Sustainable tourism

Through the promotion and education of the destinations we visit, Martin Randall Travel is dedicated to the conservation and upkeep of natural heritage. We recognise the effects of our business on the environment and follow various policies in our office and beyond to reduce its impact.

Membership of The Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO)
As members of AITO we agree to follow AITO's Guidelines which define Sustainable Tourism (ST) as a way of tour operating that:

- Protects the environment
- Respects local cultures
- Benefits local communities
- Minimises pollution

AITO has established a star system to help evaluate a company's ST involvement. It is a condition of being a member of AITO that we accept certain conditions. By doing so, a company is given star status. The conditions are:

- Formal acceptance of AITO's current ST guidelines at membership renewal
- Undertaking in brochures to respect these, through adherence to AITO's Charter
- Undertaking to include basic ST advice in customer information
- Appointment of Company ST representative.
- Undertaking an environmental review, establishing a comprehensive ST policy and publishing a public policy statement.
- Engaging in specific ST initiatives/projects.

Martin Randall Travel currently has three stars.

Travel Industry Carbon Offset Service (TICOS)
We also subscribe to TICOS, the carbon offset scheme approved by AITO, to which our clients can choose to donate.

TICOS is an industry-wide programme to stimulate collective action by all travel and tourism businesses selling holidays, holiday services and air travel. TICOS uses offset funds to develop projects that make both carbon savings and have wider sustainable development benefits. The offset income is generated by voluntary contributions from customers of its service users. These are travel and tourism companies committed to offsetting and improving both the quality of the environment and the quality of life for local communities at tourism destinations.

Green Points
We endeavour to inform our clients of the cultural sensitivities of their chosen destination. We operate a ‘Green Points’ system for our small-group tours and classical music festivals, which are awarded for:

Reducing environmental impact, for example:

- Travelling by train instead of using flights.
- Using a restaurant that uses only locally-produced or seasonal ingredients.
- Using a hotel that has a particularly strong environmental policy.
- Using a coach company who use only low carbon emission coaches.

Supporting the local economy or local conservation projects, such as:

- Making a donation towards an organisation that works to preserve the area's historic architecture, art or cultural traditions.
- Using a small, non-chain supplier for a particular aspect of the tour.
- Using independent or local guides rather than a large national agency.

Green Points are located in the ‘Details’ section of our tour itineraries.

For clients booking online we also offer a Green Option, which means that paper documentation is delivered electronically where possible.

We take numerous steps to maintain a sustainable office, printing only where necessary and appropriately disposing of paper, cardboard and other recyclables.