Sustainability policy

Our mission:

‘Our mission is to support a sustainable society and trade by guiding all stakeholders towards a greater awareness of sustainability. We aim to achieve this by minimising and mitigating the negative impact on the natural environment, while actively contributing to our local community and society at large’.

Sustainability Policy Canaventura

As a travel and tour agency that engages with various tourism stakeholders, namely consumers, tour guides, travel agencies, hotels, transport companies, restaurants and attractions, we at Canaventura understand our key role and influence in the sustainable development of tourism. That is why we are committed to promoting sustainability. We aim to follow, implement and promote good sustainability practices, to maximise the positive and minimise the negative impacts of our tourism operations, and to influence our customers and partners to do the same.

Our sustainability policy is divided into 10 themes. Each theme consists of a set of principles and related practical actions.

1- Sustainability management and legal compliance

We are committed to sustainability management, practised through the following actions:

Having a designated employee who is responsible for sustainability co-ordinator duties;
Having a sustainability mission statement that is communicated to customers, partners and suppliers;
Have an accessible, written sustainability policy that aims to reduce the negative social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts of the company's activities; and includes health and safety aspects related to employees;
Collaborate and actively participate in external forums and working groups that support tourism sustainability;
Conduct a baseline assessment of the company's performance in terms of sustainable practices;
Have sustainability guidelines and an evaluation system in place to identify sustainability performance of key suppliers/partners;
Have a sustainability action plan with clear objectives, actions, measures, responsibilities and timelines;
Develop documented procedures to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the sustainability policy, objectives and targets;
Ensure company transparency on sustainability through public reporting and communication;
Ensure that all staff are fully aware of our sustainability policy and are committed to implementing and improving it.

We are committed to complying with all national legislation, regulations and codes of practice.

2. Internal management: social policy and human rights

We are committed to sustainable internal management through a clear, written and well communicated social policy, which includes the following principles:

Grant employees freedom of employment and termination of contract with notice (ideally at least one month) and without penalty.
Include in the employment contract the working conditions according to national labour law and a job description;
The salary should be mentioned in the contract and should be equal to or higher than the national legal wage;
Determine and compensate for overtime work on the basis of the agreement;
Provide health and liability insurance in accordance with national law;
Grant employees paid annual leave and sick leave, as well as an allowance for unpaid annual leave;
Have a health and safety policy for employees that complies with national legal standards;
Have first aid equipment and trained personnel in all relevant locations;
Comply with national regulations on minimum age for admission to employment;
Have effective and documented procedures for employees to express their grievances and expectations;
Have a clear disciplinary procedure that is effectively communicated to employees;
Have a system for measuring employee satisfaction on a regular basis;
Provide regular orientation and training to employees on their health and safety roles, rights and responsibilities. This includes relevant fires and natural disasters;
Create opportunities for students to participate in internships/traineeships/apprenticeships;

Encourage employment opportunities for people with special needs;
We are committed to practising human rights by ensuring compliance with the following practices:

Do not obstruct trade union membership, collective bargaining and representation of members by trade unions;
Participate in and comply with a collective bargaining structure for collective bargaining conditions in the sector.
Prohibit discrimination in recruitment, terms and conditions of employment, access to training and senior positions, or promotion on the basis of gender, race, age, disability, ethnicity, religion/belief or sexual orientation;
Ensure that all employees have equal opportunities and access to resources and opportunities for personal development through regular training and education;

3. Internal management: Environment and community relations

We are committed to practising environmental protection and improving community relations by ensuring compliance with the following practices:

Actively reduce the use of disposable and consumer goods;
Encourage the purchase of sustainable goods and services, office and catering supplies, gifts and merchandise.
Buy products in bulk, to reduce the amount of packaging materials;
Set up the default copying and printing machines for double-sided printing or other forms of paper saving;
Use non-hazardous, non-eutrophic and biodegradable cleaning materials that are certified with an ecolabel, if available locally;
Print the brochures on environmentally friendly paper, with a printing company that works with a certified environmental management system, if available locally and at reasonable cost;
Implement measures to reduce the waste of leaflets or an "Internet only" policy;
Have an active commitment to measuring, controlling, and reducing energy consumption;
Calculate and offset CO2 emissions and compare different periods;
Purchase green energy and efficient lighting for all areas, where available;
Turn off lights and equipment when not in use, use an automatic on/off system with timers or motion sensors, and set equipment to energy-saving mode whenever possible;
Choose energy-efficient equipment when purchasing new items, taking into account cost and quality;
Have an active water consumption reduction policy, implemented and monitored monthly or annually for benchmarking purposes;
Use sustainable water sources that do not negatively impact environmental flows;
Install water-saving equipment in restrooms, reuse wastewater, and/or harvest rainwater;
Comply with national legislation regarding waste disposal;
Develop and implement a solid waste reduction and recycling policy, with quantitative targets;
Take measures to reduce the amount of packaging materials and not provide non-recyclable or non-biodegradable packaging materials;
Take measures to reduce the amount of non-refillable plastic drinking water bottles for office use;
Separate all materials that can be recycled and arrange for proper collection and disposal;
Implement waste reduction methods when using ink and toner cartridges for printing and copying, whenever possible;
Recycle or properly dispose of batteries;
Comply with national wastewater treatment legislation, which must be reused or disposed of safely;
Minimize and replace the use of harmful substances and properly manage the storage, handling, and disposal of chemicals;
Use lead-free, water-based paints, both indoors and outdoors, where locally available;
Implement practices to minimize pollution from its facilities (to the extent the company can control it);
Measure and reduce employee-related travel and use more sustainable modes of transportation. Calculate its emissions, with the goal of reducing and offsetting them, through a reliable, locally available program;
Provide financial incentives for employees to use public transportation or sustainable modes of transportation;
Reduce transportation-related impacts through teleworking, teleconferences, or work-from-home policies or other means;
Properly maintain and service company motor vehicles to reduce emissions and energy consumption and ensure they meet legal emission standards;
Provide guidance, training, and/or regular information to all staff members on their roles and responsibilities regarding internal environmental practices;
Comply with laws and regulations regarding land use, zoning, and protected or heritage areas when planning, designing, constructing, renovating, operating, or demolishing the company's buildings and infrastructure;
Base the planning, design, and construction of new buildings or renovations on sustainable, locally appropriate, and viable practices and materials;
Contribute to the protection and preservation of local assets and sites of historical, archaeological, cultural, and spiritual significance, and do not impede access to them by local residents;

4. Partner Agency

Based on an inventory of our main partner agencies, we have developed and implemented a policy to improve the sustainability of our partner agencies. Our goal is to achieve sustainable development for each and every Canaventura partner.
We commit to this through:

Maintain a list of the sustainability practices of partner accommodations and agents;
Work only with organizations that truly implement sustainability in their tourism policy;
Work with agencies that promote minimizing their ecological footprint, traveling primarily by public transport, working paperless where possible, separating waste, and using certified recycled paper;
Prefer agencies that pay attention to local community benefits when selecting local accommodations and their social policy for employees;
Raise awareness among key partners about sustainable consumption by organizing (online) campaigns and training;
Inform key partners about Travelife and national tourism standards;
Have a cooperation agreement that includes an annex to the national code of conduct, so that local partners can promote their practices toward sustainability;
Periodically assess the sustainability practices of our key partners to ensure their practices are truly sustainable;
Inform key partners about the travel companies' sustainability policy and that they are expected to comply with it and/or communicate it to end customers when relevant;
Include key sustainability clauses in contracts with host partners;
Encourage partner agencies to participate in sustainability training courses for travel companies;
Have a written contract with partner organizations;
Include clauses in partner contracts that allow partners to terminate the contractual agreement prematurely if the partner company fails to take appropriate measures to prevent the sexual exploitation of children within the direct supply chain;
Ensure that partner companies comply with all relevant national laws protecting employee rights;

5. Transportation

We strive to ensure that the vehicles used on excursions do not cause above-average pollution. We believe that transportation is an important aspect of sustainable tourism, and we do everything possible to reduce the average level of pollution.
We commit to this through :

Select the most sustainable options, taking into account price and convenience when choosing transportation options to the destination;
Including sustainable (public) transportation to the starting point of the international/long-distance trip;
Consider and prioritize the most sustainable alternatives when selecting transportation options for transfers and excursions at the destination, taking into account price, convenience, and practical considerations;
Integrate and/or promote one or more sustainable vacation products/packages based on a recognized methodology, including sustainable transportation, sustainable accommodation, and sustainable activities.

6. Accommodations

We strive to achieve a fully sustainable tourism supply chain. Partner accommodations play an important role in achieving this, and are encouraged and motivated to adopt sustainable practices.
We commit to this by:

Selecting accommodations that meet sustainability and quality standards, with particular attention to the following aspects:
- Do you have a signed sustainability contract?
- Do you have a water-saving program?
- Do you have an energy-saving program?
- Do you have a waste management program?
- Do you have an energy-reduction system?
- Do you have a sustainable supply chain?
- Do you have a child protection policy?
- Do you carry out CSR activities?
- Do you provide employee health and safety training?
Motivate and encourage partner accommodations to obtain sustainability certification;
Prefer and select locally owned and managed accommodations;
Select accommodations that provide employment to local communities;
Have accommodations provide evidence that clarifies their sustainability goals and strategies;
Have accommodations sign a sustainability addendum;
Encourage accommodations to follow best practices/training on responsible tourism;
Encourage accommodations to complete the sustainability questionnaire to learn about their practices;
Clearly and actively communicate our sustainability goals and requirements for contracted accommodations and other relevant accommodations;
Give clear preference to accommodations that work with internationally recognized certifications (e.g., those recognized by the GSTC) and/or Travelife;
Include standard sustainability clauses in all contracts with accommodation providers focusing on child labor, anti-corruption and bribery, waste management, and biodiversity protection;
Offer incentives to accommodations that actively commit to sustainability;
Ensure that children's rights are respected and safeguarded throughout our accommodation supply chain;
Have a clause in contracts throughout the value chain establishing a common policy of repudiation and zero tolerance for the sexual exploitation of children;
Have a dedicated clause in their contract that allows the travel company to terminate the contractual agreement prematurely if the accommodation provider does not take appropriate measures to prevent the sexual exploitation of children;
Train employees on children's rights, the prevention of sexual exploitation, and how to report suspected cases;
Support, collaborate, and engage stakeholders in the prevention of child sexual exploitation;
Work with accommodations and restaurants that incorporate elements of local art, architecture, or cultural heritage, respecting the intellectual property rights of local communities;
Terminate cooperation with accommodation providers if there is clear evidence that the contracted accommodations jeopardize the provision of basic services, such as food, water, energy, healthcare, or land, to neighboring businesses;

7. Excursions and activities

We highly value the well-being of animals and the community, and our goal is for excursions to leave only a small footprint. We safeguard the authenticity of communities and the natural environment, and we strongly oppose harming wildlife and polluting the environment.
We commit to this through:

Maintain an inventory of environmentally or culturally sensitive excursions offered at each destination;
Advise guests on standards of conduct during excursions and activities, focusing on respect for local culture, nature, and the environment;
Communicate our sustainability goals and requirements to contracted suppliers and other relevant excursion providers, distributing this information through the code of conduct, representative agents, social media, email, discussions, and/or meetings, to minimize negative impacts for visitors and maximize enjoyment;
- Do not offer any excursion that harms people, animals, plants, or natural resources such as water and energy, or that is socially and culturally unacceptable;
- Do not offer any excursion that involves keeping wildlife in captivity, except in the case of activities duly regulated in compliance with local, national, and international legislation;
- Do not engage with companies that collect, consume, exhibit, sell, or trade wildlife, unless it is part of a regulated activity that guarantees its sustainable use and complies with local, national, and international legislation;
- Provide qualified and/or certified guides to guide our guests through sensitive cultural sites, heritage sites, or ecologically sensitive destinations;
Promote and advise our guests on excursions and activities that directly involve and support local communities through the purchase of services or goods, traditional crafts and local (food) production methods, or visits to social projects;
Promote and advise our guests on excursions and activities that support the local environment and biodiversity, such as visits to protected areas or environmental protection projects;

8. Tour leaders, local representatives, and guides

Nuestro objetivo es involucrar al mayor número posible de habitantes locales empleándolos en el negocio del turismo. Defendemos un entorno de trabajo justo y seguro que apoye y respete a las comunidades locales.

Nos comprometemos a ello a través de:

Garantizar que todos los empleados tengan un contrato de trabajo por escrito, que incluya las condiciones laborales y una descripción del puesto de trabajo, y que comprendan plenamente los términos y condiciones;
Prefer to work with local tour leaders, local representatives, local tour guides, porters, drivers, cooks, and other local staff where they are equally qualified, and provide training as needed;
Ensure that our local partners comply with all applicable international, national, and local laws and regulations, minimum industry standards, and any other relevant legal requirements, where these are more stringent;
Pay tour leaders, local representatives, guides, porters, and other local staff engaged by us at least a living wage that is equal to or higher than the legal minimum or the relevant industry standard;
Ensure that our tour guides, hosts, and other contracted employees are qualified and receive regular training;
Ensure that our local employees are informed about and comply with relevant aspects of our sustainability policy, through newsletters, references or supplements to contracts, emails, or training and information sessions;
Offer a dedicated sustainable travel module in the training program for tour guides and local hosts, outlining the main aspects of responsible tourism and the expected role of employees. This module will also include knowledge about the destination and its relevant sustainability aspects;
Have our tour managers, local representatives, and guides inform clients about relevant sustainability issues at the destination (e.g., protection of flora, fauna, and cultural heritage, resource use), social norms and values (e.g., tipping, dress code, and photography), and human rights (e.g., sexual exploitation);
Train our employed tour guides and local representatives to prevent the sexual exploitation of children. This will include training on how to verify requirements regarding the exclusion of child abuse;

9. Destination

Our goal is to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative impacts on the destination to ensure the sustainable development of the places where we operate.
We commit to this by:

Considering sustainability aspects in the selection process for new destinations and, possibly, offering unconventional alternative destinations;
Avoid selecting destinations where tourism causes structural negative local impacts (unless the company's involvement produces clear counterbalancing effects);
Consider selecting new destinations that can be reached by more sustainable means of transport;
Comply with legally based land use, protected areas, and heritage regulations, as well as with the destination management strategies of local, regional, and national authorities;
Support initiatives that improve relationships between accommodations and local producers;
Influence and support local government (where possible, in conjunction with other travel companies and stakeholders) regarding sustainability, destination planning and management, natural resource use, and sociocultural issues;
Support biodiversity conservation, including protected and high-biodiversity areas, through financial contributions, political support, and integration into product offerings;
Do not promote souvenirs containing endangered flora and fauna species according to the CITES Treaty and the IUCN Red List, or historical and archaeological artifacts (except as permitted by law);

10. Communication and Customer Protection

Customer well-being and information are very important to us. At Canaventura, we guarantee clear and consistent communication and high levels of customer protection.
Before booking, we commit to this through:

Make a company guideline available for customer consultation, which is followed by customer advisors;
Ensure that customer privacy is not compromised;
Comply with relevant standards and voluntary codes of conduct in marketing and advertising messages, and do not promise more than what is delivered;
Ensure that product and pricing information related to the company and its products and services is clear, complete, and accurate, including sustainability claims;
Provide destination information, including sustainability aspects, that is factually correct, balanced, and comprehensive;
Inform customers about the environmental impact of different transportation options to reach the destination (if not included in the package) and offer sustainable alternatives, where available;
Promote (certified) sustainable accommodations, excursions, packages, and/or transportation options with logos or other messaging, ensuring they are recognizable to the consumer and presented as the "best" option;
Inform customers about sustainable alternatives in accommodations, excursions, package tours, and transportation options, if available;
Clearly inform direct (potential) customers about sustainability commitments and actions;

After booking and throughout the holiday, we commit to:

Providing consumers with information about the natural environment, local culture, and cultural heritage of the holiday destination;
Informing consumers about key sustainability aspects and issues at the destination and providing recommendations on how to make a positive contribution;
Informing customers about health and safety risks and precautions at the destination;
Maintaining a contact person and telephone number permanently available for emergency situations;
Training staff and keeping guidelines available on how to respond in emergency situations;
Provide guests with documented guidelines and/or codes of conduct for sensitive excursions and activities, in order to minimize the negative impact on visitors and maximize enjoyment. When possible, guidelines are developed in collaboration with relevant NGOs and the affected community;
Provide guests with information regarding commercial, sexual, or any other form of harassment, especially of children and adolescents;
Inform guests about applicable laws regarding the purchase, sale, import, and export of historical or religious objects and items containing endangered flora and/or fauna at the destination;
Encourage guests to use local restaurants and shops (where applicable);
Inform guests about sustainable transportation options at destinations, where possible;
Encourage customers to donate to local charities and sustainable initiatives;

After the holidays, we commit to:

Systematically measure customer satisfaction and use the results to improve service and products;
Include sustainability as an integral part of customer satisfaction research;
Have clear procedures in place for customer complaints;