Sustainability for Sustainable Tourism
Travelling connects people and their cultures. It contributes to cosmopolitanism, mutual understanding, and tolerance. Tourism also builds bridges economically: it is an important economic factor across the globe, contributing to employment and prosperity. Thanks to its consistent and rapid growth, the industry now constitutes one of the most important economic sectors worldwide.
Good to Know
- In 2018, tourism contributed to 10.4 percent of global economic output
- Out of 100 employees in the world, ten have a job that is directly related to tourism
- In 2019 alone, there were more than 1.5 billion international tourist arrivals recorded worldwide
But everything has its limits. These have now come to light, above all due to the consequences of climate change. This applies even more to tourism than virtually any other industry: cultural and ecological diversity in the holiday destinations and the well-being of the people represent the cornerstone of business success!
Our Strategy for Sustainability in Tourism
Sustainability in tourism is as diverse as the world we travel. This includes
- the promotion of local cultures
- the creation of jobs under fair conditions
- the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions caused by travel and
- the conservation of nature in the holiday destinations.
Given the multifaceted nature and complexity, it is clear: that sustainability cannot be achieved overnight. Instead, it is a long and continuous process of transformation that requires thought and cooperation from all those involved.
That is why we at New World Travel are working with our service providers, in industry initiatives and together with civil society on sustainable further developments and improvements. Over recent years, we have implemented many initiatives and projects to actively shape more sustainable tourism in all areas of our business.
What we do
New World Travel has demonstrated its commitment to all aspects of Sustainability:
-
- Environment, Conservation and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
- Streamlining of its recycling and waste management program
- Reduction and conservation of energy and water in its offices
- Purchase and use of sustainably produced, biodegradable materials from local businesses
- Fostering business relationships to facilitate environmental solutions with partners, vendors and suppliers
- We value the diverse sociocultural heritage of our staff, partners and communities we include in our programs
“It seemed to us that many in our industry have been ‘talking green’, but not ‘walking’ green. We felt it was important to take a proactive stance with the environmental issues we all face and let our actions speak louder than our words.”
Marco Jahn, President & CEO
Sustainability Certification Goals – Travelife Engaged:
New World Travel is happy to announce that we have engaged with the Travelife for Tour Operator & Travel Agents scheme. Travelife for Tour Operators and Travel Agents is internationally recognized and supported by the global travel industry as the preferred sustainability training, management and certification program for sustainability in tourism.
Moreover, Travelife standards are formally recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Travelife is a three-stage certification program for tour operators and travel agents: (1) Travelife Engaged; (2) Travelife Partner and (3) Travelife Certified.
We are at stage 1 – Travelife Engaged. We are working to move forward to stage 2 – Travelife Partner.
To reach the Travelife Partner, we must meet the standard of over 100 sustainability criteria that can be grouped into five key areas:
- Office operations
- Product development
- Working with suppliers
- Customer relations and destinations.
Through regular training, raising awareness among our staff & our suppliers, and developing a culture of sustainable management and practices, New World Travel aims to achieve the certification Travelife Certified, the third and highest level of the Travelife certification scheme by 2025.
Our aim is to strengthen our commitment to sustainability management and to turn it into consistent sustainable business practices in tourism. From an industry ethical perspective, we believe sustainability statements should be third-party justified and certified. That’s why we chose Travelife for Tour Operator & Travel Agents for our sustainability engagement.
Responsibility as an Opportunity
As an international travel group, we are strongly aware of the responsibility arising from tourism’s impact on the local population and environment. We need to protect the diversity of our earth and preserve it for future generations. This commitment also affords us with an opportunity: we want to actively shape the development of sustainable tourism in all areas of our company and align it with the future.
Children deserve special protection around the world, as Children’s rights never go on holiday. The well-being of children is an issue that is close to the heart of DERTOUR Group. The company requires itself as well as its partners, suppliers and service providers to safeguard the rights of children in tourism. It is a principle that applies to children who live in countries where its customers go on holidays and to children who go along on these trips as well. The DERTOUR Group has drawn up a comprehensive internal child-safeguarding policy based on its Policy Statement on Child Safeguarding.
We harness the power of tourism to specifically advocate for more sustainable travel. This applies to the design of our products as well as the development of effective measures jointly with our partners, with political representatives and participants in the travel industry. We want to foster economic development in the holiday destinations while reducing our environmental footprint and negative impact on people and nature. The Statements and the supplier code of conduct can be viewed and downloaded here.
With a cooperation network of 21 Destination Management Companies (DMC), the DERTOUR Group is there for its customers in the tourist destinations, with sustainability being an essential part of the shared corporate philosophy. Excursions that meet generally recognized criteria for responsible tourism are awarded a light green heart-shaped leaf after a careful internal review. This may involve a sustainable mode of transport, promoting cultural heritage in a special way, involving the local community in the creation of tourism value, visiting projects that benefit the environment or society, or simply offering particularly intensive experiences and insights with local people. The ‘engage people & planet’ program offers the opportunity to travel in a particularly conscious way.
