Travelife Partner Sustainability Award Received by Destination Asia Indonesia & Destination Asia Malaysia

The Travelife Partner award was recently received by two operating countries within the Destination Asia Group, Destination Asia Indonesia and Destination Asia Malaysia. The award is recognition for the long-term efforts and position of Destination Asia as a leader in responsible travel and Corporate Social Responsibility within Asia.

The award acknowledges compliance with more than 100 criteria related to; an operators’ office management, product range, international business partners and customer information. The Travelife standard is covering the ISO 26000 Corporate Social Responsibility themes, including environment, biodiversity, human rights and labour relations; and is formally recognised as in full compliance with the UN supported Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria.

Destination Asia Indonesia and Destination Asia Malaysia are the second and third countries within the Destination Asia Group to achieve Travelife Partner. Destination Asia Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia are now working with Travelife to achieve the highest sustainability recognition of certification.

Mr Naut Kusters, manager of Travelife for tour operators, “I am delighted to see that sustainability in the tour operators sector is obtaining momentum. The award of the front runner Destination Asia will inspire other companies in both Indonesia and Malaysia to follow the same path”.

Since becoming a Travelife member, Destination Asia has joined with other DMCs as members of the ‘Elephant Camp Welfare and Sustainability Standard and Assessment Initiative’. At present, no widely accepted set of criteria and evaluation system is available for Elephant Camps in Asia. As a key member of the group, Destination Asia is helping develop common standards and tools in order to jointly evaluate suppliers and ultimately, motivate camps towards improved animal welfare and sustainability standards.

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