Sustainable development policy

We, Prométhéa Voyages, are committed to developing our business in a sustainable manner. We recognise that respect for the environment, the communities and the cultures we work with and in is essential to the success of our business. Responsible travel is one of the core values of our agency. We aim to maximise the positive impact that tourism can have on individuals and local communities, while minimising negative social, environmental and economic impacts.

This document sets out the foundations of our policy: what we have already put in place, what we are doing and what we will achieve in the future. It defines the practices at the heart of our product development, our operations and our relationships with our external partners. This global reflection is a constant in our work. As a result, we are committed to achieving the following goals:

• Comply with all relevant legislation and integrate sustainable development principles into our core business practices
• Use our position to promote sustainable development within our destinations
• Preserve our environment and continually improving our environmental performance
• Maximising our social impact to improve local livelihoods and prevent tourism leakage
• Provide information, training and support to our colleagues and external partners, to assist them in their commitment to sustainable development
• Provide sustainable information about our products to encourage our customers to make more sustainable travel choices.

1. In our offices

Employee information

We ensure that our employees understand our goals and are responsible for implementing our sustainable policies.

Waste control and collection

We monitor, reduce and manage waste responsibly, in partnership with a local community association.

Measuring and reducing energy consumption

We measure our use of natural resources, including energy, and look for ways to reduce it.

Buying locally

We purchase local and environmentally friendly materials and products where possible and limit the use of non-reusable packaging.

Well-being of our partners

We respect our employees, their diversity and promote their wellbeing wherever we can.

Promoting of good sustainable practice

We share and disseminate best practice, and we raise sustainability awareness among our teams and partners.

Respecting the privacy and security of our customers’ personal information

Personal information is stored electronically in our database, which is secure and accessible only to authorised personnel, who follow strict confidentiality procedures. When documents containing personal data are printed for internal purposes, they are stored in an archive system in our offices which is only accessible to our accredited staff. If the documents are no longer applicable, they are disposed of. In addition:

• All personal data is only collected if it is relevant and necessary to enable us to provide the services sold.
• All personal data is kept for a maximum of three
• Our customers are informed about how and where we store data. At any time, they can request access to, or deletion of, their personal information from our database.
• We are committed to protecting the privacy of all our customers and users, and we recognize that any information entrusted to us is strictly private and confidential.

2. On the field

Supporting local businesses

We prefer to work with local businesses that reflect the local culture (hotels, lodges, restaurants, craft stores, arts and culture centres, etc.).

Supporting the supply chain

We drive positive change within our supply chain, monitoring sustainable practices, sharing best practice and providing training.

Active support for local communities and condemnation of sexual exploitation and the use of minors

We give back to neighbouring communities by supporting projects that address local development challenges, promote fair employment opportunities and improve well-being.

Prométhéa Voyages strongly condemns sexual exploitation in tourism and human trafficking. We fight against all forms of exploitation and apply the same requirements to all of our accommodation and activity providers.

Our employees commit themselves individually and before the law to prohibit any human exploitation. Any breach of this fundamental agreement will result in the immediate termination of all collaboration.

Our clients are advised that each individual can play a crucial role in preventing sexual exploitation, and that if they observe any suspicious interaction between a child and an adult during their trip, they should inform us as soon as possible.

Choice of transport

We offer the most sustainable transport options available: our guides and drivers use well-maintained, hybrid or electric vehicles; we offer our clients travel by sustainable transport wherever possible (buses; trains; hiking/horseback riding, etc.).

Our partners offer monitoring of carbon emissions to choose the most sustainable options.

Conservation, respect for heritage and compliance with current legislation

We do not permit the purchase of souvenirs containing endangered species of flora and fauna, illegally obtained historical or archaeological objects, illegal drugs or substances, and we comply with applicable local and international laws to prevent this.

Limiting harmful environmental and social impacts

We ensure that the trips we organise do not have a detrimental impact on the environment or society, particularly sensitive activities that may bring travellers into contact with animals, children or remote communities.

Prométhéa Voyages therefore promotes responsible tourism, both within its own sector and with all the stakeholders we work with in our destinations and in our activities.

3.The sustainibility policy of our agency

Prométhéa Voyages makes a concrete and long-term commitment with and alongside all of its partners, through the joint drafting and practical implementation of the following policies:

• of an information sheet and good practices sent to our clients
• a detailed sustainable development action plan with precise objectives and concrete solutions, evaluated and renewed every 2 years
• of a sustainable accommodation policy communicated and signed by collaborators
• of a sustainable excursion policy sent to and signed by collaborators
• of an internal responsible purchasing policy

These policies are freely available on the Prométhéa Voyages website.