molly kinnaird true travel

Molly Kinnaird

True travel.

[email protected]

true.travel

+442035822936

“I love making a holiday unforgettable for every single person on the trip, inspiring first timers as well as those who think they have seen it all.”

Regions of Operation: Europe

Countries of Expertise: UK, Italy, & Greece

Special Categories: Wine and Food, Adventure, Family Travel

What type of traveler absolutely loves your trips: A family or small group who are looking for an itinerary that engages a wide range of interests. To me, this is the greatest skill that I have mastered over the years. I love making a holiday unforgettable for every single person on the trip, inspiring first timers as well as those who think they have seen it all. We open doors that are shut to others, hand pick your guide from our collection of experts and introduce you to local artisans who bring each destination to life.

What do you do that competing specialists can’t/won’t:

Our London Master Keys service is designed to deliver the exceptional. Love Jazz? It will be playing in your private chauffeur-driven car on arrival. Mentioned you love Modern Art? There is an invitation to a private viewing of the latest exhibition on your bed when you arrive. Your personally curated dossier enables me to extend access to exclusive events you will love and make dinner reservations where you are surrounded by in-the-know locals for the best steak in London, not the most Googled tourist trap.

To me, the art of travel design is to make you feel like every single aspect of your trip has been tailored specifically to you. I want you to feel that I have listened to what you have loved and loved less about previous trips, and thoughtfully crafted this holiday with that in mind. Be it your first or tenth trip with me. From the moment you are greeted at the airport until the moment you fly home, my goal is to make your experience a truly memorable, personal and seamless magic carpet ride.

What is one of your all-time favorite experiences you've been able to pull off for guests?

There are places in the UK that mere mortals are simply not allowed to visit. Buckingham Palace is, in my opinion, the most iconic of these. The balcony has hosted years of Royal waving and the structure is as synonymous with Britain as Big Ben. In recent years it has been the centerpiece of the Queen's Jubilee and the King’s Coronation so understandably, a visit is top of many of my clients' requests whilst in London.

Every other day the Changing of the Guard commences as the clocks strike 11am. Getting a great vantage point is not easy and many tourists arrive over an hour early to try and get close to the gates. This year I took some clients into Wellington Barracks to watch the military band rehearse for the Parade. Over the music, our specialist guide set the scene with fascinating finite details about the feathers protruding from the soldiers' bearskin hats and the regimental crests on their newly shined shoes that we were so close to, my client’s could inspect themselves.

We were ushered straight to Buckingham Palace, weaved our way through thousands of tourists, up to the world famous wrought iron gates which opened before us, and we walked into the peace of the Palace’s forecourt. Here we stood under the balcony to watch this historical and iconic ceremony from just yards away, whilst a member of the King’s Regiment guided us through each exchange. This was my client’s 20th trip to London, and she was simply blown away by this unthinkable access. Every time I am lucky enough to host one of our extraordinary experiences, I have the same feeling!

How do you deal with unforeseen issues on the ground?

Simply put - we invest in people. I have a dedicated team who work with me and are purely focused on our ‘in travel’ clients. My desire is not just to anticipate issues but to resolve them before my clients are even aware. What does that look like in practice? We offer a luggage tracking service so if your bags are lost, our team will find them; our guides tell us if your tour runs over so we can move your dinner reservations accordingly or if you find yourself desperate for access to sold out attractions - we will find you tickets for them.

We stay two steps ahead of your every movement. For instance, when all flights were grounded in Iceland last summer thanks to a surprise storm, we had already booked hotel rooms and the best seats of the first flight out the following day, before my client's flights were formally canceled.

Colors of Winter in the Norwegian Arctic

By : Molly Kinnaird

“I don’t call it a dark season. I call it a colorful season,” boasted Svein, my host. The time is 9 AM but the light is just enough to make out the silhouette of the Lyngen Alps, decked in their first snowy scrubs. To give him his due, between the mountains the sun was beginning to rise and painting the sky in beams of peony pinks and canary yellows. We had a small window of time to be in the great outdoors before darkness returned, around 3 PM.

We boarded a rib worthy of a Norwegian James Bond complete with beer holders and thermal hood. Something I was grateful for, for as the sun rose the thermostat did not, sticking smugly at minus five. We traveled at full throttle down the channel between the island of Uloya, our short-term home, and the mainland. Whilst bombing along Svein told us stories of the fjord; moose in his garden and reindeers he had seen swim from one side to the other only to sniff the foliage, immediately lose all appetite and swim home. As he went to launch into another anecdote, something grew from the water and waved – the tail of a humpback whale playing on the surface between deep sea dining on shoals herring. For us, this sighting was only to be an appetizer.

As we ventured further out to sea and further from civilization next on the horizon were the bright reds, oranges and yellows of local fishing boats. Their cargo bellies so full of freshly caught fish they looked like they were sinking face first into the depths of the Arctic. They chugged along with hundreds of gulls in their wake, like a black winged snow storm.

It had been half an hour since our correspondence with a humpback when, unannounced, a silent army on their first charge cut through the sea towards us. Orca. The engine was cut and for a moment we were sitting ducks. It felt inevitable that our limbs would make for the special on their lunch menu. Their power through the water was overwhelming but more so was their peace and tranquillity as they tore through the ocean. The moment was the very definition of humbling. Returning to my senses I was being prodded by Svein with a bag of gear – a dry suit. Wobbling with laughter he coaxed the equipment into my hands.

Fully clothed under my extra water proof shield of blubber, I trembled to the side of the boat. I knew I had literally no choice but to get into the water or regret it for eternity but with the sea lapping against my flippers and the dark fins repeatedly powering towards me I felt sick with fear. Svein let me buckle thrice before I got the impression he was losing patience with me as I rehashed breathing exercises and excuses on the side of his boat. Just my luck, as I shimmied into position, orcas fast approaching, a humpback whale surfaced as I plunged into the Arctic Ocean. As quickly as he had appeared, he disappeared – likely, bugged to be straddled by a braying woman dressed as a seal. I adjusted my mask and peered into the depths. All that starred back was a black and deafening silence. Then like the silhouettes of the mountains that had appeared from nowhere out of the darkness that very morning, the silhouettes of whales swimming through the depths in pods for three to five.  I was stupefied.

Stupefied to speechlessness it was clear Svein had seen this hundreds of times before. With a knowing grin, he had a final trick up his sleeve. Deposited back to the warmth of the lodge it was barely gone 3 PM but the darkness was heavy. We were given a couple of hours to regroup and warm our bones before we were thrust back outside. Hiking to a vantage point, our path illuminated by the moon reflecting off the white of the snow, we stopped to catch our breath. Then, with the same unannounced arrival of the whales, the Northern Lights stretched brilliantly across the sky. Their greens, blues and pinks reflecting off the water in the fjords below. Svein had been right all along, this was one of the most colourful places in the world.

Molly Kinnaird is a European luxury travel expert and author of the travel blog, Further .

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What are the requirements for tourism services in the European market?

European tour operators are bound by strict regulations. These ensure that their customers are protected financially and safe when travelling overseas. If you want to do business with tour operators in Europe, you need to make sure that your business meets their standards. The most important legal statute for them is the European Package Travel Directive.

Contents of this page

• What are the mandatory requirements for tourism services?
• What additional requirements and certifications do buyers ask for in the tourism sector?
• What are the requirements and certifications for tourism niche markets?

1. What are the mandatory requirements for tourism services?

You need to be aware of several statutes and requirements. They are the European Package Travel Directive, business insurance and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

European Package Travel Directive

The  European Package Travel Directive protects European travellers’ rights when they book package holidays. These rights include cancellation, liability, repatriation and refunds. In 2018 the Directive was updated to reflect changes in how holidays are booked. The update expanded the definition of “package travel” to include customised packages and linked travel arrangements.

Although the United Kingdom has left the European Union (“Brexit”), British tour operators still have to comply with the Directive. That is because it has been written into UK law. It is known there as the  Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 .

The Directive covers the following types of “package travel”.

• A package holiday  is defined as a combination of at least two different types of travel services. There are four types of travel service: (1) transport (flights, trains, buses, etc.); (2) accommodation (hotels, lodges, apartments, etc.); (3) car rental; and (4) other tourist services like attraction tickets and excursions. All elements of the package holiday are booked and paid for through one agent at the same time.
• Customised packages are two or more travel services bought in a single booking process at one “point of sale” (by phone, in a shop, online, etc.). For example, when a customer buys a flight, books a hotel room and rents a vehicle over the phone with a travel agent.
• Linked travel arrangements (LTAs)  are travel services bought in different contracts within a 24-hour period and linked to the same package. For example, a customer buys a flight on one day from a travel agent. The next day, he or she calls the same travel agent and adds a room booking to the same order.

The European Package Travel Directive aims to provide travellers with clear information about the travel product they are buying, and the protection they are entitled to. The concept of LTAs ensures that payments are protected if the seller goes bankrupt. The Directive also covers cancellation rights and liability. And it applies to online bookings as well as other types. Figure 1 shows how the current Directive protects buyers of package travel, compared with the original version.

Figure 1: Extension of the 1990 European Package Travel Directive, 2018

Source: European Union (EU)

If you want to sell travel services to European tour operators, they will expect you to have adequate liability insurance and insolvency protection so that they comply with the European Package Travel Directive. You must be able to supply them with full details of your insurance policies.

The Directive is likely to be amended again in the next few years. The pandemic and the collapse of Thomas Cook, one of Europe’s largest travel agents, highlighted issues around insolvency and customer protection. So you need to stay aware of any changes that might affect your business. Read the article  Thomas Cook and Covid-19 spur EU review of the Package Travel Directive for more details.

• Familiarise yourself with the European Package Travel Directive. The EU factsheet  Stronger EU protection for package holidays is a good place to start.
• Read the CBI study on  how to work with the European Package Travel Directive .
• Build your knowledge. Study the UK’s  Guidance for businesses , which has some good case studies of the different types of package holiday.

Business insurance

Insurance for tour-operator businesses can cover many different risks. The most important are:

• professional indemnity; 
• financial failure.

European tour operators have a responsibility to provide the holiday the customer has paid for. They take out liability insurance to protect themselves in the event that they are held liable for accidents or injury. If you supply European tour operators, you must have liability insurance in case one of their customers suffers an accident or injury during an activity you have provided.

Your liability insurance should also cover tours that you sell directly to independent travellers. Although most take out their own personal travel insurance to cover them in the event of an accident, you cannot rely on that being the case. Independent travellers will be more confident in your services if you tell them that you are fully insured in the case of accidents.

Professional indemnity insurance covers businesses in the event of professional mistakes or negligence. Liability and indemnity insurance are often provided together in an insurance policy.

Financial failure insurance  protects your customers’ money if your business fails. The European Package Travel Directive requires European tour operators to have an certain level of financial protection in place.

If you are already insured, check that your policy and cover are adequate. Ask your broker exactly what risks are covered, and what amounts. If you are in any doubt, ask them to send you your policy documents again.

• Identify what insurance cover you require. In other words, what European tour operators need you to have. You may also want to insure against other risks, like employers’ liability and/or business interruption.
• Look into suitable insurance providers for tour operators in your country or region. Make sure that all aspects of the tourism services you provide are covered by your policy.
• Communicate clearly to your buyer that you have this insurance in place, and make sure that you include details in a “Terms of reference” section on your website. Take a look at this example of a local tour operator with detailed terms and conditions posted online:  Outstanding Costa Rica (see section 6, Mandatory insurance requirements).
• Check that customers taking your tours have their own personal travel insurance. This does not mean you will not be liable if anything goes wrong, but they are more likely to contact their own insurance company first. Some tour operators make this a mandatory condition when booking with them – for example,  Much Better Adventures .
• Do not include international flights in your packages. This means you will not be responsible for repatriation or accommodation in the event of disruptions and/or cancellations.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

The EU adopted the  General Data Protection Regulation (GPDR) in 2016. Replacing the 1995 Data Protection Directive, it became law across the EU in May 2018. The UK continues to comply with GDPR, even though it has left the EU. The  Data Protection Act 2018 came into force there at the same time as the GDPR, and imposes very similar rules.

The GDPR is designed to protect customers’ privacy. In particular, it covers the storage, processing and sharing of personal data. That includes everything from a person’s name, address and e-mail address to their, bank details, social media data, passport information and biometrics, as well as online identifiers such as an IP addresses.

Figure 2: What is personal data?

Source: TechTarget

The GDPR has had a significant impact on all European travel businesses, because they handle the personal data of travellers who book with them. But it also affects any company worldwide that processes information about people who live in the EU or the UK. If you sell directly to European consumers, it will affect you too.

Under the GDPR, the main (but not all) rules you must comply with include…

• Clarity. Privacy policies need to be written in clear, straightforward language.
• Consent. The user must give permission before their data can be used. This means that they must actively “opt in”. Listing only “opt-out” options is no longer permitted.
• Transparency. Businesses must clearly inform users if their data will be transferred outside the EU or the UK. Businesses are allowed to collect data only for a well-defined purpose and must tell users if that purpose changes. 
• Right of access. Users have full rights to access their data and to request that it be deleted. Businesses must inform users without delay in the event of a data breach.
• Enforcement.  The European Data Protection Board has the power to impose fines for non-compliance of up to €20 million, or 4% of the company’s worldwide turnover.
• Find out more about  GDPR . Make sure that you understand what you are (and are not) allowed to do with customers’ personal data.
• Audit your current data to determine whether it is compliant with GDPR. Use a checklist to help, such as the  GDPR checklist for data controllers .
• Check your privacy policy and ensure that it states clearly how you collect and store customers’ personal data. Take a look at  Travel Talk’s policy and see how it compares with yours.
• Draw up clear consent request forms. For more information about obtaining and managing consent, read ICO’s  GDPR consent guidance . Make sure that you keep records of consents obtained.

For additional support and information about trading with European businesses, regularly consult these websites.

• Eurostat – compiles tourism statistics for EU countries.
• The Office for National Statistics (ONS) – compiles tourism statistics for the UK.
• EU Access2Markets portal – for more information on import rules and taxes in the EU.
• The ITC Sustainability Map – for a full list of certification schemes in the tourism sector. Click on the “Product” menu and select “Tourism services”.

2. What additional requirements and certifications do buyers ask for in the tourism sector?

Sustainable business practices are an important requirement for European buyers. A good business plan is essential for all responsible tourism businesses and a professional suppliers of tourism services.

Sustainable business practice

Sustainability is becoming normal practice throughout the tourism industry. If you do not make it part of everything you do, European tour operators will not do business with you. More and more tourists, too, are concerned about their carbon footprint when they travel. And they want to minimise their impact on the environment, and maximise benefits to local people and places. Sustainability certification is not yet compulsory in the tourism industry, but it may be in a few years’ time.

The best thing you can do, then, is to be certified as a sustainable tourism business. That shows European tour operators that you share their values and understand the urgent need to work sustainably. There are many certification schemes for you to consider. These include global schemes like Travelife, used all over the world, and regional or national ones like CST in Costa Rica.

Many of these schemes are recognised by or accredited by the  Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) . Accredited schemes are the top level. The GSTC establishes and manages global sustainable standards, known as GSTC Criteria.  Industry Criteria are for tour operators and hotels, in the form of guiding principles and minimum requirements that they should observe in order to protect and sustain natural resources.

Table 1: Examples of GSTC-recognised sustainable certification schemes

Source: Acorn Tourism Consulting

European tour operators know that certification can be expensive for small businesses. But they still want to be sure that the suppliers they work with are doing all they can to be sustainable. If you cannot afford to be certified at the moment, you should still be as sustainable as you can. The actions you take must be measurable, and you should tell everyone what you are doing.

• Study the  GSTC Criteria for tour operators . What are you doing already? What steps do you need to take to improve the sustainability of your business?
• Find out if your country has any national sustainability certification schemes in. Examples include  Botswana Ecotourism Certification ,  CST in Costa Rica and  Responsible Tourism Tanzania (RTTZ) . Uganda is also working on a scheme of its own, in conjunction with TourCert:  Tourism Excellence Uganda .
• Read the sustainability statements published on European websites, so that you can focus on complying with their needs. Good examples are  Steppes Travel (UK),  Shoestring (the Netherlands) and  Voyages d’exception (France).
• Study how the tour operator  Intrepid has become the world’s largest carbon-neutral travel company since 2010.
• Read the CBI study  How to be a sustainable tourism business for practical tips on embedding sustainability in your business.

A good business plan

A business plan is a useful tool for any company, small or large. So you should have one. The plan is a written document that outlines your business objectives and states how you intend to achieve them. Essentially, it is your three to five-year plan of action. You should keep it under constant review.

A good business plan has seven main sections.

• Executive summary.  A brief digest of the plan. Although it comes first in the document, you should write it last – once the rest of the plan is in place. This is the most important section, because sometimes potential investors or partners use it to decide whether to work with you.
• Company overview. What your business does. This is like the “About” section of your website. Describe your vision and/or mission for your business, who owns and manages it, where it is based and, briefly, its current assets and debts.
• Operations plan. Information about your day-to-day operations: the tours/experiences you offer, where they go, what they include and so on.
• Market analysis. Details of your target market and major competitors. Plus information relevant to the local market, such as new developments or emerging trends.
• Implementation plan. How you bring your product(s) to the market. Include a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats), a marketing plan (online and offline) and pricing strategies.
• Team summary. Your current and future staffing needs and training processes.
• Financial plan. Your income statement, cashflow forecast and balance sheet.
• Build your knowledge. Read the CBI studies  on being a socially responsible business and  on going green . They will help ensure that your business conforms to your buyers’’ needs.
• If you do not already have one, write a business plan. Plenty of online resources are available to help you.  How to create a tour operator business plan in 8 steps is a good place to start.
• If necessary, hire expert professionals to help write your business plan. A copywriter, for example, from an online directory like  Fiverr .

Practise responsible tourism

Responsible tourism is closely linked to sustainable tourism. It is all about adopting responsible (or ethical) business practices, particularly when it comes to the protection and welfare of children, wildlife preservation, environmental protection and overtourism. Draw up – and implement – a responsible tourism policy to reassure customers that you are an ethical tour operator. See this example from  Msafiri Tours in Uganda .

Many European tour operators have signed up to The Code . This is an industry-driven initiative to fight the sexual exploitation of children in tourism. One example of the Code’s effect in practice is a ban on orphanage tourism. Visits to orphanages in developing countries are increasingly seen as a form of child exploitation. There are many reported cases of children being kept in poor conditions and denied food, clothing and other essentials in order to extract more money from visitors. Many European  tour operators have removed trips to orphanages from their itineraries altogether.

Conserving wildlife is another important issue for the tourism industry. Wildlife attractions that promise close animal interactions, such as touching or riding wild animals, are considered harmful for the animals’ welfare and species conservation. So do not offer experiences of this kind. Responsible European tour operators expect their suppliers to adhere to this rule.

Overtourism occurs when too many people visit a particular destination. That harms its environment and the quality of life for local people. European tour operators are very aware of the negative effects of overtourism. In any case, more and more travellers are choosing to avoid very touristy places.

You need to understand the impact of overtourism on your destination, and take measures to prevent it. They can include encouraging tourists to visit other sites and to come in different seasons.

• Draw up your own responsible tourism policy. Take a look at  Responsible Tourism’s policy , which features a lot of initiatives that you can adapt to your own situation.
• Make sure that the trips you are promoting do not exploit children or involve activities harmful to wildlife and their conservation.
• Read 15 years of the UNWTO World Tourism Network on Child Protection , a set of good practices for tourism that involves children.
• Learn more about responsible tourism. Download ABTA’s  Global welfare guidance for animals in tourism , a practical guide for travel businesses and suppliers of animal experiences.
• Read more about overtourism in UNWTO’s  Overtourism – Understanding and Managing Urban Tourism Growth beyond Perceptions .
• Study Responsible Tourism’s tips for  marketing responsible and sustainable tourism for tour operators . They can help you improve your marketing messages.

Adopt a code of conduct

In tourism, a supplier code of conduct is a set of guidelines that state what tour operators expect from their suppliers. It is closely linked to responsible tourism. Tour operators use their code when assessing new suppliers, to ensure that they are able to meet the required standards. And you should have a code of your own, setting out your commitment to being a responsible and sustainable business. It should include the following topics.

• Ethical business practices.  How you support local people and locally owned businesses. How you prevent the exploitation of vulnerable people like children and indigenous populations. And how you promote responsible wildlife tourism practices.
• Environmental sustainability practices.  How you protect the natural environment.
• Social responsibility . How you work with your own staff to improve their health and well-being, be inclusive, promote diversity and avoid discrimination.
• Health and safety . How you manage the safety of both your guests and your staff.
• Study TUI’s  Supplier Code of Conduct to help develop yours. That document is very detailed and gives you a good idea what European buyers expect from local suppliers.
• You can include your code of conduct in your responsible tourism policy.

Promote your business as a professional supplier

European tour operators have to meet their customers’ needs in a professional way. They always monitor satisfaction through feedback surveys. Tourists travelling overseas want to feel protected and safe when they book a trip or excursion. They rely heavily on “word-of-mouth” recommendations on social media and review platforms like Tripadvisor. Many European tourists like to share their experiences, whether good or bad. A negative review can affect the tour operators’ reputation.

Many European tour operators work with destination management companies (DMCs). They are responsible for ensuring that all their local suppliers comply with the client’s requirements. If you sell your tours through a DMC, it will help you build your professional profile.

Being a member of a national and/or international tourism association also helps to boost your reputation, with both DMCs and European tour operators. Your national tourist board or association is a good place to start. The  Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) is a global membership organisation for adventure travel companies, including tour operators. Joining an organisation like this can help you promote your business to a wider audience.

Like other associations of this kind, the ATTA has several  membership levels. The most basic is Community Membership, which is free. That gives you access to some free research and webinars. Professional Membership costs US$150 (€139), but provides more benefits. They include discounts on training courses. Explore the available options to see which suits you best.

Membership of associations can bring other benefits, too.

• Networking opportunities with similar operators, other professionals in the industry and potential clients.
• Access to industry intelligence and events to keep up with new trends.
• Added recognition through awards programmes.
• Research tourism associations in your country and internationally, and decide which are most suitable for your business. Contact them to find out how you can become a member.
• Be sure to promote your membership(s) on your website.
• Ask for customer testimonials, reviews, photos and videos, and share them on your website.
• Conduct regular customer satisfaction surveys.

3. What are the requirements and certifications for tourism niche markets?

A number of standards, certification schemes and best practices cover the tourism sector. Although none of these are mandatory for local tour operators, complying with as many as possible puts you be in a better position to do business with the European market.

ISO standards

Niche tourism segments like adventure tourism, diving, sailing and wellness can benefit from complying with internationally recognised standards. ISO (the International Organisation for Standardisation) is an independent non-governmental body. It publishes more than 19,500 standards, all of which have been agreed internationally by experts. Their purpose is to help businesses develop their product or service in the best way possible. Standards can help small businesses to:

• build confidence that their product is safe and good quality;
• comply with regulations at a lower cost;
• reduce costs;
• reach new markets all over the world.

Standards are developed with a focus on different factors, like quality management, environmental management, social responsibility and sustainability. Each standard is given a number (e.g. ISO 20410) followed by the year it was published (e.g. 2017), so that you can see how recently it was created. Consult the table below to see if any of the listed standards are relevant to your business.

Table 2: Standards relating to tourism

Source: ISO 2023

ISO standards can be expensive to comply with. After buying the standard itself and implementing its requirements, if you choose to become ISO certified you will have to pay to be audited. This can cost €4,500 or more. Certification is not obligatory, however. The benefit of buying a standard is that you know what is required and can adjust your business practices accordingly. Once you are ready, you can tell your buyers that you comply with or follow the standard. Being audited and certified as a next step will add trust and provide additional benefits to your company.

Standards for adventure tourism in the UK

Many countries have their own standards organisations, which publish local standards in collaboration with the ISO. ISO 21101:2014, for example, has been adapted for the UK market by the BSI, the UK’s national standards body. It is known there as the British Standard for Adventure Tourism (BS8848:2014) . This was established to minimise the risks of adventure travel. It is specifically aimed at UK tour operators and providers of adventure holidays abroad.

Many UK adventure tour operators comply with BS8848. They want to give their customers peace of mind across all the activities they offer, so that adventure travellers feel safe and well-looked after. British adventure tour operators usually expect their suppliers to conform with BS8848 as well.

Sustainability standards for adventure tourism

In 2022 Travelife and its partners, including the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), released 38 activity sustainability standards for the tour operator industry. These are a compilation of best practices for activities including community-based tourism (CBT), wildlife tourism, mountain biking, hiking and trekking, plus many more. The aim is to make it easier for tour operators to be sustainable businesses that help the tourism sector globally meet its sustainability commitments.

The best practices are arranged by topic in the form of useful, practical tips, and they are free to all. But you do have to sign up as a member of ATTA to  download the standards (membership is also free!).

Figure 3: Volunteer tourism – example from ATTA’s Sustainability Code of Best Practice

Green Fins membership for diving businesses

Diving businesses, including dive centres, snorkelling centres and liveaboards, should be responsible and sustainable suppliers. Green Fins is a membership organisation that promotes sustainable diving. It encourages divers, snorkellers, the diving industry and coastal communities to implement environmentally friendly practices to reduce the negative impact on coral reefs.

Figure 4: Benefits of Green Fins membership

Source: Green Fins

Green Fins has two types of certification.

• Certified membership – for dive businesses based in countries where Green Fins operates. Currently these are Antigua and Barbuda, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Dive businesses are assessed in person every year. Businesses pay what they can afford.
• Digital membership – for dive businesses in other countries, where there is no Green Fins operation. Digital membership involves annual online self-evaluation. You pay a US$140 initial fee to join and an annual renewal fee of US$60.

Animal Protection Network for wildlife tourism businesses

The Animal Protection Network (APN) operated by ANIMONDIAL helps wildlife tourism businesses to protect animals and to restore and enhance nature. If you have a wildlife tourism experience and comply with the regulations, you can  apply to join the network . It is free at the basic level, and you can display the seal on your website. Membership will impress and reassure European buyers, both tour operators and independent travellers.

Figure 5: Animal Protection Network seal

Source: ANIMONDIAL

• Consult the  ISO Catalogue (Tourism and Related Services) for standards relevant to your business.
• Use the ISO standards as a guide to enhance your safety and service levels. If you become certified, ensure that you publicise this on your website.
• Read more about BS8848 at  British Standard for Adventurous Activities outside the United Kingdom . You do not have to comply, but if you do it will give you a competitive edge.

Practical tips to ensure duty of care in adventure tourism

Adventure tourism involves an element of risk. Participants like experiences that are thrilling and exciting. But operators of these experiences must take reasonable care during potentially dangerous activities. If you fail to comply with this duty of care, you may be held liable for negligence. In practice, this means that you must:

• maintain and replace equipment regularly, so that it is always in good condition;
• host the activity or tour in a place appropriate for the experience;
• make sure that the activity is appropriate for the participants’ level of skill ;
• make sure that activities are well-supervised;
• make sure that your staff are properly qualified;
• make sure that you have staff qualified in first aid, and that you have the correct certifications and medical assistance;
• restrict access to dangerous areas or activities that are not within the scope of your tour.
• Conduct an honest assessment of your compliance with the requirements above. How many of them are you fulfilling to a high level? Make changes where you can.
• Read the CBI study  How to manage risks in tourism ?

Understand customer needs across niche tourism segments

The tourism industry comprises many niche segments that attract travellers with different needs, wishes and expectations. Understand what your customer wants so that you can take steps to meet these needs. Here are some examples.

• Community-based tourism (CBT) customers are looking for an authentic experience and enjoy an immersive experience with local communities. They need to feel that they are making an important contribution to local people’s lives. This includes financial benefits, but also mutual bonding and each learning something about the other.
• Volunteer tourists are keen to make a positive impact on the communities they are supporting. Examples include building amenities, conservation and teaching.
• Adventure tourists are keen to have a fulfilling experience. What that is can vary widely, from physical challenges to nature and wildlife experiences to cultural activities. Adventure tourism packages usually involve at least two activities of this kind.
• Wildlife tourists like to see positive animal welfare and habitat conservation in practice.
• Bird watchers choose destinations where bird life is plentiful and varied, especially specific bird groups and endemic species.
• Divers like to visit pristine sites with plenty of marine life. They do not want places that are overcrowded with other divers. They appreciate sustainable diving practices like no touching and taking care around coral.
• Research relevant niche markets. Read the CBI’s niche market reports, which cover a wide range of segments including  Adventure tourism ,  Bird watching ,  Community-based tourism ,  Cultural tourism ,  Cycling tourism ,  Dive tourism ,  Ecotourism ,  Nature tourism ,  SAVE tourism (scientific, academic, volunteering and educational),  Walking tourism , Wildlife tourism and  Wellness tourism .
• Study the CBI’s  interactive infographic about European tourism niches. This shows the main niche segments, the many subsegments and how niches and activities overlap with each other.

This study was carried out on behalf of CBI by Acorn Tourism Consulting .

Please read our  market information disclaimer .

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Suppliers that have international representation or affiliations in relation to their niche market offering will better differentiate themselves. These partnerships give travel agents like us reassurance that a product or experience is suitable for that the specific market. The use of international representation can also help you build better relationships within the specific target countries and build greater awareness. Molly Kinnaird, Head of Europe,  True Travel

  A sustainable destination aims to create an attractive destination for visitors, residents and local businesses that is respectful of local culture, traditions, heritage and the environment. This cannot be achieved without collaboration between the different stakeholders of the destination. In the best examples, the destination is a synergy between the leadership provided by the destination management and the engagement from local businesses, so both are working together towards the same goals. Louise de Hemmer, Green Destinations Top 100

Related research

• What is the demand for outbound tourism on the European market?
• What trends offer opportunities or pose threats on the European outbound tourism market?
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With the opening of our new office in Hove, we also have a new telephone number 01273 086369 - we look forward to your call!!

Welcome to True North Travel

Group Travel Specialists

Knowledge, passion and experience come as standard with all our adventures. We have built an enviable reputation for our school ski trips and they will continue to be at the core of True North. We have now applied the same attention to detail and innovative thinking to also now offer educational and vocational trips, UK residentials and Summer schools.

Integrity - Service - Innovation

We aim to make booking a group trip as straightforward as possible and can take you to some of the worlds best ski areas. In keeping with our outstanding health and safety standards and exemplary level of support True North is a British Standards 8848 compliant provider.      

  As a member   of The Travel Trust Association we offer 100% financial protection 

Adult Ski, UK Destinations & Educational Trips

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True North Travel Limited

Unit 10, English Business Park

English Close,

Hove, East Sussex.

Enroute West Travels welcomes you to unveil your next adventure”

Authentic experiences in the beauty of the himalayas..

Plan your next trip with us.

SIKKIM | BHUTAN | NORTHEAST

Authentic travel.

EnrouteWest Tours and Treks aims to provide you with the greatest possible Himalayan travel experience. We are proud to be a part of the community and encourage sustainable tourism that benefits local communities while providing you with the experience of a lifetime.

Enroute West Travels is a locally owned, locally based travel company, where we wish to present to our clients the best travel experiences and local delights when visiting the Sikkim, Darjeeling and Bhutan regions of the Himalayas.

From day trips to treks and hiking tours, we provide our guests with the opportunity to visit the highlights of the region, as well as destinations that are off the beaten track. We assist you in finding the most authentic homestays, provide you with guided tours, and present itineraries filled with local activities catered to your interests.

EnrouteWest aims to send you home rested and inspired with memories that will stay with you - and hopefully lead you to return again!

Hiking Packages For All Levels

Adventuring through snow-capped mountain tops..

Join us on an EnrouteWest Trek and experience the majestic landscape of the Himalayas. Choose from the number of trekking and hiking packages we offer, and be a part of a raw, real, and rejuvenating Himalayan journey that engages your senses and removes you from the everyday.

Experience local life with delicious food and drink in front of amazing views

CUSTOM PACKAGES

Enroute West has packages suited for all interests. For those seeking respite and inspiration, we curate packages  that allow you to chill, sit back, and enjoy the moment. We’ve got i.e. covered.

Book in one of our specially curated tours by clicking the link below. This experience is specifically designed for the travellers who want to skip the tourist trail and instead explore the local hidden gems of this Hidden Land. Our locally run company strives to share with you the best of the unexplored places. Click to know more.

Learn About the Sikkimese Cultures

Tucked away in the mountains, share the rich cultural heritage of sikkim’s diverse communities.

Join us and explored the hidden gems of Sikkim by booking one of our cultural and pilgrimage packages. Sikkim is not just mountains - learn from the people of the hills by staying in locally owned and operated homestays. Visiting Buddhist monasteries, Hindu temples, and Christian churches in the sacred landscape.

Click the link below to book one of our Cultural and Pilgrimage Packages

Goechala Trek

Goecha-La Trek

5000 mts, Sikkim

6N/ 7D {Customisable}

Goecha-La is said to be one of the toughest treks in India and it is always on every trekkers hit list, as always we at @enroutewest are ready to take y'all on to an adventure of a lifetime, pack your bags and let's get going !

This October, a journey to the foot of the mighty Himalayas with like-minded people.

Contact for details now !

TESTIMONIALS

Nishant Singh

We did the Pelling local sightseeing tour with Enroute West and had a fabulous day, going to the well known and lesser known sites in and around Pelling. Our tour guide for the day was Zigdel, who was very knowledgeable of local history and customs and made us aware of the unique histories and local tales behind each of the places. We spent the day walking around the Rabdense Ruins, the monastery and park at Cherezing Statue, the Rimbi waterfalls and a beautiful picnic spot near the river bed. We then finished the day at a lovely restuarant serving authentic Tibetan food (as authentic as it could seem to my Indian palete) :). The unique part about our experience with Enroute West was thier friendly and accomodative nature and the fact that they curated the days itinerary for us as per our requirements (we said we did'nt want to hop around too much). We enjoyed our day with them immensely and infact booked the next two days of sightseeing with them as well. Would highly recommend the tour group for people wanting an authentic local friendly experience :).

Vinayak Prabhu

Enroute West is synonymous to Sikkim to be honest. Very glad that I got their reference from a friend. The whole experience was spotless and superb. Right from designing the itinerary to execution, Chopel made it so easy. The Innova car sent and the driver were great. The rooms booked were clean and suited for family travellers. The price quoted was very competitive. Overall one of the best trips my family had. Thanks Enroute West

Amrut Jigajinni

Let me start by saying thank you for Chopel and Tenzing for making my trip so memorable by covering prominent N-E-W-S of Sikkim in 8 days.

I randomly hit this page after exploring with few well known branded travel companies, then after reading the reviews in this page decided to contact this team, after completing my 8days of trip I felt they prove they stand true of all good reviews here, complete hassle free arrangements, one can sit back and relax if you book with this team.

Tenzing Bhai the best person to drive length & breadth of Sikkim, very professional, on time, superb knowledge about every corner of Sikkim, passionate to show the best parts of Sikkim, till my last date of trip they didn't ask about balance amount unlike other agencies and happily one can pay more than there quoted price for there passion in conducting this trip. On our last day of trip Tenzing took to his home and it wasn't less than any scenic spot thank you so much for kind hospitality, Good luck to your team :)

Vidya Sundaram

My husband and I had a memorable trip to Sikkim for four nights this month thanks to excellent and thoughtful arrangements made by Chopel Bhutia of En route Travels for pick up, transport, sightseeing and stay. Our driver cum guide Tenzing, always gracious and considerate, helped us traverse the awesome sights in Sikkim, while informing us about Sikkim history and geography. Great value for money. Vidya

Molly Kinnaird

The most incredible trip I have ever been on in my whole life!!! Most of which was down to the most special, kind and generous guides and hosts through our stay. Chops and Ziggy shared so much of Sikkim with us, we learnt all about their culture, ate all the most incredible food and also learnt some of the language - to be improved next time!!! The guides, the porters, the equipment, the route they choose to take on the Gochela trek and the mountain GOAT Pemtuk. There isn’t the words to say how amazing this team is, they are the best and beyond!!! Thank you so much, we will be back soon.

Feel free to contact us with any questions. Email [email protected] Phone +91 9609217390 +91 7478873488 +91 8348898550