OUR SUSTAINABILITY POLICY

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Sustainability Policy Introduction Caria Pan Travel aims to contribute positively to the environment. Therefore, we are committed to promoting sustainability. Concern for the environment and advancing a broader sustainability agenda are integral parts of our company’s professional activities and management. We strive to contribute to economic, environmental, and social progress with a view to achieving sustainable development and helping our clients undertake responsible trips. Accordingly, we follow and promote good sustainability practices to reduce the environmental impacts of all our activities and assist our clients and partners in doing the same. Our Sustainability Policy is based on the following principles:

 

• To comply with, and exceed where practicable, all applicable national legislation, regulations, and codes of practice.

• To integrate sustainability considerations into all our business decisions.

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

• To minimize the impact of all our office and travel operation activities.

• To make clients and suppliers aware of our sustainability commitments and encourage them to adopt sound sustainable management practices.

• To review, annually report, and continually strive to improve our sustainability performance.

• To ensure accountability and transparency in our sustainability performance. This Sustainability Policy identifies 4 core values and 5 areas of sustainable practices throughout our business operations.

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1. Core Values

 

Human Rights:

Caria Pan Travel respects and promotes human rights as described in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations, and we expect the same commitment from our suppliers. Labour Standards Our company complies with national labour standards across all operations. We have a Human Resources policy that details our internal employment standards. 

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Environment

Our company considers the potential environmental impacts of its activities and seeks to avoid or, where avoidance is not possible, to minimize these impacts. Relevant policies are in place to prevent and mitigate negative effects. 

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Anti-Corruption

Caria Pan Travel is committed to applying high standards of honesty and integrity throughout its operations. We operate according to our corporate values and maintain a zero-tolerance policy against corruption and bribery in all forms, both internally and with our business partners.

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2. Sustainability in the Company Structure

 

Caria Pan Travel integrates sustainability as a core part of its organizational structure.

 

Sustainability Coordination

 

Our Sustainability Coordinator, Volkan Tamusta, manages the company’s certification process and leads the sustainability transformation efforts. He regularly holds internal meetings and communicates updates with management. Contact: +90 507 662 0184

 

Task Description

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• Coordinate Travelife reporting and certification,

• Ensure all staff understand and commit to our sustainability policies,

• Oversee the implementation of the sustainability action plan,

• Improve the sustainability of our product offerings and supply chain,

• Report biannually on sustainability progress and challenges to management,

• Support internal and external communication regarding sustainability policies and actions. Access to the Policy Our corporate sustainability policy is accessible to all employees, suppliers, and the general public.

• Sustainability is a standard agenda item in office meetings.

• We communicate our sustainability expectations to suppliers and encourage their compliance. • A summary of our sustainability principles and actions is available on our website.

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Action Planning

 

We develop an annual sustainability action plan with clear targets, responsibilities, and timelines involving input from all employees. Monitoring Monthly meetings with office staff include sustainability as a regular agenda item to monitor implementation, evaluate progress, and discuss new ideas. Corrective Measures If planned targets or actions face obstacles or delays, alternative plans will be developed and implemented. Unachievable targets will be postponed and replaced with new initiatives.

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3. Sustainable Office Operations

 

• Energy: We use LED lighting where possible and ensure electronic devices are turned off when not in use.

• Water: The only electronic device consuming water is the coffee machine. Employees are informed about the health and environmental impacts of excessive coffee consumption. Vehicle cleaning is done with damp cloths to reduce water usage.

• Waste Management: We participate in the Muratpaşa Municipality’s waste collection program, separating organic waste, glass, plastic, metal, and batteries for proper disposal.

• Paper Usage: All company correspondence includes the phrase “Save a tree. Don’t print this email unless it is really necessary.” We use double-sided printing to reduce paper consumption.

• Cleaning: Office cleaning products are chosen for their environmental friendliness to minimize harm to nature.

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4. Sustainability and Public Relations

 

• Our company aims to transparently communicate its sustainability practices and achievements to partners, suppliers, clients, and the public.

• Our Sustainability Coordinator serves as the contact point, with contact details clearly provided on our website.

• Staff are trained regularly to respond to sustainability-related inquiries or refer them to the Sustainability Coordinator

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5. Partner Agencies

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At Caria Pan Travel, we are committed to spreading our sustainability approach to our partner agencies. In this regard:

• We inform key partners about Travelife and national tourism standards.

• We communicate our company’s sustainability policy to partners and expect them to comply with it and/or convey it to final customers where relevant.

• We encourage inbound partners to participate in sustainability training programs designed for travel companies.

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6. Sustainable Transportation

 

At Caria Pan Travel, we prioritize sustainability when choosing transportation options. We strive to:

• Opt for transportation methods to the destination that offer the best balance between environmental impact, cost, and passenger comfort.

• Favor eco-friendly transport solutions for transfers and excursions within the destination, carefully weighing price, comfort, and practicality.

• Develop and promote sustainable travel packages that include responsible transport, ecoconscious accommodations, and activities aligned with recognized sustainability standards.

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7. Sustainable Accommodations At Caria Pan Travel, we actively support our partner accommodations in adopting sustainability practices. Our commitments include:

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• Encouraging and assisting our partners to obtain recognized sustainability certifications.

• Prioritizing accommodations that are locally owned and managed to empower local communities.

• Preferring lodging options that employ local residents.

• Promoting responsible tourism practices among our accommodation partners.

• Including sustainability clauses in contracts with accommodation providers covering child labor, anti-corruption and bribery policies, waste management, and biodiversity protection.

• Collaborating with accommodations and restaurants that preserve and promote local art, architecture, and cultural heritage while respecting the intellectual property rights of local communities.

• Ensuring that child rights are safeguarded throughout our accommodation supply chain with a zero-tolerance policy for any form of child exploitation.

• Terminating partnerships with accommodations that jeopardize essential services such as clean water, energy, food, healthcare, or soil quality for neighboring communities.

• Encouraging accommodations to complete sustainability surveys to better understand and improve their sustainability practices.

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8. Excursions and Activities:

 

At Caria Pan Travel, we commit to:

• Maintaining a detailed inventory of environmentally and culturally sensitive excursions offered in each destination.

• Providing our guests with clear guidelines on respectful behavior during excursions, emphasizing respect for local culture, nature, and ecosystems.

• Avoiding offering any excursions that harm humans, wildlife, plants, or natural resources such as water and energy, or that are socially and culturally unacceptable.

• Not including tours involving captive wildlife, except for properly regulated activities in compliance with local, national, and international laws.

• Not engaging with companies involved in the collection, trade, display, or consumption of wildlife species.

• Providing skilled and/or certified guides to lead guests through culturally or ecologically sensitive sites.

• Encouraging and advising our guests to participate in excursions that directly support local communities by purchasing local goods, traditional crafts, or visiting social projects.

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9. Tour Leaders, Local Representatives, and Guides

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At Caria Pan Travel, we commit to:

• Providing all employees with written employment contracts that include job descriptions and working conditions, ensuring they fully understand their roles and responsibilities.

• Prioritizing the employment of local tour leaders, representatives, guides, porters, drivers, cooks, and other local staff when qualifications are equal, and offering ongoing training to develop their skills.

• Guaranteeing fair and timely payment to all contracted local staff at or above the legal minimum wage or relevant industry standards.

• Regularly evaluating the qualifications of our tour leaders, local representatives, and guides, and providing continuous training to raise awareness of sustainability.

• Informing local employees about our sustainability policies to ensure full compliance and engagement.

• Organizing trainings for local guides to help them understand responsible tourism practices and the sustainability challenges and opportunities of the destinations they serve.

• Empowering our tour leaders, representatives, and guides to educate guests about protecting natural and cultural heritage, responsible resource use, respecting local customs and social norms (such as tipping, dress code, and photography), and human rights issues (e.g., prevention of child sexual exploitation).

• Conducting specialized training sessions for employed tour leaders and local representatives focused on preventing the sexual exploitation of children, including how to identify and report suspicious behaviors.

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10. Destinations

 

At Caria Pan Travel, we commit to:

• Incorporating sustainability criteria in the selection of new destinations, and offering alternative, lesser-known destinations to our clients.

• Avoiding destinations where tourism causes persistent negative effects on local communities, unless our company’s involvement clearly counterbalances these impacts.

• Prioritizing destinations accessible through environmentally friendlier and more sustainable transportation options.

• Fully complying with legal spatial planning, protected area regulations, and cultural heritage protection laws, as well as local, regional, and national destination management strategies.

• Supporting initiatives that foster cooperation between accommodations and local producers.

• When possible, working alongside other travel companies and stakeholders to encourage and assist local governments in sustainability efforts, destination planning, natural resource management, and socio-cultural matters.

• Not promoting souvenirs that include protected flora and fauna species listed under the CITES treaty and the IUCN Red List, nor illegal historical or archaeological artifacts

• Supporting locally made souvenirs.​

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11. Customers

 

Caria Pan Travel commits to:

• Ensuring the privacy and security of our customers’ personal information without compromise.

• Adhering to all relevant standards and voluntary codes of conduct in our marketing and advertising, providing honest and accurate information without overpromising.

• Providing clear, complete, and accurate information about our company and its products and services, including sustainability claims.

• Offering balanced, factual, and comprehensive destination information, including sustainability aspects.

• Informing customers about alternative sustainable transportation options to reach the destination when these are not included in the package.

• Promoting certified sustainable accommodations, tours, packages, and transport options, making sure these are clearly recognizable as preferable choices. • Informing customers about available sustainable alternatives related to accommodations, excursions, packages, and transport.

• Clearly communicating our sustainability commitments and actions to direct customers.

• Providing information on the natural environment, local culture, and cultural heritage of holiday destinations.

• Informing customers about key sustainability issues in destinations and advising on how to contribute positively.

• Providing guidance on health and safety risks and precautions relevant to the destination.

• Maintaining an emergency contact person and phone number accessible at all times.

• Training staff on emergency procedures and keeping guidelines readily available.

• Offering customers documented guidelines and codes of conduct for sensitive excursions and activities to minimize negative impacts and maximize enjoyment.

• Informing customers about commercial, sexual, or other forms of exploitation and harassment, particularly involving children and adolescents.

• Informing customers about legal regulations regarding the purchase, sale, import, and export of historical or religious artifacts and products containing threatened flora and fauna in the destination.

• Encouraging customers to support local restaurants and shops.

• Informing customers about sustainable transport options within destinations where possible.

• Regularly measuring customer satisfaction and using the results to improve products and services.

• Integrating sustainability as a key component in customer satisfaction research.

• Having clear procedures in place to handle customer complaints effectively​​