MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – A great honour was bestowed on Shiluvari Lakeside Lodge when they were selected as one of the first four tourism businesses to receive the Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) Award.

Shiluvari Lakeside Lodge is situated on the banks of the Levhuvhu River. The FTTSA Award was presented to the management and staff of Shiluvari on October 25 by FTTSA's national coordinator, Jennifer Seif. The other three companies that managed to receive this award are Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve in Mpumalanga, Spier Leisure in Stellenbosch and Stormsriver Adventures in Tsitsikama in the Eastern Cape. .

Seif explained the FTTSA Trademark: "The FTTSA trademark recognises tourism businesses in South Africa that are committed to fair trade principles and criteria … which include fair wages and working conditions; local employment and procurement; the training and empowerment of the staff; the promotion of local tourism attractions and respect for human rights, culture and environment." She explained that the demand for socially responsible tourism is growing and this is especially apparent in the major international source markets, including the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy and North America. .

Seif said that Shiluvari Lakeside Lodge impressed FTTSA as a small business that is passionate about empowering its staff and providing good value for money service to their guests. Shiluvari spreads the benefits of tourism as widely as possible, by providing guests with all the information they need to visit local arts and crafts producers for their beautiful, locally produced items. .

Shiluvari is also a founding member of the local Ribolla Tourism Association, a community-based tourism association, which markets the area's tourist attractions. The local talent includes beadwork, stunning clay pottery, hand-printed local textiles, batique work, wood carvings and sculptures. Amongst the members of the arts and crafts community, there are a number of world-renowned artists, including Noria Mabaso, Jackson Hlungwani and Lilian Munyai. These artists welcome tourists into their home villages, sharing their unique talents with them – something most tourists experience as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. .

"We are justifiably proud that not only Shiluvari, but also the Zoutpansberg region, has been honoured in this way," said Clare Wilkie Girardin, general manager of Shiluvari.