1. Purpose and Scope
This policy sets out our commitment to operating as a responsible UK tour operator. It applies to our employees, contractors, destination partners, accommodation providers, transport suppliers, excursion providers and any third parties acting on our behalf. Our aim is to create holidays that deliver positive benefits for customers and host communities while reducing negative environmental, social and cultural impacts.
We align our approach with recognised sustainable tourism principles, including effective sustainability planning, social and economic benefit for local communities, protection of cultural heritage, and reduction of environmental impacts.
2. Our Sustainability Commitments
We will manage sustainability through practical commitments across our business, supply chain and customer experience.
2.1 Sustainable Management
- Comply with all applicable UK legislation, destination regulations and industry obligations.
- Assign responsibility for sustainability to a named senior person and ensure staff understand their role in delivering this policy.
- Maintain an annual sustainability action plan with measurable objectives, responsibilities and review dates.
- Communicate this policy to staff, suppliers and customers, and make a customer-facing version publicly available where appropriate.
2.2 Climate and Environmental Protection
- Measure and reduce the environmental impacts of our operations and travel products, including energy use, waste, water use and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Prioritise lower-impact transport options where practical, such as rail, coach, shared transfers and efficient routing.
- Reduce single-use plastics and unnecessary printed materials by using digital documents, reusable alternatives and responsible waste management.
- Support nature-positive tourism by avoiding activities that damage habitats, disturb wildlife or encourage irresponsible visitor behaviour.
2.3 Local Communities and Economic Benefit
- Design itineraries that support local livelihoods, including locally owned accommodation, restaurants, guides, transport providers and visitor experiences where possible.
- Respect fair employment practices and expect suppliers to provide safe working conditions, fair treatment and lawful employment.
- Encourage customers to buy locally made products and services that do not exploit people, wildlife or cultural heritage.
- Work with destination partners to identify and manage risks such as overcrowding, water pressure, waste, cultural sensitivity and visitor behaviour.
2.4 Cultural Heritage and Respectful Travel
- Provide customers with clear pre-departure guidance on local customs, dress codes, photography, religious sites, tipping, bargaining and appropriate conduct.
- Promote visits that protect, interpret and celebrate cultural heritage in a respectful way.
- Avoid experiences that commodify communities, intrude on private life or present culture in a misleading or exploitative way.
3. Supplier Standards
We recognise that our greatest sustainability impact often sits within the travel products we sell. We will therefore work with suppliers who share our values and can demonstrate responsible practices.
- Give preference to accommodation and experience providers with credible sustainability certification or evidence of responsible management.
- Ask key suppliers to follow our expectations on environmental protection, human rights, labour standards, child safeguarding, animal welfare and anti-corruption.
- Review supplier performance and address concerns through corrective action, suspension or removal from sale where necessary.
- Encourage suppliers to reduce energy and water consumption, manage waste responsibly, protect biodiversity and support local employment.
4. Customer Information and Responsible Behaviour
We will help customers make informed choices before and during travel by providing practical, honest and accessible guidance.
- Provide destination guidance on local culture, environmental protection, wildlife, waste, water use and respectful behaviour.
- Encourage customers to reduce waste, avoid single-use plastics, conserve water and energy, and choose local products and services.
- Communicate sustainability claims accurately and avoid misleading or exaggerated environmental statements.
- Invite customer feedback on sustainability issues and use it to improve future holidays.
5. Animal Welfare
We will not knowingly offer activities that involve cruelty, poor welfare standards, unsafe interaction or exploitation of animals. Where wildlife or animal experiences are included, we will favour observation-based experiences that support conservation, education and responsible management.
6. Human Rights, Safeguarding and Inclusion
We respect internationally recognised human rights and expect the same from our suppliers. We will take reasonable steps to identify and manage risks relating to forced labour, child exploitation, discrimination, harassment, unsafe working conditions and community harm. We aim to make travel more inclusive by considering accessibility, dignity and respect in our products and customer communications.
7. Measurement, Reporting and Improvement
We will review progress at least annually and update our action plan to reflect performance, customer feedback, supplier engagement, destination issues and changes in best practice.
- Key indicators may include supplier sustainability status, customer feedback, paper reduction, waste reduction, staff training completion, transport choices and progress against carbon reduction actions.
- Where data is incomplete, we will improve collection methods and be transparent about limitations.
- We will communicate progress honestly and avoid presenting sustainability as complete; it is a programme of continuous improvement.
8. Governance and Review
This policy is owned by senior management and will be reviewed annually, or sooner if there are material changes to our business, destinations, legal requirements or recognised industry guidance. The latest approved version will be shared with relevant staff and partners.
