As a leading travel company in Kenya, Tembea Discoveries Tours and Travel recognizes our significant role in fostering sustainable tourism. We interact with a wide range of stakeholders, including tourists, tour guides, travel agencies, hotels, transport providers, restaurants, and local attractions. Our commitment is to promote sustainable practices that maximize positive impacts on the environment, society, and economy while minimizing negative effects.
This manual outlines our sustainability policy, structured into 10 key themes, each supported by actionable principles and procedures. These policies are designed to align with Kenya’s national sustainability goals, including the Kenya Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
1. Sustainability Management & Legal Compliance
– Appoint a Sustainability Coordinator: Designate a dedicated officer to oversee sustainability initiatives.
– Communicate Sustainability Mission: Share our sustainability mission with customers, partners, and suppliers.
– Develop a Written Policy: Maintain a comprehensive sustainability policy to reduce social, cultural, economic, and environmental impacts.
– Engage in External Forums: Participate in national and international sustainability forums and working groups.
– Conduct Baseline Assessments: Regularly evaluate our sustainability performance.
– Establish Supplier Guidelines: Develop sustainability criteria for key suppliers and partners.
– Create an Action Plan: Set clear targets, actions, responsibilities, and timelines for sustainability initiatives.
– Monitor and Evaluate: Implement procedures to track and assess the effectiveness of our sustainability policy.
– Ensure Transparency: Publish annual sustainability reports and communicate progress to stakeholders.
– Staff Training: Educate and engage all employees on our sustainability policy and practices.
2. Internal Management: Social Policy & Human Rights
– Respect Employee Rights: Uphold fair employment and termination practices in line with Kenyan labor laws.
– Fair Wages: Ensure salaries meet or exceed national minimum wage standards.
– Overtime Compensation: Compensate overtime work as per agreed terms.
– Employee Benefits: Provide medical insurance, paid annual leave, sick leave, and unpaid leave as per national laws.
– Health and Safety: Maintain health and safety policies compliant with Kenyan standards, including first-aid kits and trained staff.
– Child Labor Prohibition: Adhere to national regulations on minimum employment age.
– Employee Voice: Establish clear procedures for employees to voice complaints and expectations.
– Disciplinary Procedures: Communicate disciplinary processes transparently.
– Employee Satisfaction: Regularly measure and address employee satisfaction.
– Training and Development: Provide training on health, safety, and sustainability roles.
– Inclusivity: Promote employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and marginalized groups.
– Trade Union Rights: Support employees’ rights to join trade unions and engage in collective bargaining.
– Non-Discrimination: Ensure equal opportunities in recruitment, training, and promotion.
– Community Engagement: Support local communities through employment and participation opportunities.
3. Internal Management: Environment and Community Relations
– Reduce Waste: Minimize the use of disposable goods and promote recycling.
– Sustainable Procurement: Prioritize eco-friendly office and catering supplies.
– Energy Efficiency: Monitor and reduce energy consumption, and invest in green energy solutions.
– Carbon Offsetting: Calculate and offset CO2 emissions from operations.
– Paperless Operations: Promote double-sided printing and digital communication.
– Eco-Friendly Marketing: Print brochures on recycled paper and adopt digital alternatives.
– Partner Evaluation: Assess and improve the sustainability practices of partner agencies.
– Local Benefits: Prioritize accommodations and services that benefit local communities.
– Sustainability Training: Educate partners on sustainable practices and national standards.
– Contractual Clauses: Include sustainability clauses in contracts with local and international partners.
– Community Awareness: Raise awareness among partners and customers about sustainable consumption.
4. Transport
– Sustainable Options: Prioritize eco-friendly transport options for transfers and excursions.
– Public Transport: Encourage the use of sustainable public transport for long-distance travel.
– Green Packages: Design holiday packages that include sustainable transport, accommodations, and activities.
5. Accommodations
• Sustainability Standards: Select accommodations that meet recognized sustainability certifications.
• Local Ownership: Prefer locally owned and managed accommodations.
• Community Employment: Choose accommodations that employ local staff.
• Sustainability Addendum: Require accommodations to sign a sustainability agreement.
• Certification Incentives: Encourage accommodations to obtain international sustainability certifications.
• Child Protection: Ensure accommodations comply with child protection laws and repudiate child exploitation.
6. Excursions and Activities
– Sensitive Excursions: Maintain a list of environmentally and culturally sensitive excursions.
– Guest Guidance: Advise guests on respectful behaviour during activities.
– Avoid Harmful Practices: Exclude excursions that harm wildlife, ecosystems, or local cultures.
– Skilled Guides: Employ certified guides for heritage and ecologically sensitive sites.
– Community Support: Promote excursions that benefit local communities and conservation projects.
7. Tour Leaders, Local Representatives, and Guides
– Fair Employment: Ensure all staff have written contracts detailing labour conditions and job descriptions.
– Local Hiring: Prefer local guides and staff, providing necessary training.
– Living Wages: Pay local staff at least a living wage.
– Sustainability Training: Train tour leaders and guides on sustainable tourism practices.
– Policy Compliance: Ensure local staff understand and adhere to our sustainability policy.
8. Customer Communication and Protection
– Transparent Information: Provide customers with clear information about sustainability practices.
– Feedback Mechanisms: Establish channels for customer feedback on sustainability.
– Responsible Marketing: Promote sustainable travel options in marketing materials.
9. Monitoring and Continuous Improvement
– Regular Audits: Conduct periodic audits of sustainability practices.
– Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with stakeholders to improve sustainability efforts.
– Adaptation: Update policies to reflect new sustainability trends and regulations.
10. Collaboration and Advocacy
– Industry Partnerships: Work with industry bodies to promote sustainable tourism in Kenya.
– Community Projects: Support local sustainability initiatives and conservation projects.
– Policy Advocacy: Advocate for stronger sustainability policies at national and international levels.
By adhering to this Sustainability Policy & Procedures Manual, Tembea Discoveries Tours and Travel commits to being a leader in sustainable tourism in Kenya. We aim to inspire our stakeholders to join us in creating a positive impact on the environment, society, and economy, ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.
