1. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org The Tour Operators Initiative: tour operators in action for sustainable development

2. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org Tour Operators role Direct the flow of tourists Influence the development of destinations Influence the supply chain Influence customers choices and behaviour

3. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org The business perspective Sustainability helps: Retain and gain clients Increase revenue Reduce costs and improve operational efficiency Manage risks Enhance staff performance Protect the core assets of the business (Environment and Culture) Enhance brand value and reputation

4. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org Linking sustainability to a sound business Actions to integrate environmental, social and economic principles can be taken in: Internal Management Supply Chain Management Product Management and Development Customer Relations Co-operation with destinations

5. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org Linking sustainability to a sound business : some examples

6. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org Formalised company commitment to environmental, social and economic sustainability Key elements: Mission Statement and Code of Practice Creation of a responsible tourism manager position Responsible tourism seminars for Exodus staff Exodus: Development of a Responsible Tourism Policy

7. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org Public report on environmental actions and results : – Based on GRI Sustainability Reporting Guidelines and Performance Indicators – Two main sections: management statements and actions areas – Information about companys goals for the coming year – Key financial figures, glossary, TOI statement Hotelplan: Environmental Reporting

8. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org Hotel contracts with minimum environmental criteria Classification system for companys hotels and holiday apartments, based on: – performance on 35 sustainability measures (e.g. waste management) – 100-point scale – four level of hotel classification (minimum level - three star) Aurinkomatkat-Suntours: Green Contracting for Hotels

9. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org Development of the manual The Environmentally Friendly Holiday Hotel in five languages Addressed topics include drinking water, outside areas, energy, purchasing, waste and communication 15,000 copies distributed in 2002 Distributed through LTUs tour guides, sales agents and destination agencies LTU Touristik: Technical Assistance to Contracted Hotels

10. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org MyTravel Northern Europe: 50 Steps Towards a Good Environment 50 environmental actions hotels can adopt voluntarily 11 categories are targeted (e.g. cleaning, F&B, purchasing) Manual and poster to support the programme Annual MyTravel Environment Award for hotels receiving best results on customer questionnaires

11. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org Care for the Environment Programme (Attenzione per lAmbiente): Opening up a constructive dialogue on environmental issues through an an Environmental Checklist Information collected highlighted in the catalogues Customers feedback to monitor performance Orizzonti: Green Checklist for Hotels

12. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org Holiday programmes developed by local organizations to protect local environment and culture Donations generated through the holiday programme Collaboration and partnerships with 37 NGOs since 1997 DiscoveryInitiatives: Holiday Programmes that Support Local Development and Conservation

13. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org Three objectives: – Raise consumers awareness – Integrate sustainability into resorts – Build partnerships with local communities The Interpreter becomes the focal point on sustainability matters internally and externally Ventaglio: Environmental Interpreter Programme

14. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org Establishement of the Umweltfranken (Eco-Fund) to support projects and activities that would : – Actively involve guests and stakeholders in destinations – Support integration of social aspects into Hotelplans activities – Support Hotelplans environmental commitment financially Hotelplan: An Eco-Fund to Support Sustainability

15. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org Tour Operators Initiative A network of committed tour operators Over twenty tour operators members catering for more than 30 million tourists Open only to tour operators of all sizes and specialities, in bound and out bound from all countries of the world A partnership between three international organizations UNEP, UNESCO and WTO/OMT work together to guide and provide assistance to the members UNEP DTIE hosts the Secretariat of the TOI

16. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org Tour Operators Initiative Accor Tours (France) Atlas VoyagesMorocco) Aurinkomatkat-Suntours (Finland) DiscoveryInitiatives (UK) Dynamic Tours (Morocco) Exodus (UK) First Choice (UK and Ireland) FreeWay Adventures (Brazil) G.A.P. Adventures (Canada) Hotelplan (Switzerland) Orizzonti (Italy) Premier Tours (USA) KEL 12 (Italy) LTU-Touristik (Germany) NSTravel (The Netherlands) Settemari (Italy) Studiosus (Germany) Travel Waljis PVT (Pakistan) TUI Group (Germany) VASCO Travel (Turkey) Ventaglio (Italy)

17. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org Tour Operators Initiative Launched by UNEP, UNESCO and WTO to: Catalyse the actions of committed tour operators Provide a neutral platform for dialogue among tour operators and between tour operators and other stakeholders Provide guidance and motivation

18. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org The Objectives Assist tour operators in implementing sustainable tourism through the adoption of best practices in their internal operations, in the supply chain and in the destination Broaden the support to sustainable development of other players in the tourism sector, including tourists Create the critical mass of committed tour operators

19. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org A Commitment to Sustainable Development Members of the TOI have signed a Statement of Commitment that includes - among others - commitments to: Adopt best practices with regards to environmental, social-cultural and economic impacts of their activities internally and when forming business relationships with partners, suppliers and sub- contractors.

20. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org A Commitment to Sustainable Development Encourage and seek co-operation with all stakeholders at destinations to develop an integrated planning and management of destinations. Create awareness and active involvement in their customers towards the natural, social and cultural environments they visit by promoting, in their communication and advertising, behaviors and activities compatible with sustainable developments principles. Develop the principles in their corporate policy, establish measurable goals and report regularly.

21. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org Working with other organizations Contribute in ad hoc activities and working groups (WG on Sustainability Reporting, Poverty Alleviation information campaign, internal reports, Side meeting, etc) and Provide funding Take an active role in shaping the TOI participating as advisor to planning phase and supporting financially activities The Center for Environmental Leadership in Business at Conservation International and GTZ have actively contributed to the work of the TOI

22. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org TOI Results achieved Building partnerships with destinations: Establishment of a partnership with Side (Turkey) and organizations of workshops to improve the dialogue with stakeholders at destination (April 2002 and May 2003) Sustainable Tourism Round Table in Punta Cana/Bayahibe (3-4 December 2003) that led to the development of an agenda and establishment of a Co- ordinating Body

23. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org TOI Results achieved Supply Chain Management: Assessment checklist to identify environmentally and socially responsible marine recreation providers and Practical guide to good practice for marine recreation providers Handbook identifying actions and tools to integrate sustainability principles in supply chain management, including accommodation suppliers screening indicators

24. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org TOI Results achieved Practical Guide to good practice for the accommodation sector, in co- operation with CI/CELB, with best practices for hotels 30.000 copies disseminated by members of the TOI to their contracted hotels The guide has been now translated in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Turkish

25. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org TOI Results achieved Sustainability Reporting: The Tour Operators sector supplement to the GRI 2002 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines Users manual

26. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org TOI Results achieved Workshop on integrating sustainable development into the tour operators businesses (Rimini 30 June - 1 July 2001) Workshop on Using networks of World Heritage Sites in tour design (Jakarta, 11-13 September 2002) Internal reports (coral reef and tourism; communication to customers; ecolabels as a supply chain tool) Poverty alleviation information campaign The TOI web site (www.toinitiative.org)

27. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org Sustainable Tourism: the Tour operators Contribution 32 examples of good practice grouped by tour operators business areas Examples highlight also benefits to tour operators business

28. at the United Nations Environment Programme-DTIEwww.toinitiative.org For more information: Giulia Carbone United Nations Environment Programme gcarbone@unep.fr www.toinitiative.org www.uneptie.org/tourism