RTA Local Experts

Use your expertise to put together an interesting product range that will appeal to those who share your passion but may have varying levels of knowledge in the subject. Follow the guidelines provided for providing three different products or services. (See: Benefits section for detail.)

Use the RTA Responsible tourism best practices database embedded in your RTA online business profile to indicate to your clients, the best practices you, and they are asked to follow, whilst on ‘tour’ with you.

The RTA provides you with low-cost market access, including (optional) subsidised 'Pay per Click' entry page advertising through barter trade, and a wide range of promotional tools.  If used, they will help you attract custom from the RTA Community. They are:

• A Good Product - Nothing promotes your prouct more than you ensuring it offers a highly personalised, responsibly operated, unique, and rewarding travel experience.
• Guest Comments - Our Ambassadors are tasked to upload verified guest comments to your online presentation. Positive comments will help to attract more business.
• News & Events - Use your News & Events feature to promote genuine 'news and events' related to your business or your local visitor-based economy. 
• Barter Trade – An optional feature used to promote your business using barter trade (products & services) and generate revenue by taking advantage of the difference between their cost and advertised rate value.
• Guest Promotion - In addition to your guest comments, some of the Ambassadors may wish to assist your promotional efforts by contributing to your business blog.
• RTA Local Agent Promotion - The RTA Local Agent plays a role in promoting the destination, and your services with it.
• Articles, Blogs, Forums - A mention in tourism-related articles in your own or other member’s blogs, discussions between members of the RTA Community in our forums, or the 'news and events' section will help to promote your business.

RTA Ambassadors using your services are asked to review and comment on your standard of service provided, and compliance as stated on your online presentation. The Ambassadors booking ref. and verified comment (and a score of 1 to 5) for each, would then be uploaded to the comment section of your online profile:

• Objective - The objective is to encourage the Local Expert - through positive comments and promotional support - to achieve full compliance and the best possible service over time.

• Positive Comments- Comments 'ticked' positive would be automatically uploaded directly to the site.

• Negative Comments- Comments 'ticked' as negative would be sent to the Local Expert who would have 7 days to resolve the problem and/or submit a rebuttal for upload.

• Transparency - The Local Expert's recent history of comments is stored on his or her online profile where it can be reviewed by the Local Agent in the event of a dispute.

The visitor-based economy should be an important source of revenue for many communities. Local Experts should become a catalyst, bringing sustainable benefits to both your own business and the community through the multiplier effect that the revenue you bring in generates in the greater local visitor-based economy.

• Food & Beverage Suppliers - from the farm to the shops, restaurants, and market stall vendors, your business will create opportunity, revenue, and employment.
• Transport Providers - will benefit from an increase in demand, again providing opportunity, revenue, and employment.
• Local Government - will benefit from increased site entry fees and tax revenue which will be used to improve infrastructure and amenities.
• The Local Workforce - will benefit from local employment opportunities, reducing the need to have people move to the cities for work, and leaving the old and young behind.
• The Community - with more money and people in the local economy, there will be an increase in cultural activities that strengthen its social fabric.

Note* Compare benefits for each level of membership in the table below. 

Work with your RTA Local Agent in establishing your product range, and the pricing for it based on group size and duration. Bear in mind the RTA does not charge you a commission, just a modest monthly fee to host your Business Profile on the RTA Database, - and donations to VWB. 

The RTA encourages its Local Agents to publish their advertised rates on their business presentations, and to make 'confidential' offers, on a case by case basis, to RTA Ambassadors via the RTA Local Agent, in response to booking enquiries. We recommend that you consider the following services/pricing format:

• Subject Overview - A PDF Document - An email, on the subject of interest as it relates to the destination you cover.
• A One Hour Presentation - A talk or PowerPoint presentation plus a Q & A session - given in a convenient location in the destination.
• A Guided Outing - Local Expert-led visit to sites, attractions, activities related to your area of expertise.

You should use any or all of the following incentives, at your discretion and on a case by case basis, to secure bookings. 

• Price Discounts - Are awarded at your discretion and based on the overall value of the booking to you.
• Products/Materials - Perhaps signed books or other materials you have produced and could be offered to increase the incentive to book your service without any significant increase in their cost.
• Complimentary Services - Additional incentives that have a higher perceived value than their actual cost.

As the RTA business model is non-commission based, Local Agents charge Ambassadors booking fees - based on the time and for the following work: 

• Communicating with RTA Ambassadors - Is done via the embedded email system and CGI forms in the 'communications & booking log' on your online presentation.
• Negotiating the Best Deals - On accommodation, attractions, activities, courses, and workshops) for the Ambassador, from each Business Partner (and Local Expert) detailed in their draft itinerary.
• Seeking Booking Incentives - From Local Experts (and Local Experts) - In the form of discounts, upgrades, complimentary services - for the RTA Ambassadors.  
• Securing the Best Personalised Service - By having the Business Partners (and Local Expert)(or Local Experts)  accommodate the: Preferences, likes, dislikes as listed on the Ambassador’s profile.
• Hobbies & Interests - Sourcing activities in the destination, during your period of stay, to match those stated in your hobbies & interests database on your online profile. 

It allows the RTA Ambassador to fine-tune their search for products or services by region, country, destination, category, price band, and by the physical access limitations. This creates a shortlist of the results prioritised by their interest and displayed by membership level.  They further refine their selection by:

• Reviewing the Online Profile - For each Local Expert that attracts their interest.
• Prioritising Service Standard - According to the average score awarded by previous guests.
• Prioritising Best Practice Compliance - According to the average score awarded by previous guests.
• Further Research - Of guest comments, articles, forum discussions, comparison with similar products services in the destination.
• Booking Incentives - By comparing the booking incentives offered by the Business Partners (including Local Experts) to whom they have made enquiries.

Your RTA profile includes includes an online  presentation, an interactive multi-page website that combines the following, each section of which is password-protected and/or access restricted.

• The RTA Local Expert - And all others in the RTA Community, have password-protected access to all areas of their online profile and can hide or show information to others at will.

• The RTA Local Agent - Has special password-enabled access to your online profile, but no editing rights. Can access your personalised service, hobbies & interests and responsible tourism best practices databases, as well as your comment history, barter trade, etc.,

• Security - All parties sign an agreement when they register protecting each other's data privacy. The RTA agrees not to share your identifying information at any time, and to seek your permission to share your general data for research purposes (in exchange for funding for VWB). Personal detail (next of kin etc.,) would be hidden and only be accessed by RTA Admin in an emergency.

• Design Freedom - The online presentation editors have a range of advanced multimedia features that allow you excellent design freedom within a standard template format that is easy to view and use.

In addition to facilitating enquiries, bookings, and payment between the RTA Members and Local Experts, the RTA Local Agents have key roles to play:

• Design Assistance - They design, develop, market and manage the RTA Tourist Routes, attracting a more responsible tourism-based custom to the wider destination. 
• Enquiries & Bookings - They manage the enquiries and bookings between the Ambassadors and the Business Partners. This is especially helpful in dealing with the micro businesses that lack the language skills or resources to react promply to enquiries, and would benefit from the additional help the RTA Local Agent can provide.
• Skills Development Training - They collaborate with you, and a wide range of RTA Development Partners, to optimise the performance of your business, and to promote sustainable grassroots development in your local economy.
• Collaboration - They collaborate with you, and others in the greater RTA Community to optimise the performance of your business and to promote sustainable grassroots development in your local visitor- based economies.

The Volunteers Without Borders Foundation is funded mainly by a percentage of the RTA Members fees. Funds cover:

• Subsidies for VWB Volunteers on assignment to help you develop your business, online profiles, and in cases, second revenue streams.
• Subsidise Business Skills Training Workshops - for the RTA Business Partners, facilitated by VWB and the Local Agent.

The RTA intends to attract ethical investment for projects supported by Local Experts from both organisations and individuals committed to providing grant, impact, or crowd-funded investment for responsible tourism.
Grant funding may be available for culturally or historically important projects related to your area of expertise, where such support would benefit the local visitor-based economy.

The RTA Competitions are designed to engage and reward the RTA Membership for contributing to the promotion of the RTA and its membership. Competition Funding - 50% of the member's monthly fees paid to the RTA for marketing & development, and of that app. 50% is earmarked for the funding of competitions.

• Competition Categories - (1) Travel Quiz (2) Articles, (3) Blog posts, (4) Photography, (5) Video, (6) VWB Assignment Essays.
• Competition Entry Vouchers - You need a verified competition entry voucher to submit entries to competitions each year. They are awarded based on your membership level.
• Draw dates - Each competition is drawn, one week after the RTA Barter Dollar 1’000.- 'prize money funding figure' determined for it has been reached. 
• Notification - One week before the draw date the RTA Membership will be notified of the upcoming competition by email and invited to enter competitions. 
• Scoring - Entry rankings will change to reflect the ‘votes’ cast for them, with the entry afforded the highest number of votes – on the draw date – being declared the winner.
• Payment - Payment in RTA Barter Dollars is made into the winning member’s Barter Trade Account – a part of their online profile.

Note* The number of competitions you may enter content for each year is dictated by your membership level. Bronze = 0, Silver – 1, Gold = 2. Platinum = 3.

Is an optional (value added) feature for RTA Business Partners may sign up for or not.
It allows them to accept RTA Barter Dollars won in competitions by RTA Members, to purchase the products and services offered in barter trade at ‘advertised rates’ by the Business Partners. 
It allows the RTA Business Partner to sell additional inventory to:

• Gain additionl exposure for their products or services from those RTA Ambassadors who have RTA Barter Dollars won in competition.

• Benefit from selling inventory at the advertised rate. 

• Use RTA Barter Dollars accepted to pay for RTA  Search Panel (Pay per Click) Advertising. 

• Use RTA to pay for monthly membership fees (50% limit.)

RTA Barter Trading

Step 1. - The RTA Community Members enters & wins RTA Barter Dollars (in a voucher format) in RTA Competiitions. They are deposited in his or her RTA Barter Trade account on their online presentation.

Step 2. - When planning a holiday he or she looks for RTA Business Partners offering 'products and services' in Barter Trade'. The RTA competition winner benefits from the value of the competition prize. The RTA Business Partner benefits from selling inventory at the full advertised rate.

Step 3. Once the RTA Member and the Business Partner (via the RTA Local Agent) have reached agreement on barter trade, and the rest of the Ambassador’s booking has been confirmed, he or she transfers the agreed number of RTA Barter Dollars to cover the trade agreed from his or her RTA Barter Trade account, to that of the RTA Local Agent.

Step 4. - On paying the Business Partner for the booking, the Local Agent pays for (transfers) the agreed value in RTA Barter Dollars (identified by reference number) ito the account of the RTA Business Partner.

As a Local Expert, you may not earn enough from tourism to give you the standard of living you want.

The RTA encourages you to identify and establish such 2nd revenue streams that:

• Do not rely on tourism revenues
• provide you with additional income
• help you manage the risks inherent in tourism.

VWB will do what it can to assist you with the training you need to set up 2^nd revenue streams and may be able to do more with the help of donor funding and hands-on assistance.

The Local Agent may also be in a position to assist with marketing and the establishment of supply chains. See: Volunteers Without Borders for both training workshop catalogue and suggested 2nd revenue stream projects currently proposed for northern Thailand.

• Forums - An information exchange between the RTA Community Members covering a range of topics.
• Resources -A forum for sharing resources that would be of benefit to those in the wider RTA Community.

You have the option of having your business advertised on the main search system display panel in response to categories and sub-categories selected during searches.

• Greater Visibility- These advertisements give your business greater visibility and can be paid for in RTA Barter Dollars.
• Cost Advantages– You benefit from the difference between the actual cost, and the advertised price of your barter products or services.
• Competitions -The RTA will use the Barter Dollars it earns from this advertising to subsidise the competitions fund. Competitions attract new members/customers.

On registering you must decide on your preferred membership level - bronze, silver, gold, platinum - determined by the costs vs benefits for each as explained - under costs above. Your registration will be confirmed by email once approved. You payment of membership fees will only commence when you receive your first booking. However, we would really appreciate it if you made a one-off donation to VWB to help us fund volunteer and training costs. 

The unique ID and password you are sent allows you to access a user friendly 'online editor' to manage the content and imagery on your profile yourself. The same password provides authentication for access to forums, guest comments, competitions, etc. Assistance is available if needed, from VWB Volunteers who can be organized by the RTA Local Agent.

• Your Registration Data – Standard information that will assist us in providing you with a high standard of personalised service, and an equitable deal for your travel experiences.
• Your Online Presentation Data – The additional information that you enter, using the online editor, providing more detailed information on your business.
• Using the Online Editor - Your registration will be confirmed by email once payment has been received. You will be sent a unique ID and password that allows you to manage the content and imagery on your profile yourself, as well as to provide authentication for access to forums, guest comments, competitions, etc. Assistance is available if needed, from VWB Volunteers who can be organized by the RTA Local Agent.

The registration form also includes the following agreements for your electronic signature:

• The RTA General Business Agreement – Our assurance that we will not use your data (designated private, shared internally, or public) for any reason other than stipulated without your written consent. That you will respect our intellectual property rights to the RTA Business Model.
• RTA Development Partners Data Research Agreement – Authorising us to allow selected RTA Development Partners (university or tourism organisation research groups) access to your information (less your personal or identifying information) to study the responsible tourism industry and the RTA’s role in it. Details of the survey questions would be mailed to you on a case by case basis allowing you to decline participation if you so choose. Bear in mind, we offer this service to RTA Development Partner research groups in exchange for an agreed donation made to VWB (Volunteers Without Borders) which is used to fund development projects.
• Secured Investment Funding Agreement for RTA Local Experts - A minimum 2 years of monthly revenue & expenditure detail, as well as a standard monthly operations report (template provided by the RTA.)
  It is aimed at supporting your application for crowdfunding or impact loans to assist you in developing/expanding your business.

How Do RTA Ambassadors Find You?

When searching for their travel experiences RTA Ambassadors will follow these steps:

Step 1. Search Type - Select the Search Type Option.

Step 2. Location - Select the specific region, followed by the country and destination (province or city.)

Step 3. Category - Select the category of product or service they are interested in, and the sub-category where relevant.

Step 4. Price Range - Select the price/market - (all, budget, tourist, first class.)

Step 5. Accessibility -Select the accessibility criteria (disability/fitness.)

Step 6. Keyword Search - Refine or expand their search using keyword searches if needed.

Step 7. Shortlist - Click search to review the refined search results pages (numbers on their shortlist and indicated by the search counter at the bottom of the search fields.)

Step 8. Fine Tune - Use the service standard score, or best practice compliance score settings to further refine their search of results listed in order of membership level (bronze, silver, gold, platinum.)

RTA Ambassadors follow these steps:

Step 1. Submit Enquiry - They use the CGI form on the communications & booking log on their profile page to submit either an enquiry or their proposed itinerary & timeline to the designated RTA Local Agent in the destination they are visiting. Note* We suggest that you include a couple of options for things like accommodation so that you may compare offers made.

Step 2. Local Agent Review - The Local Agent reviews their itinerary and provides them with a provisional estimate of his or her fees (based on the estimated number of hours/costs involved in putting it together.) He or she agrees to come back to the Ambassador for approval and with an explanation if that fee estimate changes during the enquiry/booking process.

Step 3. Approval - Once the Ambassador confirms he or she should proceed the Local Agent contacts the various Business Partners (including Local Experts) involved in their booking, checking availability, pricing, incentives, ability to meet your stated likes, dislikes, preferences.

Step 4. Personalised Service - The Local Agent reviews their Hobbies & Interests and Personalised Service databases, (on their profile) to see what if any matches can be made for them in the destination.  

Step 5. Quotation - The Local Agent then sends the Ambassador an itemised proposal (using the same CGI form). They exchange responses using this same form until they both confirm the services and charges, and barter trade products and services to be paid for in Barter Dollars. At this point payment options are agreed, and the formal quotation is issued. This will include the requirements for payment of a deposit and the balance. 

Step 6. Booking - The Ambassador confirms the itinerary and makes their formal booking using the same system. 

Step 7. Making Payment - The Ambassador makes a deposit or full payment to the Local Agent via the method agreed (credit card, bank transfer, PayPal). He or she then transfers Barter Dollars from their barter account (on their profile page) to the account of the Local Agent. 

Step 8. Confirmation - Once payments have been made, the Ambassador is sent a detailed itinerary, emergency contact detail, and vouchers as required.

Note:  All exchanges are conducted using the CGI form in an embedded email system on your profile page. The Ambassador receives notification of their arrival by email. Emails are time-stamped as part of our service standard monitoring programme.

After the Ambassador has visited your Business he or she should:

Make Verified Guest Comments on your Profile – They will use their booking reference number to submit a CGI based form to upload their comments. They will score you related to your (a) service standard, (b) compliance with your stated best practices.  

• If they tick the 'positive comment' box, their comments will be uploaded automatically

• If they tick the 'negative comment' box, you will receive a notification and have 7 days to respond to the negative comment. Their comment, and your response, will then be uploaded to your Profile.

Write Travel Articles and/or Share Videos or Photographs – They could also share the photos & videos they take relating to your business and the local visitor based economy and its attractions with (a) you the RTA Business Partner, (b) the Local Agent, to help promote your Business and the Tourist Route they are located along. They should be encouraged to enter them and other content in the RTA Competitions, winning prizes to subsidise their future travels.

© 2018 Responsible Tourism Alliance