Quarterly Sustainability Report Q3 2016

With our commitment to sustainability, Footprint has been working hard in order to operate our business in an environmentally and socially manner. Our achievement of Travelife Certified on January 2016 has shown our commitment to sustainable travel. Travelife is an international and independent certification process that works to create a more sustainable environment in the tourism industry by setting sustainable benchmarks for its members. After becoming the first Vietnamese-owned tour operator achieving a sustainability certificate, we continue communicate our sustainability actions though quarterly report. Last time, we presented our partners’ performances regarding sustainability through Q2 report.

As a tour operator, we can contribute greater impact by developing responsible products. The third quarter 2016 report will present our performance in terms of product development.

Product Development – Sustainable Destinations

For the past few years, some of the destinations in Vietnam have been changing dramatically as a result of tourism development. Instead of investing on the roads, schools and hospitals or preservation of culture, nature and wildlife, Sapa or Nha Trang have lately boomed with a whole host of hotels. Mass tourism can even threaten the true beauty of the destinations.

Aiming at responsible tourism, Footprint Travel has strived to search for off the beaten path destinations for our customers. With consistent effort, we have selected 7 new destinations to develop responsible products including: Buon Ma Thuot, Kon Tum, Cao Bang, Con Dao, Tuy Hoa and Quy Nhon.

These destinations are quite new with tourism, thus having unique set of challenges and opportunities. Especially in Cao Bang, a CRED’s 4 year project of community based tourism has recently carried out here. The project aims at contributing to the livelihood development and increasing the quality of life through the income and employment generation, environment condition improvement and traditional culture preservation.

As a tour operator, this is our responsibility to collaborate with the hosts and support them to move towards ongoing sustainable development. We first share the experience, the approaches with the local community which allow them to determine their own paths. Then together, develop tailor made products in Cao Bang, in order to bring benefits to local community in terms of social, environmental and economical aspects.

Product Development – Accessible Destinations

In term of accessibility performance, there are many factors conditioning the tourists’ accessibility of one destination. Based on our assessment in term of the external factors include Barrier-free destination (infrastructures), transport (by air, car, train) and internal factors including services, activities, attractions and marketing information, we can defines the weaknesses and strengths of each destinations and help to improve them.

In terms of activities, we find more interesting activities with authentic local experiences which allows participation in tourism by the locals and the guests. It can be homestay, local workshop, etc. With information, we can improve the accessibility by delivering information via blog, website so that it can be access by all.

As the first Vietnamese-owned tour operator achieving a sustainability certificate, we hope to bring the solution to create a sustainable world by promoting responsible tourism and influencing our suppliers within the industry.

Author: Hong Anh

Hong Anh is a true story-teller. For her, travelling is about stepping out of your comfort zone. Each of her stories is a unique travel experience that is told and illustrated by her own distinctive style.