Tourism: using best practice examples to be a sustainable tour operator

Using case studies to help inform business development has long been a useful tool for businesses and organisations of all sizes. Learning from others’ initiatives and actions takes away some of the unknowns and can provide great ideas for tour operators beginning on their journey to sustainability. This wide selection of case studies provides some of the best examples of tour operators who have made the successful transition to sustainability, outlining the actions they do, and can prove they do, to minimise their impact on the natural environment and local communities. 

Learning from people on the ground

Being a sustainable tour operator is more important now than it has ever been. Climate change is causing more and more natural disasters around the world including wildfires and flooding. As environmental incidences like these continue to rise, travellers are increasingly looking for sustainable and responsible travel choices so they can be sure their travel habits do not have a negative impact on people, place or planet. In addition, outbound tour operators are increasingly looking for suppliers who have robust sustainable actions in place which match their ideals. 

To meet these urgent needs, local tour operators must become sustainable businesses. More and more local tour operators are embedding sustainable actions into their businesses, whether or not they choose to become certified as a sustainable business. Using case study examples from other local tour operators to understand what being a sustainable business involves is a good way to begin the long journey towards sustainability. 

Four major themes of sustainability and all sustainable businesses

There are four major themes of sustainability and all sustainable businesses must address each impact. This series of case studies are presented by theme to help readers to understand each theme thoroughly and learn what the relevant actions are. Each theme covers the following topics:

• Environmental management – protecting the natural habitats of wildlife and the local environment, channelling funds into conservation initiatives, and protecting jobs and income generation for local communities. For example, Sam Veasna Conservation Tours in Cambodia charges guests a conservation fee that is paid directly into a village development fund that is used for help local conservation efforts. 
• Socio-cultural preservation – fostering local pride and conserving local cultures, creating jobs in rural areas where other means of income are scare, and motivating the younger generation to stay locally to earn a living rather than moving away to the cities. The study includes KARA-TUNGA Tours in Uganda as an example. The operator is a social enterprise organisation and uses its tours to educate visitors about the local customs and culture of the area which helps to restore pride and a sense of belonging for the community. 
• Economic development – creating local benefit from inbound tourism, providing a steady income for local communities, and supporting initiatives like paying fair wages and employing local people. For instance, Alternative Peru was founded to help spread the benefits of tourism beyond the major tourism attractions like Machu Picchu, to provide income for local communities and especially younger members, encouraging them to stay in the community.
• Business management – considering becoming certified as a sustainable business, taking steps to avoid greenwashing, and being collaborative and sharing good practices. For example, Gassy Tour in Madagascar began their sustainable certification journey in 2016 and finally achieved certification with Travelife two years later, in 2018.   

The 12 case study profiles provide a wealth of information for tour operators seeking to join the growing numbers of businesses becoming sustainable in an increasingly competitive world. 

Learn more

Not only is being a sustainable tour operator the right thing to do, but it also makes good business sense as it can make your business more efficient and cost-effective. For more information, read this valuable study, Best Practice for Successful Sustainable Tour Operators, as you start your journey today. 

Acorn Tourism Consulting wrote this news article for CBI.

Stay informed

To stay informed on the latest developments in the tourism, subscribe to our newsletter.