Using local suppliers and locally run hotels where available and avoiding at all costs foreign-owned hotel chains whose profits disappear out of the country. This ensures that the money we pay suppliers stays within the host country and benefits their economy.
Encouraging our guests to purchase locally manufactured products rather than imported alternatives, and buy gifts and crafts from local shops and markets.
Having a positive discrimination policy, and setting minimum criteria, that actively favour hotels and suppliers, which employ local people, buy their supplies locally and use local people for maintenance, refurbishment and development work. This helps ensure a 'ripple' effect from the money introduced by tourism.
Having an active recycling policy where all possible office waste is recycled e.g. paper and print cartridges
Actively favouring hotels and suppliers who have 'environmentally friendly' power and waste policies (e.g. those that use renewable sources of energy and follow active recycling policies). Only using small-scale hotels, which minimise negative environmental impacts.
Providing guests with information and advice about how they can minimise environmental impacts and advice about how they can reduce their consumption of resources (e.g. fresh water)
Supporting community development projects (e.g. schools) either directly, or indirectly through our suppliers. With the growth of BAOBAB, we aim to initiate and develop new community projects, in areas where these could be beneficial to the local people.
Always treating people with respect, observing their cultural traditions and avoiding patronising attitudes. Encouraging our guests to do likewise, by providing them with information about cultural/religious traditions and values and encouraging them to learn some basics in the local language.
Only introducing tourists to areas where the local communities welcome them. Before adding new destinations to our programme, BAOBAB will always ensure that the local people are happy with this and fully aware of the possible impacts of tourism
