We believe that tourism is like fire: you can cook your dinner on it, but if you are not careful, it will burn your house down. One of our missions is to take actions to maximise the positive effects that tourism can have on individuals and local communities while minimising the associated negative impacts.
We acknowledge that the natural environment of our destinations is our greatest asset. Thus, it is also fundamental to our business growth and viability that the environment is managed in a sustainable way.
Responsible travel practices and long-term thinking are guiding principles for our product development and operation, as well as external supplier and agent relationships.
What are our principles
It is a work in progress for everyone in our company. We, therefore, commit to the following guiding principles:
- Comply with all relevant legislation and embed sustainable development principles into core business practices,
- Preserve our environment and continually improve our environmental performance,
- Optimise our social impact to enhance local livelihoods,
- Provide information, training, and support to our staff and external partners, to engage them towards sustainability,
- Provide sustainable information about our products to encourage our clients to opt for sustainable travel options.
UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all member states of the United Nations (UN), 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were introduced for 2016–2030. These goals focus on the 3 pillars of sustainable development: economy, society, and the environment.
Travelmates wants to get familiarised with and play its part in reaching the SDGs. For that reason, our Sustainability Policy is based on the goals that are relevant to our operations.
The UN’s SDGs that apply to the environmental part of our Sustainability Policy are: 3) Good Health and Well-being, 5) Gender Equality, 8) Economic Growth, 12) Responsible Consumption
GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Our actions:
- Flexible hours on an individual basis for staff,
- Healthy and safe working environment,
- Health and Safety policy and training,
- Coverage for injury on-the-job.
GENDER EQUALITY
Our actions:
- An inclusive working environment, where staff are appreciated as individuals, regardless of their gender and other characteristics,
- Equal status and equal rights for all genders,
- Measurable progress inequality issues.
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Our actions:
- Select only local suppliers that are fully insured, licensed and who provide comfort and safety for our clients,
- Avoid tourism leakage by giving priority to local business (accommodation and restaurants),
- Improve products and processes to minimize the negative impact of tourism on local environments and communities.
- Ensure that no marketing and promotional material contains misleading information.
RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION
Our actions:
- Implement process or office improvement to save energy, water and other resources,
- Limit the printed materials and promote our websites,
- Encourage local practices to categorize and reduce waste,
- Give priority to locally-produced products,
- Purchase in bulk to reduce packaging.
Our recommendations to travelers – The Do’s and The Don’ts
Souvenirs:
Do not take any natural ‘souvenirs’ – e.g. coral, shells, flowers, insects, etc. Sometimes coral or other protected and endangered natural products are sold on markets – please do not support this by buying anything, no matter how beautiful it might look at home.
- Ivory (Raw & Carved) – Animal skins such as Reptile Leather Products & Furs
- Stuffed & Mounted Animals
- Wild Bird Feathers
- Corals, Shells, Starfish & other items made from Marine Life
- Sea Turtle Products & Shark Fins
- Traditional Asian Medicine made from Tigers, Sharks, Birds, Rhinos etc. – Caged Primates, Birds, Cats etc. – Protected Domestic Flora; Cacti, Orchids & Cycads
- Decoration, Ornaments, Instruments etc. made from Illegally Harvest Wood such as
- Rosewood & Teak
- Wildlife Photos: We do not encourage photo opportunities such as taking a Selfie with a tropical endangered animal – Food & Beverages that contain endangered animals such as Snake Wine & Shark Fin Soup
- Rare Cultural artefacts & Relics (generally protected by their country of origin)
Rubbish:
Dispose of any rubbish properly during the day. Even biodegradable matter can take years to decompose in many environments so please don’t just leave it. Sometimes local communities might be slow to protect their own environment, but please look after your rubbish even if they do not do the same.
Toilets:
Especially in the smaller towns and upcountry toilet plumbing leaves a lot to be desired. Therefore do not flush toilet paper, but deposit it in a – if available – basket or plastic bag.
Photography:
Always ask before taking photos of local people. Remember, they are still ordinary people who may or may not wish to be photographed. Some people who are more used to tourists may ask for payment in exchange for a photo – it is entirely up to you whether you do this or not, but if you agree to pay them, please don’t break the agreement. In general we don’t encourage paying for photos since it encourages begging from tourists. Moreover, do not take pictures of the military or the police.
Dress:
Remember that what you would wear on a hot day at home is not necessarily acceptable here. Women in particular should be modest in dress, shorts should not be too short, and trousers are preferable in rural areas. Men should wear a top at all times. Remember that although some local people may be more used to tourists, they might still be offended by inappropriate dressing.
Displays of Affection:
Try to tone down any displays of affection in public, especially in rural areas, to holding hands. Anything more might make local people feel uncomfortable.
Begging:
Please do not give money, sweets or pens to children, as it encourages them to beg and encourages parents to take their children out of school as they can bring in more income through begging.
If you really would like to give something, better consult your local tour leader or guides on making donations to a local school or hospital.
Bargaining:
- When bargaining, which can be enjoyable and a good way of interacting with local people, do try to keep things in perspective. It might be fun for you, but the seller’s livelihood depends on getting a fair price as well. Not bargaining at all is not good either, since you might risk damaging the structure of their way of life and economy!
- Offer a third of the asking price and meet somewhere in the middle is quite reasonable.
