The Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project(KPAP) and the Kilimanjaro Responsible Trekking Organization (KRTO), an initiative of the International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC), have strongly refuted claims made by local Kili operators who told Tourism Update they felt marginalised by the NGO.
In thatarticle, a local operator anonymously told Tourism Update: KPAP decides who will get business and who wont and they publicly tell the agents and individual clients that they shouldnt work with companies that are not their partners despite the fact that we all pay for the licence under our governments law.
Kelvin Salla ,Managerof KRTO, clarified: Neither KPAP, KRTO nor IMEC has any influence on the climbing public or business they choose.
We simply educate the public about the industry-wide challenges and issues. We provide a free, transparent monitoring process available to all local climbing companies who wish to have their operations and business practices monitored and endorsed by an internationally recognised and independent third-party NGO, which has been monitoring companies climbing practices on the mountain for nearly two decades.
Salla echoed sentiments voiced by many Tourism Update readers: If a company is truly operating in accordance with the local laws and best practices, why would they object to the transparency and credibility of being monitored?
