How to check whether an operator is a TATO member
Quick answer
Search the TATO member directory for the exact registered company name, not the marketing name. Membership means the company was vetted and can be escalated to through the association's complaints route. It is voluntary, so absence is a prompt for further checks rather than a verdict.
Last reviewed by the SafariVerify team.
Why membership is useful to you
It is a second organisation with a relationship to the company, which means there is somebody to complain to who is not the operator itself.
It also confirms a stable trading identity: associations generally do not admit businesses formed a few weeks ago.
How to search properly
Use the registered company name from the invoice. Many operators trade under a shorter brand and appear in the directory under a longer legal name.
If nothing matches, ask the operator directly which name they are listed under and when membership was granted. Then verify with the association rather than accepting a screenshot.
Your checklist
- Search the TATO directory using the registered legal name
- Ask the operator which name they are listed under if there is no match
- Confirm membership with the association rather than by screenshot
- Treat a website logo alone as unverified
Sources
- Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) — member directory
- Tanzania Tourist Board — tour operator licensing (TALA)
Licensing rules, fees and directories change. Always confirm details with the issuing body on the day you pay. See our methodology for what we can and cannot know.
Check the operator before you pay
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