About PATA Sustainability & Social Responsibility

The Pacific Asia Travel Association will, by example and facilitation, provide leadership towards the achievement of environmental and economic sustainability, cultural preservation and social responsibility by the travel and tourism industry in the Asia Pacific region.

PATA pledges to:

• Promote and recognise best practice in sustainability and corporate social responsibility
• Ensure that PATA events achieve the highest standards of social responsibility and, in turn, create minimal negative environmental impact
• Advance the role of tourism in poverty alleviation, social cohesion, cultural awareness and the preservation and maintenance of human dignity
• Identify and promote the adoption of mechanisms, guidelines and practices to better measure, manage and reduce environmentally harmful impacts and resource depletion
• Establish, undertake and promote education/ training programmes and knowledge exchange networks aimed at achieving best practice management and operation of travel and tourism activities
• Establish alliances and partnerships with appropriate organisations that strengthen the effectiveness and expand the reach of PATA’s environmental and social responsibility programmes
• Encourage investment and development of services and infrastructure that minimise adverse environmental impact, support social advancement and community engagement and promote cultural authenticity and preservation

Photo Credits: Chi Lo, PATA

PATA Traveller’s Code

Sustaining Indigenous Cultures

“Travel is a passage through other people’s lives and other people’s places.”

1. Be flexible: Are you prepared to accept cultures and practices different from your own?
2. Choose Responsibly: Have you elected to support businesses that clearly and actively address the cultural and environmental concerns of the locale you are visiting?
3. Do Your Homework: Have you done any research about the people and places you plan to visit so you may avoid what may innocently offend them or harm their environment?
4. Be Aware: Are you informed of the holidays, holy days, and general religious and social customs of the places you visit?
5. Support Local Enterprise: Have you made a commitment to contribute to the local economy by using businesses that economically support the community you are visiting, eating in local restaurants and buying locally made artisan crafts as remembrances of your trip?
6. Be Respectful and Observant: Are you willing to respect local laws that may include restrictions of your usage of or access to places and things that may harm or otherwise erode the environment or alter or run counter to the places you visit?

The PATA Traveller’s Code was approved by the PATA Sustainable Tourism Committee at its April 13, 2002 meeting in New Delhi, India.

The Code for Sustainable Tourism was adopted by both PATA and APEC as a reflection of their strong commitment to tourism growth across the Asia and Pacific region that is viable and sustainable over a long-term future.

This code urges PATA International and Chapter members and APEC Member Economies to:

Conserve the natural environment, ecosystems and biodiversity

• CONTRIBUTE to the conservation of any habitat of flora and fauna, affected by tourism
• ENCOURAGE relevant authorities to identify areas worthy of conservation and to determine the level of development, if any, which would be compatible in or adjacent to those areas
• INCLUDE enhancement and corrective actions at tourism sites to conserve wildlife and natural ecosystems.

Respect and support local traditions, cultures and communities

• ENSURE that community attitudes, local customs and cultural values, and the role of women and children, are understood in the planning and implementation of all tourism related projects
• PROVIDE opportunities for the wider community to take part in discussions on tourism planning issues where these affect the tourism industry and the community
• ENCOURAGE relevant authorities to identify cultural heritage worthy of conservation and to determine the level of development if any which would be compatible in or adjacent to those areas
• CONTRIBUTE to the identity and pride of local communities through providing quality tourism products and services sensitive to those communities.

Maintain environmental management systems

• ENSURE that environmental assessment is an integral step in planning for a tourism project
• ENCOURAGE regular environmental audits of practices throughout the tourism industry and to promote desirable changes to those practices
• ESTABLISH detailed environmental policies and indicators, and/or guidelines for the various sectors of the tourism industry
• INCORPORATE environmentally sensitive design and construction solutions in any building or landscaping for tourism purposes.

Conserve energy and reduce waste and pollutants

• FOSTER environmentally responsible practices for:
  • Reducing pollutants and greenhouse gases
  • Conserving water and protecting water quality
  • Managing efficiently waste and energy
  • Controlling noise levels and
  • Promoting the use of recyclable and biodegradable materials

Encourage a tourism commitment to environments and cultures

• ENCOURAGE those involved in tourism to comply with local, regional and national planning policies and to participate in the planning process
• FOSTER, in both management and staff of all tourism projects and activities, an awareness of environmental and cultural values
• ENCOURAGE all those who provide services to tourism enterprises to participate through environmentally and socially responsible actions
• SUPPORT environmental and cultural awareness through tourism marketing.

Educate and inform others about local environments and cultures

• SUPPORT the inclusion of environmental and cultural values in tourism education, training and planning
• ENHANCE the appreciation and understanding by tourists of natural environments and cultural sensitivities through the provision of accurate information and appropriate interpretation
• ENCOURAGE, and support research on the environmental and cultural impacts of tourism.

Cooperate with others to sustain environments and cultures

• COOPERATE with other individuals and organisations to advance environmental improvements and sustainable development practices, including establishing indicators and monitoring
• COMPLY with all international conventions and national, state and local laws which safeguard natural environments and cultural sensitivities.

The APEC/PATA Code for Sustainable Tourism was signed by the APEC Chairperson and the PATA Chairperson at the 50th PATA Annual Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.