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Actour Cabo Verde sustainable development policy

Actour is a local tourism agency that interacts with various tourism stakeholders such as customers, tour guides, travel agencies, hotels, transport companies, restaurants and attractions. We, Actour Trekking Lda, understand the fundamental role and our influence on the sustainable development of tourism. This is why we are committed to promoting sustainability. Our aim is to follow, apply and promote good practice in sustainability, in order to maximise the positive and minimise the negative impacts of our tourism operations and to influence our customers and partners to do the same.

 

Commitment to sustainability

We will use the Travelife platform to report, monitor and evaluate our sustainability progress. We commit to communicate (publicly) our sustainability performance (through the Travelife report) every two years. Actour is committed to continuous improvement in its sustainability practices, including the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of its sustainability policy, with staff and resources dedicated to the achievement of its sustainability objectives.

Actour complies with all local, regional, national and international regulations relating to human resources, human rights, children's rights, land rights, environmental management, wildlife and land use. We follow a strict code of ethics, including a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, bribery, forced labour and discrimination.

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  1. Sustainability management and legal compliance

We are committed to managing sustainability through the following actions:

  • An employee is designated to take on the role of sustainability coordinator; we develop a sustainability mission statement that is communicated to customers, partners and suppliers;

  • We are open to collaboration and actively participate in external forums and working groups that support sustainable tourism; We ensure that all employees are fully aware of our sustainability policy and are committed to applying and improving it; We are committed to complying with all national laws, regulations and codes of practice

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  2 . Internal management: Social policy and human rights

We are committed to implementing sustainable internal management through a clear, written and well-communicated policy, which includes the following principles:

  • We grant employees freedom of employment and termination of contract with notice and without negotiation;

  • We include working conditions in the contract in accordance with national legislation;

  • The salary is stated in the contract and is equal to or higher than the national minimum wage; We provide employees with paid annual leave;

  • We have purchased first aid kits and trained staff are available at all relevant sites;​

  • We have civil liability insurance covering the risks arising from our activity;

  • We comply with national regulations concerning the minimum age for admission to employment;

  • We prohibit discrimination in recruitment, employment and training;

  • We are committed to respecting human rights;

  • We undertake to respect workers' rights.

  • We prohibit discrimination in hiring, employment conditions, access to training and senior positions, or promotion on the basis of gender, race, age, disability, ethnic origin, religion/belief or race, ethnicity, religion/belief or sexual orientation.

Actour is committed to a policy of zero tolerance towards acts of corruption, discrimination and human rights abuses, including forced labour, human trafficking and all children's rights. Actour also expects this commitment from all its partners and suppliers

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  3. Internal management: Environment and community relations

We are committed to practising environmental protection and improving community relations by ensuring compliance with the following practices:

  • We actively reduce the use of complementary and consumable goods;

  • We encourage the purchase of sustainable goods and services, office and food supplies, gifts and merchandise;

  • We train photocopiers and printers in double-sided printing or other forms of paper saving;

  • We use eco-labelled cleaning products;

  • We switch off lights and equipment when not in use;

  • We actively reduce water consumption;

  • Waste is handed over to the local authorities.

  • Actour is committed to managing environmental impact as an integral part of its business. Our policy is to ensure the environmental integrity of our processes and products at all times:

  • Continually seeking opportunities to improve our environmental performance by setting objectives and targets, measuring progress and reporting our results, including, but not limited to, energy, water, paper and carbon ;

  • Reduce, reuse and recycle goods and products instead of producing waste, particularly landfill waste;

  • Promoting participation and communicating our commitment to responsible environmental management by encouraging environmental responsibility among our employees and stakeholders and seeking their input to better achieve our environmental objectives;

  • Minimising pollution, including light, noise and any contaminants of soil, water or air, and avoiding the use of any toxic or hazardous substances.

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Carbon management of office operations and land use

 

Actour is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and strives to minimise travel;

  • Monitoring and measuring the carbon footprint with the aim of reducing it as much as possible and offsetting any remaining amounts;

  • Encouraging remote working wherever possible or using environmentally friendly modes of transport;

  • Actour offices are located in an urban area and comply with all local land use laws, respect local cultural and natural resources in our business activities and promote sustainable architecture and design.

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General supplier policy

Actour is committed to sourcing services responsibly, avoiding as far as possible adverse effects on society, culture and nature. We expect the same level of commitment from our suppliers. Actour prefers to work with partners who share the company's commitment to sustainability.

This means that we prefer partners who have a written sustainability statement as part of their business policy and/or a clear sustainability policy. Actour prefers to work with suppliers in destinations that are locally owned or managed, that use local and seasonal products and services and that benefit the local community by employing locally and fairly and offering fair working conditions. Wherever possible, Actour prefers to select partner companies that comply with internationally recognised tourism-specific certifications, or other sustainability certifications such as B Corp or ISO. Actour offers incentives to partners who actively engage in sustainable operations.

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Actour expects its suppliers to adhere to a code of conduct that includes the following responsible business practices:

  • Comply with all local, regional, national and international regulations;

  • Respect all human rights, including labour rights, children's rights and women's rights;

  • Commit to fair employment conditions;

  • Respect policies against corruption, bribery, extortion and discrimination;

  • Protect children from (sexual) exploitation through tourism; Protect the environment and natural resources;

  • Act in the best interests of local communities;

  • Protect the interests of Actour Trekking Lda. Our full supplier [Code of Conduct] is available here :

 

Following a zero tolerance policy, Actour will immediately terminate any relationship with suppliers who violate [our policies/[code of conduct], including acts of corruption, discrimination and human rights violations.
Actour encourages its suppliers to adopt social and environmental practices and to reduce their carbon footprint. Actour works actively with its suppliers to improve their sustainability performance. We encourage our suppliers to learn about sustainability on an ongoing basis and to provide/support this learning wherever possible. 
Actour maintains open lines of communication with its suppliers and partners and encourages feedback from its stakeholders at any time and on any topic, particularly sustainability.

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  4. Our partners

Based on an inventory of our main partners, we are developing and implementing a policy aimed at improving their sustainability. To this end, we are making the following commitments:

  • We keep an up-to-date list of the sustainability practices of accommodation and associated agents; we seek to work only with companies that genuinely apply sustainability in their tourism;

  • We prefer partners who pay attention to the benefits for local communities when selecting local accommodation.

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  5. Transport

We believe that transport is an important aspect of sustainable tourism and we do everything we can to reduce the average level of pollution. We do this in the following ways:

  • We select the most sustainable options taking into account price and comfort when choosing transport options to the destination, including sustainable (public) transport;

  • We consider and give preference to the most sustainable alternatives when selecting transport options for transfers and visits to the destination, taking into account price and comfort; we encourage the use of means of transport that emit fewer greenhouse gases, such as bicycles, electric public transport, electric cars and hybrid vehicles; we encourage the use of non-motorised means of transport, such as walking and footpaths in conservation areas.

  • Actour only works with transport providers who adhere to the company's code of conduct. 

  • Actour has implemented clear guidelines to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport and has chosen the most environmentally friendly transport options, including the following measures
    measures : 

  • We prefer land transport to air transport for short-haul destinations; we encourage the use of public transport through reduced fares or special tickets for tourists; we avoid flights at peak times. We encourage the use of public transport through reduced fares or special tickets for tourists; 

  • We avoid flights to the destination as much as possible; we offer electric rail transport to and from the airport; we use public transport to the destination; we use vehicles of a size adapted to the size of the group and purchase the most appropriate transport equipment for the size of the group.

  • We use vehicle sizes adapted to the size of the groups and purchase the most efficient vehicles available

 

 

  6. Accommodation
Actour only works with accommodation that adheres to the company's [Code of Conduct/Sustainable Accommodation Policy].
Actour favours the selection of accommodation that respects and protects the use of land, and respectfully showcases elements of local architecture if the accommodation building (exterior and/or interior) incorporates elements of local art, architecture or cultural heritage. We appreciate accommodation that offers to promote the preservation of the place and the enhancement of the different services/products characteristic of the region where it is inserted, customs and traditions [Actour Trekking Lda Sustainable Accomodation Policy]. 

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  • Actour prefers and selects locally owned and operated accommodation; we select accommodation that creates jobs in local communities; 

  • We ensure that children's rights are respected and safeguarded throughout our accommodation supply chain; We support, collaborate and involve stakeholders in preventing the sexual exploitation of children;

  • We select comfortable accommodation for the right price, where the establishment is hygienic, sanitary, safe and able to offer a good service that meets our customers' expectations.

  • Sustainable accommodation practices can be found in all price ranges, so we aim to identify the most sustainable options available within our customers' budgets;

  • The establishment follows fair business practices, including transparency and respect for the law, human rights and economic/social equity, as well as environmental and animal protection.

  • Accommodations that minimise their impact on the environment and society, with a strong emphasis on sustainable practices the environment and society

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  7. Excursions and activities
We place great importance on the well-being of animals, plants and the community. We preserve the authenticity of communities and the natural environment and are firmly opposed to any attack on life in all its forms or pollution of the environment. Use and care is our motto, so that future generations can also enjoy all that nature has to offer.
This is why we are committed to the following:

  • We advise our clients on rules of conduct during excursions and activities, with an emphasis on respect for local culture, nature and the environment; we engage qualified, oriented or certified guides for our clients in culturally sensitive places, heritage sites or ecologically sensitive destinations; we promote and advise our clients on excursions and activities that directly involve and support local communities through the acquisition of services or goods, traditional crafts and local (food) production methods, or visits to social projects ; 

  • Actour only works with tour providers who adhere to the company's [Code of Practice/Sustainable Tour Policy]. 

  • Actour has clear guidelines and codes of practice for environmentally and culturally sensitive tours offered by or on behalf of the company. These guidelines are actively communicated to customers and distributed and implemented by tour providers and guides. 

  • Actour offers tour and attraction providers learning and sustainability management opportunities, including free access to the Travelife online learning and reporting platform.

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 8. Tour leaders, local representatives and guides
Our aim is to involve as many local people as possible by employing them in the tourist activity. To achieve this, we make the following commitments:

  • We ensure that all employees hired by Actour have a written employment contract, which includes working conditions and a job description, and that they fully understand the terms and conditions ; 

  • We give preference to tour guides, representatives, restaurants and drivers as well as other local employees where there is equal capacity;

  • We ensure that our tour guides, hosts and other hired employees are qualified and receive regular training and knowledge on the sustainability topics of the destination. 

  • We ensure that our local representatives and guides inform customers about the destination's sustainability issues (protection of flora, fauna and cultural heritage, use of resources), social norms and values (advice, dress code and photography) and human rights (e.g. sexual exploitation).

  • Actour understands that guides are the intermediaries between customers and the socio-cultural and environmental context of the destination, and that they convey appropriate behaviour. 

  • Actour offers guides training opportunities on sustainability topics, including free access to the Travelife online training platform.

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  9. Destiny
Our aim is to maximise the positive impacts and minimise the negative impacts on the destination in order to ensure the sustainable development of the places where we operate. To achieve this, we are committed to the following:

  • We do not select destinations where tourism has negative local structural effects; we consider selecting new destinations that can be reached with more sustainable means of transport, such as cycling; we support initiatives that improve relationships between accommodation and local producers. 

  • Actour prefers to work in destinations (Cape Verde Islands) that are committed to making sustainability an integral part of community and destination development. 

  • Actour strives to send visitors to secondary or lesser-known tourist areas in order to avoid overtourism.

  • Actour does not support destinations with questionable human rights records.

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Environmental management in destinations
Actour is committed to respecting the environment in the destinations where we operate: by ensuring that natural resources remain intact; by raising customer awareness of the principles of responsible travel and responsible behaviour on the part of visitors.

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  10. Communication and customer protection
Customer welfare and information are very important to us. At Actour, we guarantee clear communication and constant protection of our customers. Prior to booking, we make the following commitments:

  • We guarantee that customer privacy is not compromised; 

  • We comply with applicable standards and codes of conduct regarding marketing messages and advertising and we do not promise more than is delivered;

  • Product and pricing information is clear, complete and accurate in relation to the company and its products and services;

  • We provide destination information, including sustainability aspects, that is factually correct, balanced and complete; we promote sustainable accommodation, excursions, packages and/or (certified) transport options, with logos and other information.

  • We provide information about the destination, including sustainability aspects, that is factually correct, balanced and complete; 

  • We promote sustainable (certified) accommodation, excursions, packages and/or transport options, with logos or other messages, ensuring that they are recognisable to the consumer and presented as the ‘best’ option; 

  • We clearly inform direct (and potential) customers about sustainability commitments and actions.

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After booking and during the trip, we commit to the following:

  • We provide information to consumers about the natural environment, local culture and cultural heritage of the holiday destination;

  • We inform consumers about the key sustainability issues and problems in the destination and how they can make a positive contribution; 

  • We inform consumers about health and safety risks and precautions in the destination. 

  • We keep a contact person and telephone number available at all times for emergency situations;

  • We encourage customers to use local restaurants and shops (where available); 

  • We inform customers about sustainable transport options at their destination, wherever possible.

  • After the journey, we promise to: systematically measure customer satisfaction and use the results to improve services and products; include sustainability in the customer satisfaction survey;

  • We have clear procedures for dealing with customer complaints.

 

Contact person/responsible person
All staff are responsible for the ownership and implementation of this policy. 
All members of staff are responsible for promoting and implementing this sustainable development policy within their department.
The implementation of this policy will be led by the Sustainable Development Coordinator, Adilson Correia, who can be contacted at info@actourhiking.com.
Effective date: This policy comes into effect on 31 December 2024.
Revision history: This policy will be revised by 30 November 2026.

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