Sustainable Responsibility
Practising responsible tourism is a non-negotiable to us
We are responsible and accountable for the role we play in the countries in which we operate; economically, socially and environmentally. Our accountability is lived through the DNA of our core business values and our company culture.
Certifications
Our commitment to sustainable tourism has earned us the following certifications:
Standards’ Core Status
2011 to 2017
Approved Tour Operator
2017 to date
Eco-Tourism Kenya
2016 to date
Our Green Team
We realise our sustainable responsibility through our Green Team; volunteers within and across the business who have come together since 2010 to develop a purpose-driven project plan. This plan seeks to provide sustainable tourism guidance, and to raise awareness among employees, suppliers, customers and consumers through projects, activations and knowledge sharing opportunities in line with Tourvest Destination Management’s Sustainable Tourism Policy.
The Green Seat
In an effort to offset carbon emissions from travel-related activities and to support worthwhile conservation efforts, Tourvest Destination Management is encouraging travellers to purchase a green seat.
Guests who elect to purchase a green seat will be given a green seat badge, handmade by the African Home Community Project in Cape Town, as a memento and thank you from us for participating in this fantastic initiative.
It should be noted that there is no deduction for the badge and that your full financial contribution will go towards the beneficiaries of our Green Seat programme, which are Trees for Tourism and the The Endangered Wildlife Trust (Conservation Canines Project and the Endangered Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin Project).
People
We value the essence of humanity in everything we do and aim to improve people’s lives.We aim to make a lasting and measurable difference in the quality of people’s lives, through community-based programs centered around education, sport and the promotion of basic human rights in all forms. One of our active community projects is ‘African Home’, based in Woodstock, Cape Town, who facilitates the production of our handmade Green Seat badges.
Relationships with crafts people are nurtured in order to sustain and develop a platform for their sustainable business practices. The employment of ethical principles ensures that artisans and crafts people are paid a fee that they regard as fair and equitable in terms of their skills, efforts and resources.
Planet
We are committed to treading lightly on this earth in our everyday actions.Our active Green Seat project on the ground is ‘Trees for Tourism’. Part of the South African Reforestation Trust, this is a vehicle for tourists and companies to counterbalance their tourism-related footprint. Indigenous trees are planted in old woodland and appropriate degraded areas to recreate pristine forest ecosystems, safeguarded for future generations.
Wildlife
What would we be as an industry without our precious natural resources, including our wildlife?The Endangered Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin project focusses on research /monitoring the species reproduction and numbers in general, as no one has the knowledge or reliable data to understand the threats and how many are still in existence. Green Seat donations received from 01 November 2023 will go towards supporting the EWT’s research.
Our clients and partners have the opportunity to contribute towards the ‘Green Seat’, the proceeds of which go directly to the project beneficiaries we support.
Responsibility as an Opportunity
As an international travel group, we are strongly aware of the responsibility arising from tourism’s impact on the local population and environment. We need to protect the diversity of our earth and preserve it for future generations. This commitment also affords us with an opportunity: we want to actively shape the development of sustainable tourism in all areas of our company and align it with the future.
Excursions that meet generally recognised criteria for responsible tourism are marked with our light green heart-shaped leaf. They may involve a sustainable form of transport, promote cultural heritage in a special way, involve the local community in the creation of tourism value, visit projects that benefit the environment or society or simply offer particularly intensive experiences and insights with local people. The engage people & planet programme offers the opportunity to travel in a particularly conscious way.
Partners
We are strongly aware of the responsibility arising from tourism’s impact on the local population and environment. We need to protect the diversity of our earth and preserve it for future generations.
But, nobody changes the world alone.
That is why we work with reliable partners who support us with their expertise, experience, professional structures, drive, and passion. Because only together can we make a difference!
The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism – The Code
The Code is a consortium of governmental and non-governmental organisations, associations and initiatives. They jointly pursue the goal of preventing sexual exploitation of children in the travel and tourism industry.
Its members undertake to comply with a voluntary catalogue of criteria to protect children. Across the globe, local organisations support The Code in raising the awareness of and making tools available to the local travel and tourism industry, and assisting them to prevent sexual exploitation of children.
For many years, DERTOUR Group has taken a firm stance against all forms of sexual violence against children in tourism. In 2016, we also signed the code of conduct, “The Code”, to protect children against sexual exploitation in tourism. In doing so, we have committed ourselves to implementing the criteria of The Code.
Working Together to End the Sexual Exploitation of Children – ecpat
ECPAT’s global campaign to end child sexual exploitation was launched in May 1990 when a small group of concerned individuals gathered in Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. Organisations from across the globe heard this call to action and joined hands to provide support to combat this heinous problem. Since then, ECPAT has worked to better understand the web of child sexual exploitation through research and pushed for the critical systemic and social changes necessary to eliminate this scourge together with governments, intergovernmental institutions, the private sector, civil society and the general public, including children themselves.
For many years, DERTOUR Group has been working with ECPAT on the issue of child protection. The association advises and supports us in the development and implementation of our measures. Among others, an ECPAT trainer trains our employees and partners on child protection and the implementation of the code of conduct to protect children against sexual exploitation, or (The Code) for short.
Travelife for Tour Operators and Travel Agents
The Travelife Sustainability System has been committed to promoting sustainable practices in the travel and tourism industry since 2007. As a training, management, and certification initiative, Travelife helps tour operators and travel agencies monitor and improve their business operations’ social and ecological impact. The initiative, therefore, aims to play a role in the sustainable development and protection of the environment and culture in holiday destinations.
On the path towards consistently sustainable business practices, Travelife provides the industry with a wide range of services. This includes training or a sustainability management system that can be used to manage the entire sustainability activities, ranging from the current status to the action plan and its implementation to monitoring and reporting. What is more, Travelife enables corporate certification based on international sustainability standards.
The Destination Management Companies of DER Touristik DMC GmbH are Travelife members. That provides us access to Travelife’s expertise and resources. is a Travelife member. That gives us access to Travelife’s expertise and resources and we benefit both in terms of certifying our own hotels and those of our service providers.
Travelife Stay Better (Travelife Accommodation Sustainability)
Travelife Stay Better is an internationally recognised sustainability programme that is specifically tailored towards accommodation. Some 1,500 members in over 50 countries use the Travelife tools and resources to improve the ecological and social impact of their business operations.
To that end, verifiable criteria were developed for evaluating the performance of accommodation in the areas of human rights, working conditions, social engagement and environmental impact. A global team of independent assessors visits each accommodation to audit them based on the Travelife standard, which is also recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
Accommodation that meets this standard receives a Travelife Gold certification in the form of a logo and a certificate for responsible tourism. Sustainably certified hotels are labelled with a Green Leaf in the DER Touristik catalogues. Among the hotels labelled with the Green Leaf, there are also those that are certified with the Travelife Accommodation Sustainability Standard. Currently, hotels of the DER Touristik Hotels & Resorts are also applying for certification with the Travelife standard.
We empower people in our society
We realise the impact of tourism in sustainable economic growth. We empower people in our society, and in our business. We raise awareness of the value of heritage in a way that protects and preserves our natural environment.
Community-based programs
Through the Tourvest Destination Management Tour Guide Academy and learnership programme, we contribute to skills development and job creation, as well as to the Tourvest Destination Management family itself. The development and training of our people have earned us the Employer of Choice” title for many years. We aim to make a lasting and measurable difference in the quality of people’s lives. We activate this through community-based programs centred around education, sport and the promotion of basic human rights in all forms.
Sustainable animal welfare practices
We support our preferred partners who share our belief in complying with sustainable animal welfare practices supported by recognised wildlife conservation standards. We know that it is only in this way that visitors will continue to appreciate our precious natural treasures.
