Travel for Good: EXO’s Sustainability Rating System

A closer look at EXO’s comprehensive sustainability rating system

At EXO, we aim to be responsible in all that we do and strive to create experiences and itineraries that generate positive impacts both for the local communities and for our planet.

Travel for Good was developed so that we can evaluate the sustainability practices of each of our travel experiences and tours and measure their impact on our destinations, for both locals and our planet.

This systematic rating scheme was designed and implemented by our Sustainability Coordinators over the last decade, taking inspiration from the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

For each experience we offer, we rate it according to the following 11 Travel For Good criteria. By providing these indicators, we are able to guide our travellers into making more responsible choices that have a positive impact in the countries they’re visiting.

Low Carbon: Experiences where the main form of transport is walking, trekking, hiking, cycling, or taking public transport.

Nature conservation: Experiences that include entrance fees that are being used to protect these areas, such as national parks and sites that encourage locals to preserve nature. These sites cannot be suffering from Mass Tourism.

Ethical Wildlife tourism:  Experiences that include animal encounters or wildlife discovery with organizations that are accredited with valid certifications or that are run by non-profit organizations or that we can vouch for with proper and shareable assessments (eg: ACES certification for elephants, Green Fins for marine interactions etc.)

 

Cultural Heritage Protection: Experiences with paid entrance fees to protected heritage sites. These are UNESCO sites, or less visited sites, that do not suffer from Mass Tourism.

Arts, Food, and Creativity: Experiences including cultural shows and performances, visits to galleries, handicrafts workshops, and food experiences that showcase the cultural heritage of the destination.

Cultural Diversity: Experiences promoting ethnic groups, minorities, shared know-how, and stories.

Philanthropy: Experiences that include donations per travelers to programs, organisations or charities included in the tour or that use services from non-profits organisations such as vocational training restaurants.

Organic lifestyle: Experiences that include only vegetarian/vegan meals, farm to table activities, organic farming, or workshops to create natural products

Off The Beaten Track: Experiences promoting remote areas, and less mainstream destinations.

Homestays: Experiences that include activities or nights in homestays

Community-Based Tourism: Experiences that are run by proper CBT organizations, with community funds that help to spread out the revenue from tourism to a whole community, so people from the community can benefit from tourism.

New Blog Header (2)

Multi-day tours

Multi-day tours are a combination of a series of experiences, stays, and transfers so it’s hard to say that a tour is truly sustainable. However, certain tours can have an overall focus on criteria that have a positive impact on their environments so we’ve also categorized these according to their travel styles.

Cultural Heritage: Cultural heritage tours are a great way to learn about and appreciate the rich history and traditions of a particular place or community. These tours often involve visits to museums, historical sites, and other cultural landmarks, where knowledgeable guides share stories and information about the significance of these places. In addition to educating visitors, cultural heritage protection tours also play an important role in preserving and promoting cultural diversity and understanding. By supporting these tours, we can help ensure that important cultural traditions and artifacts are protected and maintained for future generations to appreciate and learn from.

Empowering Communities: Empowering communities tours are a type of tourism that focuses on promoting local economic development and social justice. The goal of these tours is to promote sustainable development, support local businesses, and empower community members to take an active role in shaping their own future. By participating in these tours, travelers can gain a deeper understanding of the social and economic issues facing different communities, while also supporting their efforts to build a more equitable and just society.

Low Carbon Tours: Tours that are designed for those who want to experience the best of our destinations while also keeping a low carbon footprint. Throughout the journey, you will mainly use public transport and trains, which are not only convenient but also environmentally friendly

Nature and Wildlife : Nature and wildlife tours offer a fantastic opportunity to explore and appreciate the natural world while immersing oneself in its beauty. They provide a chance to witness animals in their natural habitats, observe rare and endangered species up close, and gain a greater appreciation for the delicate balance of ecosystems. With an experienced guide, nature and wildlife tours can offer educational insights into conservation efforts and the importance of protecting our planet’s natural resources.

Homestays: What better way to experience the soul of a destination than through the eyes of its people? Homestay experiences are the ultimate form of cultural immersion. These exclusive encounters allow guests to interact and mingle with locals in our destinations for intimate and transformative cultural encounters like no other.

Follow us :

Latest News

Stay another day: Ho Chi Minh City

Cambodia Product & Destination Update: April 2024

Thailand Product & Destination Update: April 2024

Stay another day: Hanoi

What to eat in Korea: EXO’s guide to Korean cuisine

Read more...

People & Culture

Read about EXO's commitment to preserving cultural heritage and empowering people through travel

Planet

Learn about EXO's environmental responsibility and our path to carbon neutrality

© 2024 All Rights Reserved.