a state recognized institution, or attended evening courses at the faculty of tourism. These two paths are awarded with a diploma as a tourist guide. - The question of trekking guides is quite another, as there have not been any proposals to introduce qualifications for this activity. In 2004, we began to finance a language course for certain guides, and in 2005 first-aid courses organized according to our requirements were started. In 2006 we have continued and intensified our proposal on the subject of qualifications.

LAKE TITICACA PROJECT: THE COMMUNITY OF LLACHON
An Indian village on the Capachica peninsula (on the banks of Lake Titicaca), Llachon is situated about one and a half hours from Puno.
Not frequently visited compared to other better-known places in the region (notably Taquile, Amantani or the islands of Uros) the passion of tourists for this region has not affected this region and with it the economic benefits.
One of the chiefs of the village family Felipe Ticona made us aware of their isolation and in May 2003 we engaged in a development project in partnership with the local communities.
The main idea was to carry out necessary improvements to welcome foreign tourists (and equally benefit the daily life of the villagers), whilst conserving their traditional way of life.
Felipe’s family who were primarily affected by this project, immediately showed enthusiasm and willingness and very quickly, thanks in part to our financing and in part to the enterprising work in the village, construction was undertaken:
• Construction of a reservoir
• Electricity was installed with an independent generator
• Construction of 3 sanitation units
• Construction of 2 showers
• Renovation of paintwork
• Enlarging and modernization of the kitchen to facilitate the preparation of meals with tiling and better hygiene
• Kitchen equipment (pots, plates casserole dishes etc.)
• Purchase of an oxygen bottles (for use of the visitors in case of respiratory problems linked to the high altitude).

This partnership is based on trust and long-term investment.
We do not wish in any part to « direct» this community, and we refuse to interfere with the management of the community.
Moreover, Terra Andina does not claim any right to exclusivity and the community can exercise complete freedom in collaborating with other agencies.

Today everything indicates that this partnership, which equally profits both parties, has succeeded.
The price of a night’s stay and meals are regularly revised to allow for increases, and our clients are able to partake in a unique and enriching experience.

TERRA BRAZIL

SALARIES
There is no policy in place for favorable salaries as tourism in Brazil is along way from being « third world ». Negotiations are fierce and very competitive, and it is necessary to negotiate for a lower price. Prices are sometimes high in relation to the services offers, so this policy is not relevant and would be instead counter-productive.
- Brazil is one of the richest figures in the region.
Despite social inequalities on a mammoth scale, the country is still seeing huge growth. Tourism is developed, counting within it structures that welcome the tourist on par with International quality level, guides being well-qualified, often trilingual and in general very well paid in comparison to the average national salary.

A long-lasting development project in JOATINGA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE.
Within the ecological reserves of Joatinga and Mamangua are 12 communities of «caiçaras», the original culture in a region without any roads or electrical resources.
This population of fishermen suffers the constraints caused by living in an ecological reserve: prohibition of tree felling, hunting and construction and the all important decrease in areas that can be farmed. With the intensification over the last decade of industrial fishing en masse and the ill-fated consequences reducing the volume of fish near the coast, the revenue from fishing is diminishing year by year. Thus, whilst 10 years ago the «Caiçaras» were able to live fairly well from fishing and agriculture, the two resources have been strongly limited.
The continuance of their way of life is being threatened. The young people reluctantly swell the ranks of legions of cheap labor in the big cities, leaving their homeland to possible real estate investors who get round the environmental laws.
The situation is however far from being without a solution and ecotourism represents a real alternative solution. For the last 3 years, we have worked actively to develop the structure of some of these villages (Ponta Negra, Sono, Cajaiba).
The welcoming of small groups of hikers constitutes a significant source of revenue in the region.
Two groups per month are in effect sufficient to compensate for the gap in earnings from agriculture and fishing.
In 2005, confirmed in 2006 success was noted. Our objective is to assure the bringing of a minimum of 2-3 groups per month.

A fisherman earns about 15 - 20 R$/day (more or less 5 Euros).
The redistribution of money from tourism is a reality (from what terra Brazil pays on the spot).
- A night’s stay with breakfast: 12 $us/person
- A meal based on local produce: 6 $us/person
- A fishing outing: 6$us/person
- Local guide: 37 $us/day/group
- participating in the improvement of the « flour house »: 30 $us/group
- Boats for transport: 240 $us/group
- Canoes, excursions etc…

The development of an ecotourism concerned with promoting local culture with respect for the environment has already been translated into positive results:
- Creation of a source of supplementary income
- Improvement of receptive structures
- Qualification for young local people in the profession of being a guide
- Encouragement to create a caiçara cultural building
- Exchange between Brazilians and foreign visitors.