Transat and sustainable tourism
At Transat, we recognize the prime importance of the environment, host communities, cultural diversity, and our relationships with our employees, customers and partners. Tourism has become one of the world’s leading industries. Society and communities reap the benefits, and, each year, hundreds of millions of travellers discover new countries and cultures. Transat is firmly committed to the responsible development of the tourism industry, and has adopted the following definition of sustainable tourism: “Sustainable tourism entails respect for nature, as well as for host communities and their values; it combines positive socio-economic benefits for local populations with an enriching experience for travellers.”
Transat has embarked on a number of major projects under the auspices of its Sustainable Tourism Executive Committee, chaired by Lina De Cesare, Transat Co-founder and President, Tour Operators. All are connected in some way to the three pillars of sustainable tourism: the environment, respect for local communities and protection of their culture; and the economy, i.e., the potential and importance of tourism as a development factor.
The issue of the environment, as far as our own facilities are concerned, is a clear and basic target. Our environment committees have implemented concrete initiatives with regard to recycling, conservation of resources, the disposal of obsolete electronic equipment, and raising employee awareness. Air Transat, which proved its forward-looking approach by adopting a strict fuel-management system in 2003, has since begun developing an environmental management system that could lead to an ISO 14001 certification in the future. To find out more, consult the Transat and the Environment sections: In our facilities, In our air operations, Greenhouse gas reduction and fuel management, as well as Aviation and the environment.
We are also working with communities at travel destinations in a variety of ways. We have put together a group of experts who are studying our suppliers’ performance, and are working with them to implement ongoing improvement programs in the area of the environment, as well as socioeconomic practices and relationships with communities. We have developed a financial support program for sustainable tourism projects in travel destinations, supported by numerous promising initiatives, and promoted by groups that firmly believe in sustainable tourism and that, in many cases, have spearheaded development initiatives in their communities. We are, of course, also involved in humanitarian aid issues. To find out more, consult the Taking action at at travel destinations sections: Community support, Humanitarian aid, and Getting our suppliers on board.
Transat will keep working toward sustainable tourism with the support of its employees, partners and suppliers, and all travellers.