The Canada Winter Adventure Responsible Tourism Policy

Mission statement

We recognize that the culture, environment and economies of our area are fragile, requiring a sustained commitment from us to ensure that we have a lasting positive effect. Tourism can be a real help to our local community providing income, positive cultural exchanges and the financial incentive to protect the natural environment.

We will use locally owned and run services by preference.

Accommodation is locally owned and operated.

We will aim to where possible purchase our supplies and food from locally produced source.

We support local income generation and small business enterprises by supporting locally owned shops and restaurants, and using local guide services.

We encourage clients through our leaders, the literature and presentations to act in a responsible way and with an insight and understanding of our area.

We will take into consideration economic, environmental and cultural issues.

We will aim to ensure that our type and scale of tourism is appropriate to local conditions and operate within the limits set by local appropriate infrastructure and carrying capacity.

We aim to take responsibility for maintaining and improving the environment

We aim to minimise water and atmospheric pollution from tourism developments.

We aim to achieve zero litter policies.

We aim to integrate environmental considerations into all economic considerations.

We endeavour to use local operators and guides.

We will provide financial support for local economic and environmental projects that will benefit the local communities. Thereby actively encouraging local community involvement in Tourism Projects.

Responsible Tourism: Your role

As a traveller, we believe that you have as important a role as we do. We believe that we provide a framework for Responsible Tourism but your choices and actions before, during and after your holiday have considerable part to play.

The following covers some of the issues that we hope you will consider during your travels.

Economic issues
Our aim is to put as much back into the local community as possible.

We ask that you:

1. Buy locally made crafts and support local skills. Do not simply buy on price but on value to you.

2. Try the local food and specialities. Many rural areas around the world are under threat from a reduction in their agricultural base and by eating locally produced goods you will help the local farmers as well as the local economy.

Environmental issues
1. Please never buy products that exploit wildlife or aid the destruction of species or habitats. Do not buy souvenirs made from endangered species, like ivory; doing so will only encourage the trade.

2. Consider what you really need to take with you. Where possible remove the wrapping of packaged goods before you leave: unwrap soaps and take bottles out of boxes.

3. Pick up your litter as you would at home: bottles, cans, plastic, cigarette butts, apart from being unsightly, can be deadly to wild animals.

4. Environmentally friendly detergents and shampoos for hand and hair washing are widely available please take these, and use as little as possible. This will help to keep valuable fresh water supplies, rivers, streams and the sea free from pollution. Make sure you prevent soap polluting someone else's drinking water.

5. Remember that in many places fresh water is a very precious commodity and should not be wasted, so use a minimum for showering and washing.

6. Where any toilet facilities exist, however unsavoury, they should be used. Where they do not, always carry appropriate Ziploc bags to remove your waster, what is trekked in must be trekked out. Your leader will give you appropriate advise on this issue.

7. Although we insist that our guides maintain suitable distances from wildlife, allowing the animal a suitable escape distance, there is always a temptation to get closer. For this reason we recommend that you don't encourage your guide or driver to get closer to the animals than is acceptable and to take the most powerful lens for your camera you can get. Never feed wild animals or attempt to touch them.

Social issues
We hope that those who choose to travel do so with a genuine desire to enhance their holiday by learning more about the people of the host community.

1. It's quite easy in a small community to appear an arrogant rich foreigner, so be aware of the feelings of other people, and try to avoid giving offence.

2. Please always ask permission before taking pictures of people, ritual events or special places like shrines. If people seem reluctant or look away then please do not take a picture. Be careful not to cause offence through your thoughtlessness.

3.Responsible tourism is an issue that is important for the tourist, host communities and the environment. It is important to us that the local community plays a fair role in our operations and that we provide a long-term investment in it. It is also important that we contribute to the conservation of the natural environment of the area.

Above all, responsible tourism is about appreciating that it is the economic, environmental, cultural, social issues of an area that are paramount. It must be remembered that it is important for us all to work towards providing a responsible future that benefits all.

Any suggestions you may have regarding this issue, please e-mail us.