Focus on the VESTAS number 9: TOURCERT

TOURCERT is one of the first European certification agencies to join with the VESTAS and nominate their chosen members for a 2011 VESTA award

In this ninth focus on the VESTAS: Vision European Sustainable Tourism Awards TOURCERT introduces itself and its aims

The first VESTA winners will be announced at ITB Berlin in 2011 at the Responsible Tourism Networking event on Friday 11 March.

20 of the approximately 50 eligible certification agencies have now partnered with the VESTA awards.

Florian Tögel of TOURCERT talks to Valere Tjolle of Vision on Sustainable Tourism:

Valere Tjolle: Could you give me the full name of your certification and its history (when did it start? Who are the guiding team and what do they do?)
Florian Tögel: The label is called “CSR-tourism-certified”, the certification body is TourCert. The process began in 2004 when KATE – Center for Ecology and Development in Stuttgart and the Church Development Service (EED) began to conduct research on CSR approaches in tourism.

Based on dialogue with tour operators KATE, EED and “forum anders reisen”, (far), an association of small and medium-sized tour operators committed to sustainability, developed a CSR-Reporting System. After having completed and updated the concept with practice experience the guide “CSR-Reporting in Tourism: 8 steps to a sustainability report” was published. In 2008 the far decided to compulsory adopt the reporting process for all its members. Today there are 35 certified tour operators and 40 more just about to get certified.

Connected to the concept are various institutions. TourCert is the certification body which performs the certification process. TourCert partners are EED, KATE, Naturefriends International and the University of Applied Science in Eberswalde. The Certification Council consists of representatives of industry, universities, environment and development organisations and politics and decides on the framework for CSR certification, evaluates experiences, continues to develop the CSR certification guidelines, controls the certifying organisation TourCert and decides on the admission of auditors and on the label “CSR-certified“to be issued.

VT: What organizations are certified? Where are they? What are they certified for?
FT: The TourCert label certifies tourism enterprises for their socially and ecologically responsible business activities. So far there are 35 certified tour operators from Austria, Germany and Switzerland and 40 more being in the certification process. The companies get certified for complying with the following aspects:

Publication of a CSR-report accordant to the standards of the „Guidelines CSR reporting in Tourism“ Introduction of management elements:

– CSR policy

• Commissioner for CSR
• Programme for improvement
• Compliance to the minimum criteria referring core indicators
• Company profile
• Sustainability policy within the company
• Responsibility for customers
• Sustainability within the company
• Environment
• Employees

– Social responsibility (for the community/“destinations“)

• Product responsibility in the Supply chain
• Product development

– Suppliers (incoming agencies, accommodation, tourist guides)

• Programme for improvement

VT: In your view, what has your and other certification programmes achieved so far and what have they failed to achieve?
FT: TourCert has achieved that about 75 tour operators have been certified and have published a CSR-report. Moreover, the topic of sustainability and social responsibility in the tourism industry has come to receive public interest. TourCert has contributed to the fact that CSR has been discussed in public media (TV, magazines, print, etc.) and has become an inherent part of tourism fairs such as ITB.

VT: Which best practices have you nominated for the VESTAS and why?
FT:We have nominated three best practices for VESTAS.

• a&e reiseteam GmbH from Germany has compiled an excellent CSR-report and provides a good portfolio.
• Radissimo GmbH from Germany has initially been founded and managed by two women.
• Weltweitwandern GmbH from Austria offers very well developed trips and tours and is engaged in interesting projects.

VT: If you had one wish – what should happen in 2011 to support your certification programme in making tourism more sustainable?
FT: In order to implement sustainability throughout the whole tourism industry it would be great if not only small enterprises but also huge companies and market leaders committed to sustainability and implemented CSR in all their business activities. Complying with CSR principles should be a natural industry standard.

Valere Tjolle
Valere Tjolle is the editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite latest special offer: www.travelmole.com/stories/1146327.php