How to choose a local tour operator

Choosing a local tour operator can be a challenge for travellers, particularly when booking in advance and coming from another country. For the ethically-minded traveller, the insistence on a responsible tour operator adds to the challenge (given that certification schemes are relatively new, expensive for operators to attain and keep, and unfamiliar to most travellers).

I received the following sensible advice from one of the more experienced responsible tour operators, AWOL Tours:

The tourism industry is very competitive and prices vary vastly but when making a decision its best to take the following into consideration:

• Hidden Costs: Many tour operators exclude entrance fees and lunch, and you could end up paying more than you expected by going on a cheaper tour.
• Meals: Check if meals are provided on a tour and what the quality of meals are.
• Last minute cancellations: Companies offering scheduled tours need a minimum number of guests (often 4) to operate the tour and will cancel trips at the last minute if they can’t fill the quota. So don’t be caught out when you have spent all the time and effort in planning your holiday only to be left in the lurch. If you have the budget rather book on a private tour with guaranteed departure.
• Private versus scheduled tours: Check to see whether you are joining a scheduled tour and what the minimum and maximum numbers of guests are. By booking on a private tour the travel experience is vastly superior as you are guaranteed a personalised experience.
• Transfer delay: Another hassle with touring on scheduled trips is the delay in transfers. It takes at least half an hour to an hour for the tour vehicle to go around to all the hotels and guesthouses picking up all the tour participants and often there are hassles and delays - which means you could end up spending half your holiday in hotel lobbies waiting for the tour vehicle to arrive.
• Illegal Operators: Check out how long the tour company has been in operation for, as there are still too many fly-by-night operators that are not properly certified and may be using illegal guides. SATSA and Cape Town Tourism do a stringent certification process and also guarantee tour deposits if you book a tour with one of their members. On its National tour guide day, the national Department of Tourism performs spot checks at various destinations to ensure guides are properly licensed.
• Responsible Operators: Check to see what the operator's responsible tourism policy is. By booking with a Fair Trade and Tourism Certified establishment you can be assured that your money goes towards improving the livelihoods of the employees and the community it's intended to. Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa does a stringent annual audit to ensure that measures are in place to ensure environmental sustainability, that local communities benefit and that employees are paid fairly.
• Safety: Please ensure that you are accompanied by an accredited tour guide who can advise you on the safety aspects of the particular area. All registered Tour guides are first aid qualified and have the necessary skills and expertise to deal with an emergency. 

 At present, Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa is the only responsible tourism certification scheme that accredits tour operators for their tours. However, there are many high quality tour operators who may not (yet) be FTTSA certified, so the above advice should be taken in to account - even when assessing a FTTSA certified tour operator.

Do you have additional steps you use when deciding on a tour operator? We would love to hear from you as well.

How to choose a local tour operator