Dear Friends,
A number of months ago, we introduced you to our How We Tread Right campaign, the Travel Corporation’s (TTC) five-year sustainability strategy which sets the mandate on sustainability at Thompsons Africa and our sister travel companies..
Today we share more details on the strategy, talk more about our pledge and our endorsement of the SATSA Animal Interaction Charter, and finally, we introduce you to MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®.
OUR STRATEGY
Our strategy is based on 11 measurable goals developed to address Thompsons Africa’s impact on Planet, People, and Wildlife. These goals, anchored to the United Nations’ Global Goals, address:
PLANET Planet - sustainability and conservation by targeting climate change, sustainable food production and responsible consumption through carbon management, renewable energy, the food cycle, waste reduction, and the elimination of single-use plastics.
PEOPLE People - community support and cultural preservation by targeting overtourism through the inclusion of new MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences, the creation of a standalone strategy to encourage greater diversity and inclusion at Thompsons Africa, and our global give-back efforts.
WILDLIFE Wildlife - conservation and protection by targeting animal welfare and conservation, and ethical wildlife experiences through SATSA's Animal Interaction Charter. PLEDGE
'At Thompsons Africa we are mindful of the plight of wildlife across the globe and in Africa in particular. We are especially conscious of the importance of conserving our wildlife heritage. After all, we are blessed to be the caretakers of an abundance of wildlife that brings so many travellers to our shores. Thompsons Africa does not support any wildlife interaction that we deem to be unethical in either its purpose or in any way results in cruelty as a side effect. As a priority we ensure that we are 100% involved with our partnered wildlife organisations, and as a member of The TreadRight Foundation, we practise the promise to make the welfare of our wildlife our number one concern.'
Our endorsement of the SATSA Animal Interaction Charter further reinforces our commitment to an ethical approach to the long-term conservation of wildlife welfare. It is for this reason that each of our offered experiences, activities and properties (who offer animal interactions) are being assessed using the SATSA Charter Guidelines before determining it as 'acceptable' or not.
If you are unsure and would like to know more about a particular experience or interaction, we can assist you in making a responsible choice.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences are travel experiences that can be found across our Thompsons Africa itineraries. They are developed and chosen for the mutual benefit they hold for the communities we explore as well as the traveller. These experiences are selected with great care, based on a robust and transparent set of qualifying criteria which ensures that they directly advance the
United Nations Global Goals
. In the coming weeks, we will share more information on MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® and approved MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences.
EARTH HOUR 2021
Earth Hour will be celebrated on Saturday 27 March. Held every year on the last Saturday of March, Earth Hour engages millions of people in more than 180 countries and territories, switching off their lights to show support for our planet. Take part in the Earth Hour virtual spotlight. ' Stay tuned for the drop of our must-watch video on 27 March that will make you see our planet in a new light - then SHARE IT far and wide! Every share matters. Let's get the world watching. Let's get the world talking.' - Earth Hour If you have any questions or would like more information on any of the above topics, please get in touch.
We invite you to join us on our journey to
Tread Right. Every. Single. Day.
Until next time.
Fond regards, The Thompsons Africa team
Tel: +27 31 275 3500
|
|