Sustainable Travel-to-Destination Policy

Policy Overview: At Where It All Began, we are committed to promoting sustainable travel practices to minimize our environmental impact and support responsible tourism. This Sustainable Travel-to-Destination Policy outlines our approach to working with overseas travel agents and private clients to foster eco-friendly travel choices, particularly with respect to travel to South Africa.

1. Policy Objectives:

• Minimize Carbon Footprint: To reduce the environmental impact of travel, particularly the carbon footprint associated with air travel. 
• Promote Sustainable Choices: To encourage travelers to make informed decisions that support sustainable tourism and reduce overall emissions. 
• Support Responsible Partners: To collaborate with partners and suppliers who share our commitment to sustainability.

 

2. Flight Emission Awareness:

Given the (over)reliance on air travel to reach South Africa, we strive to provide our clients with options that minimize their environmental impact. For every international flight booking, we utilize Google Flights to inform clients of the estimated emissions for each flight option. We advocate for the following practices:

• Opt for Direct Flights: We recommend direct flights when possible, as take-offs and landings produce the highest emissions. 

• Choose Efficient Aircraft: We provide information on flight options with newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft and explicitly state the emissions per flight to the client both in our conversations about the journey and in our final invoice. 
• Minimize Flight Changes: We advise clients to minimize the number of flight connections to reduce the cumulative emissions of multiple take-offs and landings.

3. Airport to destination ground transport:

For our private clients or groups under 5, we always offer the option of the MyCiti Bus from Cape Town International Airport or the Gautrain from O. R. Tambo, both of which are safe and sustainable options for travel to the city centre.  We then meet clients from the bus or the train and do the last few kilometres by private vehicle with modern, fuel-efficient vehicles. Our supplier in Cape Town uses a hybrid vehicle for all airport transfers.

4. Partner and Supplier Collaboration:

Our key partner agents and suppliers are expected to align with our sustainability goals. We will:

• Vet Partners: Aim to ensure that our partners adhere to sustainable practices and support our commitment to reducing environmental impact. 
• Promote Best Practices: Encourage partners to adopt eco-friendly measures in their operations and offer sustainability-focused travel options.

5. Client Education and Engagement:

We believe in the power of informed choices and strive to educate our clients about sustainable travel practices. This includes:

• Information Sharing: Providing clients with relevant information about the environmental impact of their travel choices. 
• Encouraging Green Choices: Advising on ways to offset carbon emissions, such as supporting carbon offset programs.