In our ongoing commitment to responsible tourism, EXO Travel has partnered with Asian Captive Elephant Standards (ACES) to promote better welfare practices at elephant camps and sanctuaries across Asia.
Through a tailored assessment process developed with ACES, we aim to elevate the standard of care for elephants while offering our guests informed, ethical experiences.
ACES was founded to improve the standard of elephant tourism by setting stringent criteria for camps and sanctuaries, assessing their practices and certifying those that meet their high standards. The certification process involves a week-long on-site inspection covering everything from veterinary care to mahout (caretaker) welfare, as well as the quality of tourism activities. Only those who pass these rigorous standards earn the ACES certification, which is reassessed annually to maintain its validity.
The detailed ACES certification process can be daunting for some camps due to its intensity and cost. Recognising this, EXO Travel worked closely with ACES to develop a more approachable yet credible assessment process.
The reduced price makes it more accessible, and to further encourage participation, EXO offers to share the cost of the assessment fees for key partner camps.
This specialised assessment retains the core principles of the ACES evaluation but is condensed into a full-day inspection with accompanying paperwork. The reduced price makes it more accessible, and to further encourage participation, EXO offers to share the cost of the assessment fees for key partner camps.
For a camp to pass this assessment, it must score at least 70% across various welfare and operational criteria. If a camp doesn’t initially meet this benchmark, they have a one-month window to make improvements before a reassessment. The final results, along with actionable suggestions for improvement, are provided in a detailed dashboard, motivating camps to enhance their welfare practices.
Since the start of this initiative, EXO has provided financial support to seven camps that have undergone the assessment. Notable success stories include Ao Nang Elephant Sanctuary and Krabi Elephant Shelter. Initially scoring below the 70% threshold, the camps made significant changes and passed the assessment. Understanding the value of the assessment and feedback, the camps have now decided to undergo the full ACES certification progress.
‘Partnering with EXO Travel allowed us to create positive leverage and see impressive changes in the elephant camps’ industry’
Nicolas Dubrocard, Director of ACES, explains the impact, ‘The past year has been really fruitful with the implementation of a new tool to monitor elephant camps’ quality standards and propose tools for them to improve the elephant welfare and mahout well-being. Partnering with EXO Travel allowed us to create positive leverage and see impressive changes in the elephant camps’ industry.’
By offering this practical, expert-led assessment, EXO Travel is making it easier for elephant camps to adopt ethical practices and strive toward full certification. This collaboration is not just a win for camps and sanctuaries; it ensures better welfare for the elephants and provides our travellers with the assurance that their experiences support responsible tourism.
As we continue to grow this initiative, our goal is to see more camps pursue and achieve these welfare standards, creating a positive ripple effect for the elephants, the camps, and the travel community at large..
EXO Foundation, the non-profit arm of EXO Travel, operates across a growing number of countries, fostering sustainable development through responsible tourism. By supporting local grassroots initiatives, the Foundation aims to drive positive societal and environmental changes, maximising tourism’s potential as a tool for poverty alleviation and promoting good practices across the travel industry.
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