THE government is conducting a review on activities of the Kilimanjaro Responsible Trekking Organisation (KRTO), which local mountain climbing operators say it is choking their ability to attract porters.

Dr Theresa Mugodi, the director of tourism at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, made this affirmation in response to a query raised on KRTO’s activities by associations of local operators, saying a position on the matter would be formulated when the review is concluded.

She said even though that despite Tanzanian law reserving mountain climbs for local operators, via Sections 58(1) and (2) of the Tourism Act No. 29 of 2008, the work of the KRTO is perceived as endorsing foreign affiliated tour companies “to invisibly operate in Mount Kilimanjaro trekking businesses” contrary to the law.

KRTO, through its Porters Assistance Project (KPAP), is said to be running a marketing strategy that undermines the standing of local tour operators on international markets, promoting 45 local operators and 105 foreign travel agents on its website.

These notices or advertorials recommend climbers to choose the firms as vetted partners, a |selective endorsement that excludes many local operators.

The latter are accused of mistreating their porters, and as a result, local operators face declining business, with foreign travel agents increasingly reluctant to engage with them unless they are affiliated with KRTO. 

Local operators assert that they comply with the regulations, including licensing and paying porters a minimum wage of $10 per climb, but they are increasingly having to come to grips with the impact of KRTO and its allied climbing firms, which they say is unfairly disadvantaging them in its policies. 

Yona Samweli, an executive with Almighty Kilimanjaro expressed frustration with the activist organisation, saying local operators are being forced to partner with KPAP or face extinction.

"The KPAP advocates fair treatment of porters, like the provision of proper gear, meals and benefits, noble goals that disproportionately favour established foreign companies over local start-ups, he said.

The situation puts porters and guides at risk as local operators struggle to secure deals, placing thousands of porters and guides on a potential job loss situation.

Edson Mpemba, the Tanzania Porters Organisation (TPO) chairman, said the situation is bad, with rising unemployment among those depending on trekking, noting that the government has set guidelines to protect porters, including offering the minimum wage. Despite these requirements, concerns have been raised that KPAP's influence could further skew the industry in favour of foreign firms, while TPO executive secretary Loshiye Mollel warned that without government intervention, KPAP is on the course of monopolising mountain climbing activity.

Kelvin Salla, KRTO executive officer, said that the project is aimed at ensuring that climbers observe ethical treatment of their crew, insisting that participation in the KPAP program is voluntary, based on meeting compliance standards.

\KRTO partners were achieving an 85 percent compliance level as featured on KRTO and International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC) websites, he added.