OUR VISION
Easia Travel is a 100% B2B destination management company in Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand.
Humanity is a value we pride ourselves on here at Easia Travel, and we bring this humanistic philosophy to life through our actions, from protecting elephants and cultural heritage to simply reducing the amount of plastic we use in our day-to-day lives. We place sustainability at the core of our actions – not as a trend or a sales tool, but as an utmost necessity.
We work to preserve, protect and ultimately enhance the living systems in our destinations that sustain our business and the larger human economy. We take action to minimize the impact of our ecological footprint, protect the people and workers in our supply chain, and collaborate with like-minded partners to develop solutions for a more sustainable world. We give back from our earnings for the greater good of society. This evokes trust among our employees, clients, travelers, and the community.
Our objectives and sustainability commitments detailed below are influenced and guided by the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations.
OBJECTIVES
- We aim to consider the requirements of Earth’s living systems in all operations and services, and not to take more from the planet than it can sustainably provide, or to provide to the world more than it can sustainably absorb.
We aim to take responsibility for the safety of our products and services and for protecting activities undertaken by our employees and communities. We also take responsibility for the safe “end of life” recovery, reuse, or recycling of material products whenever possible and feasible. - We aim to treat employees, customers, suppliers, and stakeholders fairly, honestly, and respectfully.
- We aim to design our operations and products/services (tailor-made journey) based on our values to be more efficient and less dependent on materials and activities that poison, degrade or harm living systems.
- We aim to measure our carbon emissions (production of climate-changing greenhouse gasses) and ecological footprint (demand on earth’s regenerative capacity) and to work to reduce them.
- We aim to create a responsible production portfolio and indicate the level of sustainability and the benefits to our local partners, communities and environment.
Our commitments to care and support are categorized under five core values.
- Responsible Management & Human Rights
- Destination, Environment, and Community Relations
- Suppliers and Guides
- Excursions and Activities
- Customer Communication and Protection
OUR COMMITMENTS:
Responsible Management & Human Rights
- Responsible Management: With the support of a strong Board of Management, we have Sustainability Coordinators in all destinations to carry out our sustainable action plans.
- Collaboration: Easia Travel maintains a constant dialogue with global forums and participates in collaborative training methods to guarantee authentic and sustainable adventures for all travelers.
- Fair Play: Our staff has a safe and supportive working environment consisting of above-average wages, paid yearly leave (holidays, maternity, and sickness), and transparent contracts.
- Health and Safety: We provide comprehensive insurance and accessible channels for complaints and emergency contact. Travelers are taken care of by our First Aid-trained guides and staff.
- Prevention Measures: We constantly assess risk in both our in-house and supplier-provided products to address best and reduce negative impacts on all humans, animals, and environments involved.
- Children and Youth: In strict accordance with UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child and the ILO Convention 138, we strive to create opportunities for national and international students looking for tourism jobs.
- Protection and Human Rights: Humanity is one of our core values, and with the help of partners like ChildSafe and The Code- ECPAT, we help protect and support at-risk groups such as women, children, and ethnic minorities in our area of operation. We firmly commit ourselves and our suppliers to protect children against sexual exploitation in all our destinations.
- Equality: We ensure equal opportunity for everyone, and we do not allow any discrimination based on gender, race, age, disability, ethnicity, religion/beliefs, or sexual orientation. We hold our partners and suppliers to the same standards.
- Diversity: We strongly believe in the beauty of diversity. Our multi-national teams are trained in cross-cultural communication to provide an efficient working environment and ensure that travelers and locals interact comfortably.
- Honesty: We compete based on the quality and price of products and services. Nobody within Easia Travel or acting on behalf of Easia Travel may give or accept, directly or indirectly, a bribe in any form. “Bribe” means any advantage, whether in monetary or other structure.
- Fair Competition: Easia Travel observes fair and lawful competition practices and complies with all applicable competition or anti-trust laws wherever it does business.
- Monitoring: We consistently monitor the progress of our actions and commitments, reviewing our action plans every three months. We ensure that the respective departments meet the timelines for each action plan. If an action is incomplete and requires additional time, we reallocate the timeline with the agreement of the respective departments and the sustainability team.
Destination, Environment, and Community Relations
- Responsible Promotion: Destinations in which tourism leads to structural adverse local effects regarding biodiversity, waste, sanitation, human rights, and healthcare, water, energy, and food availability are not selected for promotion.
- Authenticity: The line between the commodification of culture and respectful authenticity can be tricky. Whenever possible, we avoid mass tourism destinations and set up memorable, meaningful local encounters for travelers and locals.
- Locality: Besides the highlights, we propose off-the-beaten-track places where other tourists don’t usually go to support local communities that aren’t usually directly benefited by tourism. Working with these local communities helps reduce our impact on main tourist trails and provides impressive, unique experiences for adventurous clients.
- Empowerment: Whenever we begin a business in a new region, we meet with the village head and critical members of the community to discuss tourism itself, provide hospitality education and training, and demonstrate how our travelers could bring a substantial income to the local community while being transparent with both the pros and cons.
- Office Efforts: Following a comprehensive, educational action plan, our Green Teams in every country promote sustainable practices in their private and professional lives. We hope to be a role model and are always happy to collaborate with tourism stakeholders.
- Recycling: From digitizing our office files to encouraging individual responsibility for waste, we are implementing an efficient and comprehensive recycling system for all our offices, building on the waste audit we carried out with RecyGlo in Myanmar between 2019 and 2020.
- Waste reduction and recycling policy: We adhere to the 5R rule for zero waste, beginning with refusing unnecessary items to prevent waste generation at the source. We then focus on reducing what remains to conserve resources and switching to reusable alternatives instead of disposables. Whenever possible, we repair goods to extend their lifespan, and finally, we ensure all remaining waste is recycled correctly or composted if it is organic and biodegradable. To support these efforts, we prioritize using recyclable and refillable products such as toner and liquid soap and choose bulk packaging over small individual packages to minimize material waste. We also avoid excessive packaging and select high-quality, long-lasting products that are easy to repair. By encouraging using environmentally friendly alternatives, such as refillable bottles and sustainable packaging, we aim to eliminate single-use plastics, mainly by providing refillable water stations. Additionally, we seek to reuse and recycle by donating or selling old furniture and equipment and supporting Eco-brick initiatives by donating appropriate waste materials. Our ultimate goal is to foster a sustainable workplace, reduce our waste footprint, and promote responsible consumption.
- Energy Reduction: We aim to instill positive energy consumption practices in our staff through the following initiatives:
- Targets: Reduce energy consumption by 15% over the next five years.
- Lighting: Use energy-efficient LED bulbs and motion sensors.
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning System: Optimize HVAC systems with regular maintenance and programmable thermostats.
- Energy Audits: Conduct regular audits to identify inefficiencies.
- Employee Engagement: Promote energy-saving behaviors, such as turning off lights and equipment when not in use.
- Training Programs: Educate employees on energy conservation techniques.
By adopting these measures, we aim to reduce our environmental impact significantly.
- Sustainable Purchasing: Instead of giving in to a “disposability culture,” we embrace a “repair and reuse” mindset regarding office equipment. We also ensure we never use or order more than we need and strive to find more sustainable alternatives. Bulk purchasing is encouraged to minimize packaging.
- Reducing Plastic: Besides our expanding Refill Not Landfill campaign, we create awareness and set a positive example within the office by encouraging non-plastic solutions, such as using pre-packed lunches and reusable water bottles.
- Clean-up Activities: We regularly join local environmental clean-ups and work to raise awareness of these activities to keep our destinations as they were meant to be seen: pristine and clean.
- Water Saving Policy: By collaborating with NGOs like Water for Cambodia since 2017, we work to provide safe water for families in our destinations, with 40 filters having been successfully installed to date. We are committed to implementing effective strategies to reduce water consumption as part of our sustainability efforts. We focus on practical water-saving measures across our operations, including the following areas:
- Taps: We install water-efficient taps with flow restrictors and quick temperature adjustment while promptly fixing leaks to prevent waste. We encourage avoiding running taps during washing activities.
- Toilets: We have replaced single-flush toilets with dual-flush systems and installed smart controls to minimize unnecessary flushing, with prompt action taken to repair any leaks.
- Air Conditioning: We prioritize natural ventilation and fans where possible, adjust thermostat settings to match external temperatures, and ensure heating and cooling systems are turned off after business hours.
- Plants: We utilize rainwater catchments, drought-tolerant plants, and mulching techniques to retain soil moisture, preferring native species suited to local climates. Watering is scheduled for early mornings or evenings to reduce evaporation.
- Staff Engagement: Our water-saving policies are integrated into staff inductions and regular meetings. We assign a dedicated team member to monitor water usage and provide regular updates on conservation progress.
- Sustainable Travel: Carbon emissions from essential business travel are calculated to reduce our environmental impact. We minimise business travel where possible and encourage meetings and training to be conducted online on platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams. For essential travel, staff are encouraged to use sustainable transportation methods. Flights are only taken when necessary, and priority is given to public transportation. Easia Travel developed its Mobility Policy for Staff Travel to encourage Easia Travel’s staff to adopt more sustainable means of transportation when commuting to work or during their business trips. Changing how Easia Travel staff move around during business trips or inspections is critical to limiting the company’s environmental impact. From using public transportation to riding a bicycle, various options are available. Easia Travel will make it easier, more practical, and more appealing for its staff to make the right choice.
- Pollution Reduction: We are committed to reducing pollution by minimising and substituting the use of harmful substances such as pesticides, paints, and cleaning materials. We prioritise using environmentally friendly and harmless alternatives in all our operations to ensure the safety of our employees and the environment. We enforce strict protocols for the adequate storage, handling, and disposal of chemicals to prevent potential pollution risks. Safety regulations govern the handling of all hazardous materials, and we continually review our processes to identify opportunities for further reducing our reliance on harmful substances. By implementing these measures, we aim to contribute to a healthier and more sustainable environment while maintaining a safe and eco-friendly workplace.
We are implementing a policy to reduce the use of disposable and consumable goods within our operations. This policy aims to minimize waste generation and promote reusable, recyclable, and sustainable alternatives wherever possible.
- Replacing single-use items with durable, long-lasting alternatives.
- Encouraging staff to minimize consumption of consumable goods and prioritize eco-friendly options.
- Partnering with suppliers that offer environmentally responsible products and packaging.
- Promoting awareness and training to support the reduction of disposable goods within daily operations.
- We are dedicated to continuously improving our practices and aligning with industry standards to reduce our environmental footprint.
Suppliers and Guides
- Responsible Suppliers: We favor accommodations and activities that are locally owned and sustainability certified or at least have sustainability practices within their operations.
- Loyalty: We want to ensure that our partners receive a positive impact from tourism and direct financial support. So, we always make at least a 5-year commitment to our projects with the local people.
- Selection: In all our destinations, we carefully research and select local NGO partners demonstrating a quality commitment to community development. We assess our leading suppliers with our sustainability checklist to ensure they meet our standards.
- Sustainability Clauses: We encourage our suppliers to commit to sustainable practices by signing our contract addenda for sustainability. Any violation of these clauses results in our immediate termination of the contract.
- Guide Training: Every year, we focus on providing comprehensive training for guides and aspiring young guides alike, ranging from essential duties and rights to Easia Travel’s philosophy and developments in sustainable travel.
- Guide’s Role: Our guides serve as excellent cultural liaisons between travelers and locals and are vital in disseminating our sustainable practices throughout our destinations.
Excursions and Activities
- Responsible Excursions: We do not provide activities that harm humans, animals, plants, or natural resources or are socially/culturally unacceptable.
- Product Inventory: Our tours support local communities by purchasing local goods and services, visiting social projects, and promoting authentic encounters that foster cross-cultural understanding.
- Sourcing Locally: Not only is trying local dishes one of the best ways to learn about the culture and bond with the local people, but supporting locally sourced food helps keep small markets and local farmers in business.
- Soft Adventure: We want the whole of Asia to be sustainable, safe, and easy for everyone, so our Easia Active team is constantly developing new and exciting hiking, kayaking, and cycling excursions, all led by guides expertly trained in first aid and exploring ‘off-the-beaten-path’ trails.
- Wildlife and Captive Animals: We use the criteria of the PATA and ACEWG standards as our reference, and we only provide tours that adhere to our guidelines against the mistreatment, exploitation, and abuse of all animals.
- Sustainable Transportation: We prioritize efficient routes, public transportation, appropriately sized and eco-friendly vehicles, and longer stays for long-haul travel to minimize our carbon footprint. Additionally, we advise clients on sustainable travel choices wherever possible in their itineraries.
- Minimizing Ecological Footprints: Although travel tends to leave a sizable carbon footprint, we are working on methods of accurately measuring our current ecological footprint. Offsetting is not yet part of how we operate. Our approach to offsetting and the conditions we would require of any project are set out on our Approach to Carbon Offsetting page.
- Donations: Donating to reliable NGOs that can properly monitor and evaluate needs is of the utmost importance, since we have seen the adverse effects that even a tiny, mishandled donation can have on communities.
- No School or Orphanage Visits: We at Easia Travel do not visit schools or orphanages since these visits can harm and disrupt the community. Instead, we work with partners like ChildSafe and vocational schools to build relationships with locals responsibly.
Customer Communication and Protection
- Customer Privacy: All employees are responsible for keeping confidential client information in any form (hard and soft copies) in the storage section of the company, are forbidden from revealing information without permission, and are responsible for reporting breaches of conduct.
- Product Information: Our marketing reflects clear, complete, and accurate price and product information, including sustainability claims, and does not promise more than is delivered.
- Code of Conduct: At Easia Travel, we inform all travelers about key sustainability issues in the destination and give tips and advice on positively contributing to local charities and sustainable initiatives without harming the local communities.
- Quality of Services: Our local contacts, available in every destination 24/7, handle all complaints, emergencies, and other issues with speed and consummate professionalism.
- Crisis Response: With comprehensive crisis response teams and protocols, we can handle constant communication and provide ongoing situation updates and safety advice.
- Client Satisfaction: By implementing in-depth Quality Follow-Up Procedures, which include sustainability, we continuously measure, evaluate, and attempt to improve client satisfaction after every trip.
RIGHTS AND DUTIES
- This policy, created by the Head of Sustainability of Easia Travel, has been approved by the Board of Management. It, therefore, can be set up and implemented as soon as it is published.
- It is a document written to improve and ease the company’s management and decision-making. Thus, it will be implemented in every part of the company under the guidance of the Sustainability team.
- This document will be updated every two years and will have to consider the company’s progress in sustainable development and following the strategic planification of the enterprise. This concerns the Travelife certification and will allow us to set up an annual follow-up to ensure we’re always heading in the right direction.
STRUCTURE AND RESPONSIBILITY
- The Head of Sustainability of Easia Travel oversees this policy’s content and future modifications.
- The Head of Sustainability of Easia Travel is responsible for introducing this policy to every staff member and ensuring it is adequately enforced.
- The enforcement of this policy is also the responsibility of every Easian (Easia Employee).
- The Head of Sustainability of Easia Travel will also establish an action plan following the present policy.
For further inquiries, please get in touch with our team at sustainability@easia-travel.com
