Sustainability Policy (CSR)

As a business entity, we believe that we have an obligation to the environment, consumers, employees, communities and other relevant stake holders to operate our business in a sustainable manner. Our sustainability is based on the guiding principles of creating healthy and innovative work environments, reducing operational costs and increasing productivity through resource conservation and waste management, profitability, promoting a culture of involvement in sustainability through employee/community engagement and enabling our clients to adopt sustainable practices through awareness.

TLF Holidays, a Sustainable Tour Operator

The Royal Government’s tourism policy of Bhutan on sustainability defines that tourism must be ecologically and environmentally friendly, socially and culturally acceptable and economically viable.

TLF Holidays endorses to uphold this policy and operate its tours and adventures in line to the guidelines of Royal Government of Bhutan’s Sustainable Tourism policy. We emphasize on minimizing negative economic, environmental and social impacts in the areas of our operation. We are fully committed to conservation of our resources; working with our clients and the local communities to promote direct economic benefits at a community level and to contribute to environmental and cultural heritage conservation at the same time providing more enjoyable experiences for our guests through meaningful connections with local people and a greater understanding of local culture, social and environmental issues. To mention, we have been promoting smaller groups to stride through quietly on the land and respect indigenous cultures. We have been exclusively using LPG for cooking high-up in the mountains thereby discouraging the use of firewood in total. We advocate our clients to go for locally grown vegetables and eatables, discouraging use of canned foods. The company has a firm regulation of ‘bring-back’ solid waste from the trek for proper disposal. The company fully endorses ‘Paperless Initiative’ of the Royal Government and emphasizes use of Google Apps for official correspondence and documents sharing, use of re-cycled papers, refilled toner cartridges and LED lighting of the office. We shortly wish to convert our FIT travelers to Electric Vehicle/Cars transportation.

We firmly believe that this attitude will foster a win-win situation, encouraging respect between our guests and the local communities, and building local pride and confidence.

We encourage our guests to be a ‘sustainable traveler’ and advocate them to:

Check local laws and customs of the community you are traveling to and obey local laws
Respect and honor local etiquettes, tradition and culture of the local community you are visiting; consult your guide for more information
Courteous dress-up while visiting temples, monasteries and Dzongs
Try local cuisines in local restaurants to support local entrepreneurship
Avoid littering and engage in proper disposal of solid waste
Use of tobacco products/smoking in public places is prohibited by law; honor this regulation and bring only required tobacco products for your personal consumption after declaring to the Customs and paying taxes
Export of antiques is prohibited by law; should buy only those that have been certified for sale/export. Government provides official seal to certify such artifacts that are allowed to be taken out of the country
Do not buy animal and plant species for export

TLF's Policy on Sustainability

As a travel company which has to engage with various stakeholders namely tour guides, travel agencies, hotels, transport companies, restaurants, etc., TLF Holidays comprehends its key role to influence the sustainable development of tourism, commit to promoting sustainability. We aim to follow, implement and promote good sustainability practices to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative impacts on tourism of our operations and to influence our clients and partners to do the same.

Our sustainability policy is consists of different themes, each consists of a set of principles:

1.Sustainability Management & Legal compliance

We are committed to sustainable management, practiced through an accessible and written sustainability policy that aims for a reduction of negative social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts of the company’s activities and includes employee related health and safety aspects. We are committed to complying with all national legislation, regulations and codes of practice.

2.Internal management: social policy & human rights

We commit to sustainable internal management by having clear written and well-communicated social policy that includes the right to employees the freedom of employment and contract termination with notice without penalty.

3Internal Management: Environment and community relations

We commit to practice environmental protection and enhance community relations by ensuring the enforcement of practices such as encouraging purchase of sustainable goods and services, use of cleaning materials which are non-hazardous, non-eutrophic and biodegradable and are certified with an eco-label, commitment to reduce energy consumption. Contribute to the protection and preservation of local historical, archaeological, culturally, and spiritually important properties and sites, and not impede access to them by local residents;

4Partner Agency

Based on record of key partner agencies, we follow a policy to improve sustainability of our partner agencies and service providers. Our aim is to make sustainable development concrete to each and every partner within our business. We aim to do this through raising awareness among key partners on sustainable consumption by organising campaigns and trainings

5Transport

We try to ensure that vehicles used on tours do not cause severe pollution. We believe that transport is an important aspect of sustainable tourism, and do our best to decrease the average pollution level. We do this though selecting the most sustainable options considering price and comfort when selecting transport options to the destination

6Accommodation

We try to achieve a tourism supply chain that is fully sustainable; partner accommodations play an important role in achieving this, and are stimulated and motivated to adapt sustainable practices. We commit this by selecting accommodations that comply with sustainability and quality standards with a focus on energy & water saving initiatives, waste management programs and train employees in health safety issues and those accommodations that follow best practices/trainings on responsible tourism

7Excursions and activities

We safeguard the authenticity of the communities and the environment, and are strongly against harming wildlife and polluting the environment. We try to promote and recommend our guests on excursions and activities which directly involve and support local communities by purchasing services or goods, traditional crafts and local (food) production methods, or visiting social projects

8Tour leaders, local representatives and guides

We try to involve as many locals as possible by employing them during the peak season and stand for a fair/safe working environment that supports and respects local communities. We try to ensure that our local partners comply with all applicable laws and regulations, industry standards, and any other relevant statutory requirement. We also train our tour leaders, representatives and guides to inform clients on relevant sustainability matters viz. protection of flora, fauna, and cultural heritage, resource use, etc. and social norms & values viz. tipping, dress code and photography and human rights issues like sexual exploitation or child labour.

9Destination

We target to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative impacts at the places of visit to ensure the sustainable development of the places that we operate in. We support biodiversity conservation, including protected areas and areas of high biodiversity, through integration in product offers

10Customer communication and protection

Customer welfare and information are very important aspects to consider. We comply with relevant standards and voluntary codes of conduct in marketing and advertising messages, and not promise more than what can be delivered. We try to motivate clients to use local restaurants and shops wherever appropriate. Inform clients about applicable legislation concerning the purchasing, sales, import and export of historic or religious artefacts and articles containing materials of restricted flora/fauna in the destination