Charter of Ethics

 

Considering that tourism can cause negative and long term consequences on receptive zones.

Considering that tourism can produce an adverse impact to the positive starting hopes.

Considering that tourism can cause harmful damage to host communities in the social, economic, environmental, cultural and lifestyle levels.

Agadir Inoumar touristic cooperative diffused this charter in order to better organize the relationship between travellers and the cooperative in a respectful way. Thus, it is the only reference between the traveller and the cooperative. Every traveler should accept the following principles before visiting any place in Souss Massa Draa region suggested by the cooperative.This is very important for protection of host communities from adverse effects of tourism in social,environnemental,economic ,cultural and lifestyle levels.We mean all kind of destructive effects resulted from repetitive visits of travelers to host communities livable-in homeland.

Commitment:

As a traveler hosted by the cooperative Agadir Inoumar ,I am ready to respect the following principles :

First principle: ethics of respect for human values :

1-I don t encourage sexual tourism ,I don t look for it and I don’t accompany people that are looking for it in any way.

2- I dress properly ,wear for the majority of my body as well as I don t harm sexual sensibilities of others. If in hot season I wear large enough clothes.

3- I don t drink alcohol in public, and I don t encourage others to do so.

4-I don t take drugs(other than medicine) ,I don t encourage Drug s consumption. I understand that kissing in public between opposite genders is forbidden.

5- I don t take photos to local people without their prior permission. I avoid to intimidate them.

6-I understand that when women stopped out of the road that means they don t want talk to me, they are waiting that I pass. In fact I have to pass without talking to them or trying to intimidate them.

7-I understand that it is normal to cancel a party after an inhabitant s death, it is the only way to respect his family s sensibilities.

8-I understand that it is often to separate women from men during wedding ceremonies.It is conform to Moroccan tradition.

9- I don t invest my stay among local communities for propagating ideologies that opposed theirs among children or major people.

10-I don t invest my stay for propagation of destructive ideals to society like racism, violence and so on.

11-I know that for a single room with one bed for two people (other than parent and children) ,I must proove marriage tie with the person who share me the same room.

Second article: economic ethics :

I respect host communities economic activities by not initiating any action that can be considered as competition against them.I don t compete the local guide, I don t take tinned food with me to visited areas ,I don t sleep outside the authorized hostels.I buy local crafts and local products when I can .I buy local authorized enterprises services, I don t encourage informal economy. I eat at least one meal at the hosts as a contribution to improvement host community life level.

Third principle :Natural heritage respect :

1-I preserve nature and I don t disturb its equilibrium.

2-I don t leave waste in nature especially plastic bags and baby nappies. I must put waste in dustbin .

3-I don t throw rest of cigarettes away because this action can provoke burn and harm environment.

4-I respect biologic diversity and I don t take species out of their natural habitat .

6-I respect ecologic farming ,I encourage it by seeking natural products from local farmers in order to motivate them to produce natural products.

Forth Principle : social respect :

1-I don t give money or any other good to children or major people but I do with associations suggested by the cooperative in order to discourage begging among hosting community.

2-I understand that services prices I paid to the cooperative are not only a financial and commercial obligation ,but also a humanistic solidarity obligation toward local communities in fragile life level.It is also my contribution to improve their living standard.

3-I understand that craft s workshops are the only way of solidarity to help rural craftsmen and craftswomen in order to safeguard endangered crafts professions.

Fifth principle : cultural respect :

1-I understand that collective granaries « Igoudar » are private ownership,they represent an architectural heritage with historical, humanistic dimensions where the obligation to preserve them.

2-I understand that collective granaries are private ownership of local communities ,my visit to theses granaries must have o positive impact for living standard improvement of theses granaries guards- given that importance of role they play in safeguard of theses monuments- as well as improvement of owners living standards.

3-I am aware that responsible tourism is the only way for cultural development in rural areas I am visiting, that s why I am interested in all cultural faces of theses areas.

4-I understand that Amazigh language is a national heritage which everyone should preserve. I fact i don t oblige local people to speak a language different from theirs.

Sexth principle : safety

I am aware ,that in general ,risks are potential during travelling worldwide , that s why I take enough steps in visited areas and I should not be far from my guide in the rural or civilized areas.I understand that the guide has enough knowledge to choose the best roads or paths.I should follow his/her instructions.I should not blame the cooperative or accusing it responsible for waste of time or if my program is perturbed due to a voluntary neglect from me to guide instructions.

Seventh principle: Identification :

1-As a traveller ,I am conscious, in the one hand that I should show my identification in order to advantage local community s safety and their goods.In the other hand this will facilitate close coordination of the cooperative with local authorities.

2- I understand that part of required information from individuals given to the cooperative is used for a better organizing of their stay .

I had read, understand and agree all above principles.