1.  Sustainability Management & Legal compliance       

Limerick Travel commits to sustainability management by;

Having an employee appointed who is responsible for sustainability coordinator tasks;

Having a sustainability mission statement that is communicated to customers, partners and suppliers;

Having an accessible and written sustainability policy that aims for a reduction of the negative social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts of the                    company’s activities; and includes employee related health and safety aspects;

Collaborating and actively being involved in external forums and working groups which are supportive to sustainability in tourism;

Conducting a baseline assessment of the company’s performance on sustainable practices;

Having sustainability guidelines and assessment system in place to identify the sustainability performance of key suppliers/partners;

Having a sustainability action plan with clear targets, actions, measures, responsibilities and time planning;

Developing documented procedures to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the sustainability policy, objectives and targets;

Ensuring company’s transparency in sustainability by public reporting and communicating;

Ensuring that all staff are fully aware of our Sustainability Policy and are committed to implementing and improving it.

Limerick Travel commits to complying with all national legislation, regulations and codes of practice.

2.  Internal management: environment and community relations

Limerick Travel commits to environment and community relations by;

Actively reducing the use of disposable and consumer goods;

Favouring the purchase of sustainable goods and services

Purchasing products in bulk, in order to reduce the amount of packaging materials;

Setting copy and printing machines by default to double-sided printing or other forms of paper saving modes;

Using cleaning materials which are non-hazardous, non-eutrophic and biodegradable and are certified with an Eco label, if locally available;

Printing brochures on environmentally friendly paper, with a printing company that works with a certified environmental management system, if locally available at reasonable costs;

Implementing measurements to reduce brochure wastage or an 'internet only' policy;

Having an active commitment to measure, monitor and reduce energy consumption;

Calculating and compensating CO2 emissions and compare different periods;

Purchasing green energy and energy efficient lighting for all areas, when available;

Switching off Lights and equipment when not in use, using automatic switch on/off system with timers or movement sensors and setting equipment by default in the energy saving mode, where feasible;

Preferring low energy equipment when buying new items, including considerations of cost and quality;

Having an active policy to reduce water consumption, implemented and monitored on a monthly or yearly basis for benchmark purposes;

Complying with the national legislation concerning waste disposal;

Separating all materials which can be recycled and organize collection and proper disposal;

Implementing waste reducing methods when using ink and toner cartridges for printing and copying, whenever feasible;

Recycling or properly disposing batteries;

Minimizing and substituting the use of harmful substances and manage properly the storage, handling and disposal of chemicals;

Implementing practices to minimise pollution from its buildings (as far as being able to be controlled by the company);

Measuring and reducing staff related travel and use more sustainable modes of transport;

Financially encouraging employees to use public transport or sustainable means of transport;

Reducing transport related impacts by tele-work, tele/video meetings, work-at-home policies or other means;

Providing periodic guidance, training and/or information to all staff members, about their roles and responsibilities with respect to internal environmental practices;

Sustainably planning, designing and constructing of new buildings or renovations, on locally appropriate and feasible sustainable practices and materials;

3.  Partner agencies      
Based on an inventory of our key partner agencies Limerick Travel has developed and implemented a policy to improve sustainability of our partner agencies. Our aim is to make sustainable development concrete to each and every partner within our business.

Limerick Travel commits to this by;

Keeping a list of the sustainability practices of partner accommodations and agents;

Only working with organisations who are truly implementing sustainability in their tourism policy;

Minimizing the ecological footprint of the office by travelling mainly via public transport, working as paperless as possible, separating waste, and to make use of certified recycled paper;

Paying attention to the local benefits of communities when selecting local accommodations and their social policy for employees;

Raising awareness among key partners on sustainable consumption by organising (online) campaigns and trainings;

Informing key partners about the travel companies’ sustainability policy and that they are expected to comply with it and/or communicate it to final customers where relevant;

Including key sustainability clauses in contracts with inbound/receptive partners;

Motivating partners to participate in sustainability trainings.

Ensuring that partner companies comply with all relevant national laws protecting the rights of employees.

4.  Transport & Drivers

Limerick Travel endeavors to ensure that vehicles used on tours do not cause more than average pollution. We believe that transport is an important aspect of sustainable tourism, and we doour best to decrease the average pollution leve
Limerick Travel commits to this by;

Selecting the most sustainable options considering price and comfort when selecting transport options to the destination;

Including sustainable (public) transport to the point of departure for the international/long distance journey;

account price, comfort, and practical considerations;

Integrating and/or promoting one or more sustainable holiday products/packages based on a recognised methodology, including sustainable transport, sustainable accommodations, and sustainable activities.

5.  Accommodations

Limerick Travel endeavours to achieve a tourism supply chain that is fully sustainable. The partner accommodations play an important role in achieving this and are stimulated and motivated to adopt sustainable practices.

Limerick Travel commits to this by;

Selecting accommodations that comply with sustainability and quality standards with a special focus on the following items;

Do they have a signed sustainability contract?

Do they have a water saving program?

Do they have an energy saving program?

Do they have a waste management program?

Do they have an energy reduction system?

Do they have a sustainable supply chain?

Do they have a child protection policy?

Do they conduct CSR activities?

Do they train employees in Health & Safety?

Motivating and encouraging partner accommodations to become sustainably certified;

Preferring and selecting accommodations that are locally owned and managed;

Selecting accommodations that employ local communities;

Having accommodations provide evidence clarifying their sustainability goals and strategies;

Having accommodations sign a sustainability addendum;

Encouraging accommodations to follow best practices/trainings on responsible tourism;

Encouraging accommodations to fill in the sustainability questionnaire to gain insight in their practises;

Clearly and actively communicating our sustainability objectives and requirements regarding accommodations to contracted and other relevant accommodations;

Giving clear preference to accommodations that implement the conditions of the sustainability criteria issued by Limerick Travel ;

Including standard sustainability clauses in all contracts with accommodation providers that focus on child labour, anti-corruption and bribery, waste management and protection of biodiversity;

Offering incentives to accommodations that are actively engaging in sustainability;

Working with accommodations that incorporate elements of local art, architecture, or cultural heritage; while respecting the intellectual property rights of local communities;

Terminating cooperation with accommodation in case of clear evidence that contracted accommodations jeopardize the provision of integrity of basic services such as food, water, energy, healthcare, or soil to the neighbouring companies.

6.  Excursions and Activities Companies/Providers   
Limerick Travel values animal and community welfare extremely high and aims at tours that only leave a minor footprint. We are safeguarding the authenticity of the communities and the natural environment, and are strongly against harming wildlife and polluting the environment.

Limerick Travel commits to this by;

Having an inventory of environmentally or culturally sensitive excursions which are offered in each destination;

Advising guests on behaviour standards during excursions and activities with a main focus on respecting the local culture, nature, and environment;

Communicating our sustainability objectives and requirements to contracted and other relevant excursion providers by distributing this information via code of conducts, representative agents, social media, email, discussions, and/or meetings, to minimise negative visitor impact and maximise enjoyment;

Not offering any excursions that harm humans, animals, plants, natural resources such as water and energy, or which are socially and culturally unacceptable;

Not offering any excursions in which wildlife is held captive, except for properly regulated activities in compliance with local, national, and international law;

Having skilled and/or certified guides to guide our guests in sensitive cultural sites, heritage sites, or ecologically sensitive destinations;

Promoting and advise our guests on excursions and activities which directly involve and support local communities by purchasing services or goods, traditional crafts and local (food) production methods, or visiting social projects;

Promoting and advising our guests on excursions and activities which support local environment and biodiversity such as visiting protected areas or environmental protection projects.

7.  External tour leaders, local representatives and guides         

Limerick Travel aims at involving as many locals as possible by employing them in the tourism business.

Limerick Travel commits to this by;

Preferring to work with local tour leaders, local representatives, local tour guides, porters, drivers, cooks, and other local staff in case of equal ability, and provide training as required;

Ensuring that our local partners comply with all applicable international, national, and local employment law and regulations, industry minimum standards, and any other relevant statutory requirements whichever requirements are more stringent;

Paying tour leaders, local representatives, guides, porters and other local staff contracted by us at least a living wage that is equal to or above the legal minimum or relevant industry standard;

Ensuring that our tour guides, hosts, and other employees under contract are qualified and trained regularly;

Ensuring that our local employees are informed on relevant aspects of our sustainability policy and comply with it, by newsletters, references or supplements to contracts, emails, or training and information sessions;

Offering a special sustainable travel module in the training program for local tour guides and hosts, in which the main responsible tourism aspects are brought to attention followed by the role expected from the employees. This module will also include knowledge regarding the destination and its relevant sustainability aspects;

Having our tour leaders, local representatives and guides inform clients on relevant sustainability matters in the destination (e.g. protection of flora, fauna, and cultural heritage, resource use), social norms and values (e.g. tips, dressing code and photography) and human rights (e.g. sexual exploitation);

8.  Destinations       
Limerick Travel commits to a sustainable destination by;

Considering sustainability aspects in the selection process of new destinations and possibly offer alternative, non-mainstream destinations;

Not selecting destinations in which tourism leads to structural negative local effects, (unless the company's involvement results in clear counter balancing effects);

Considering selection of new destinations, which are reachable through more sustainable means of transport;

Complying with legally based spatial planning, protected areas and heritage regulations. Also with destination management strategies of local, regional and national authorities;

Supporting initiatives that improve the relationships between accommodations and local producers;

Influence and support local government (when possible, together with other travel companies and stakeholders) concerning sustainability, destination planning and management, use of natural resources and socio-cultural issues;

Supporting biodiversity conservation, including protected areas and areas of high biodiversity, through financial contribution, political support, and integration in product offers;

Not promoting souvenirs which contain threatened flora and fauna species as indicated in the CITES treaty and the IUCN ‘Red List’; or historic and archaeological artefacts (except as permitted by law);

9. Customer communication and protection

Prior to booking, Limerick Travel commits to customer communication and protection by;

Making product and price information clear, complete and accurate, with regards to the company and its products and services, including sustainability claims;

Providing destination information, including sustainability aspects, which is factually correct, balanced and complete;

Informing clients about the environmental impact of different transport options to reach the destination (in case these are not included in the package), and to offer sustainable alternatives, where available;

Promoting sustainable accommodations, excursions, packages and/or transport options, with logos or other messages; ensuring they are recognizable to consumers and presented as the “better” option.

Inform the customer about sustainable alternatives concerning accommodations, excursions, package holidays and transport options, if available.

Clearly inform (potential) direct customers, about sustainability commitments and actions.

After booking and during holidays, Limerick Travel commits to:

Providing Information to consumers about the natural surroundings, local culture and cultural heritage in the holiday destination.

Informing consumers about key sustainability aspects and issues in the destination and receive recommendations on how to make a positive contribution

Informing customers about risks and precautions related to health and safety matters in the destination.

Keeping a contact person and a telephone number permanently available for emergency situations.

Training personnel and keep guidelines available, on how to deal with emergency situations

Motivating clients to use local restaurants and shops (where appropriate).

Informing clients on sustainable transport options in destinations, when feasible.

Encouraging clients to donate to local charity and sustainable initiatives.

After the client’s holiday, Limerick Travel commits to:

 Measuring systematically client satisfaction and taking into account the results, for service and product improvements.

Including sustainability as an integral part of the research into client satisfaction.

Having clear procedures in case of complaints from clients.