At Gayo Omo Valley Tours (“we”, “us”, or “our”), we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our services.
1. Information We Collect
Information you provide
- Contact details — name, email address, phone number, and country, submitted when you send us an inquiry or subscribe to our newsletter.
- Booking information — travel dates, group size, special requests, and any other details you share when planning a trip.
- Account information — if you register on our site, we store your name, email, hashed password, and country.
- Reviews and comments — content you post publicly on our stories and tour pages.
Information collected automatically
- Usage data — pages visited, time on site, and referral source (only if you consent to analytics cookies).
- Device data — browser type, operating system, and IP address for security and fraud prevention.
2. How We Use Your Information
- To respond to your inquiries and plan your tour
- To confirm bookings and process payments
- To send newsletters you have opted into
- To notify you of changes to your tour or booking
- To improve our website and services
- To comply with legal obligations
3. Legal Basis for Processing
We process your personal data on the following legal bases:
- Contract — to fulfill a booking or respond to an inquiry
- Consent — for marketing emails and analytics cookies
- Legitimate interests — to improve our services and prevent fraud
- Legal obligation — when required by applicable law
4. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal data. We share it only with:
- Tour partners — local guides, drivers, and accommodation providers essential to your trip
- Service providers — email delivery, hosting, and analytics providers acting on our behalf
- Authorities — when legally required
5. Data Retention
We retain your personal data only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy. Inquiry and booking data is typically retained for up to 7 years to satisfy tax and legal requirements. Newsletter subscriptions are retained until you unsubscribe.
6. Your Rights
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:
- Access the personal data we hold about you
- Correct inaccurate data
- Request deletion of your data
- Object to or restrict processing
- Request portability of your data
- Withdraw consent at any time
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at gayoomovalleytours@gmail.com.
7. Cookies
We use cookies to keep you signed in, remember your preferences, and (with your consent) analyze site usage. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though some features may not function properly.
- Essential cookies — session, CSRF, and cart (required)
- Analytics cookies — Google Analytics (opt-in)
8. Security
We use industry-standard security measures to protect your data, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), hashed passwords, and strict access controls. However, no system is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
9. Children
Our services are not intended for children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children.
10. International Transfers
Your data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside your own. We take steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top reflects the most recent revision.
12. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, contact us:
- Email: gayoomovalleytours@gmail.com
- Phone: +251 926 350 947
- Address: Jinka, South Omo Zone, Ethiopia