As part of our dedication to sustainable development, we urge your company to create and execute a sustainability strategy in line with our policy. This strategy should address your activities’ effects on the environment, culture, employees, and local communities.

Below are the basic practices and standards we deem necessary. Failure to comply may result in contract termination, and we will conduct periodic inspections to ensure adherence to these requirements.

Legal compliance

• The Member shall hold all required permits and licences in the country, state, region and/or province where the Supplier is located, and comply with all valid laws, regulations and other relevant statutory requirements whichever requirements are more stringent.

Environment

• The Member shall actively minimise energy and water consumption, e.g. by implementing energy and water management programmes in offices, premises and assets. The use of chemicals known to cause damage or pose risks to health and/or the environment shall be minimised.
• The Member shall monitor and control the volume of waste produced and ensure it is recycled and/or disposed of responsibly.
• The Member shall ensure that all water discharged from the business meets national regulatory standards.

Social welfare and human rights

• The Member shall respect national and international laws and regulations as well as good ethics concerning human rights, including employment/workers rights, the rights of children and women and the rights of indigenous people
• The Member shall avoid and combat any discrimination based on gender, age, religion, race, tribe, caste, social background, disability, nationality, membership in workers’ organisations, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or any other personal characteristics
• We expect that our members take preventative measures to ensure that children are protected from tourism-related sexual exploitation and all potential forms of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional) or exploitation. Any suspicious behavior on the premises or during excursions from guests, employees, or staff must be reported to local authorities. Not taking adequate measures to prevent sexual exploitation of children within your direct supply chain (e.g., accommodations and excursions) can result in the early termination of our contract
• The Member shall comply with local employment legislation and ensure that employees are paid at least a living wage or a wage equal to the national legal minimum wage.
• The Member shall not employ children to complete work which is normally undertaken by adults.
• The Member shall ensure that any employed person aged 14 or under grants full protection and special working conditions in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and/or the ILO convention 138 as well as local legislation (e.g. favourable working times and conditions of work specifically designed to protect them).

Socio-cultural conditions

• The Member shall not sell or promote souvenirs which contain historic and archaeological artefacts, except as permitted by law.
• The Supplier shall not offer excursions that harm humans or cultures, and shall operate any socio-culturally sensitive excursions based on (Travelife) codes of conduct in order to minimise negative visitor impacts.
• As our partner agency, you are responsible for informing your clients about local codes of conduct for sustainable tourism

Biodiversity & animal welfare

• The Member shall not offer excursions that harm plants, animals, ecosystems or natural resources, and shall operate any environmentally sensitive excursions based on (Travelife) codes of conduct in order to minimise negative visitor impacts.
• The Member shall limit its negative impact on local and global biodiversity where-ever feasible (e.g. not include red listed species in the menu or selling or promoting souvenirs made from such species).
• The Member shall ensure that any (captive) animals owned by the business and/or present on the premises have been acquired legally and in accordance with CITES. Any captive animals shall only be kept by those authorised and suitably equipped to house and care for them humanely as outlined in the Travelife Animal Handbook
• The Member shall ensure that excursions which include interactions with wildlife comply with relevant (e.g. Travelife) codes of conduct. Taking into account cumulative impacts, activities shall not lead to any adverse effects on the viability and behaviour of populations in the wild. Any disturbance of natural ecosystems shall be minimised, rehabilitated and compensated by a contribution to conservation management.
• The Member shall ensure that wildlife species are not harvested, consumed, displayed, sold, or traded, except as part of a regulated activity that ensures that their utilisation is sustainable and in compliance with local, national and international law.

Monitoring & Enforcement

• The Membershall fully cooperate with the KATO regarding sustainability issues and provide him with any information he requires. The Member shall allow and support announced and unannounced (on-site) inspections in order to monitor compliance with sustainability conditions.
• Upon request, theMember shall report about its sustainability performance and progress by means of self-assessment. The Member shall complete the self-assessment forms fully and accurately.
• If the Member fails to comply with the sustainability conditions set forth in this contract and/or is not able to immediately resolve any deficiencies reported based on self-evaluation or on-site inspections, the KATO is entitled to terminate this Contract with immediate effect and without prior notice or judicial intervention