Condor Travel Partners with Rainforest Alliance in Sustainability

22 September 2011
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With over 800 million people travelling annually, tourism is the world’s leading industry and nature tourism its fastest growing sector. In order to protect the surroundings on which it depends, Condor Travel, a travel company based in Peru , with offices in Brazil Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Bolivia, recently partnered with the Rainforest Alliance to work towards environmental and social standards, protecting wildlife habitat and workers alike.

Condor Travel has recently signed an agreement with the Rainforest Alliance to make changes to ensure the travel company is adopting environmentally and socially sound practices.

“This is a very important step in our commitment to develop sustainable tourism practices. We have been working on social responsible actions with some communities in Cusco, but we know the next step is working on environmental issues. With our leadership in the industry, we know we can make big changes others can follow”, said Sammy Niego, CEO of Condor Travel.

Condor Travel is one of the leader travel companies in Peru and has 34 years of experience offering tailor-made solutions to travelers around the world.

As part of the Rainforest Alliance program, Condor Travel worked to engage travelers with communities through rural tourism. This program also supports training the members of these communities in hospitality techniques. Since many “porteadores” Condor hires for the Inca Trail come from the Misminay community, this program becomes another way of partnership with the locals”.

Ronald Sanabria, Rainforest Alliance VP of Sustainable Tourism said that RFA is willing to positioning Peru as a responsible touristic destination. “We are committed to colaborate in saving the nature and cultural resources that define this nation, which is improving in the effort of being a world-class responsible destination.”

Sanabria is sure that the union of Condor and RFA individual experiences and strengths will boost the results of working together.

The Rainforest Alliance’s sustainable tourism program helps tourism professionals improve the sustainability of their businesses based on the principles of the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria. Initiatives include adopting ecosystem and water conservation measures, reducing energy use, supporting local economies, hiring from within the community and reducing costs.

Misminay is a community located 12.140 feet over sea level, an hour from Cusco city. It is close to the Maras salt mines and the agricultural terraces of Moray. It has a population of 500 people.

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