Travel firms are taking sustainability seriously

After receiving the Travelife Partner Sustainability Award in December, Lux Travel DMC, which specialises in providing tailor-made tours in Southeast Asia, is now setting its sights on preserving the environment, safeguarding cultural heritage, and supporting local communities so that it can earn a greater award, the status of 'Travelife Certified'.

The Travelife standard covers the ISO 26000 Corporate Social Responsibility themes that include the environment, biodiversity, human rights, and labour relations. The recognition validates Lux Travel DMC’s compliance with the UN-endorsed Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria.

Naut Kusters, Travelife’s tour operators manager, said, “The momentum sustainability is gaining in the tour operator sector is remarkable. The recognition bestowed upon Lux Travel DMC sets a commendable precedent for other companies, encouraging them to embark on a similar path.”

Travelife, the prominent international sustainability certification within the travel sector, boasts endorsement by over 40 national travel associations, including 20 European travel associations and The Pacific Asia Travel Association. Since its inception in 2012, Travelife has trained more than 1,500 tour operators in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), accrediting over 500 tour operators with a Travelife award.

“Receiving the award is in recognition of the long-term efforts of Lux Travel DMC regarding sustainability and CSR,” said Pham Ha, founder of LuxGroup.

Lux Travel DMC is just one of many local travel companies that are meeting their sustainability targets. Sustainable travel has become more vital than ever due to the effects of climate change and environmental deterioration.

Vietnam's development strategy towards the end of the decade emphasises sustainability as tourism becomes a spearhead economic sector, creating a driving force to promote the development of other industries and fields.

Sustainable tourism development is also key to the socioeconomic development strategies of many localities, helping to exploit the potential for economic development effectively and realise the goals of poverty reduction, while protecting the environment and preserving cultural values and identities.

Tourists are being encouraged to engage in unique cultural experiences and support local communities to safeguard cultural heritage. Industry insiders believe this is the collective responsibility of tourism companies, which have a pivotal role in the protection, preservation, transmission, and promotion of Vietnam's cultural legacy.

“Sustainable tourism necessitates cooperation between the main stakeholders in the industry. These stakeholders include government agencies, tourism companies, and travellers,” said Ha.

Many localities, such as Halong Bay, Haiphong, and Nha Trang, have become exemplary models of how to combine tourism development with cultural heritage preservation.

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