Ayzoh! Ethiopia Tours / Ayzoh APS is an Ethiopian company guided by values such as commitment, trust, excellence, innovation, and sustainability.
We firmly believe that by adopting more sustainable measures and practices benefiting the environment, people, and the economy, we will foster a fairer and more sustainable tourism industry.
Objective The aim of this policy is to define principles that guide us toward more sustainable solutions both within our office environment and in our relationships with partners and service providers.
Scope of Application This policy covers all operations from management to executive levels within our company. All staff, suppliers, and partners are required to commit fully to achieving the objectives defined herein.
The sustainability policy of Ayzoh! Ethiopia Tours / Ayzoh APS is divided into 10 themes. Each theme consists of principles intended to be converted into concrete actions effectively implemented.
SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT AND LEGAL COMPLIANCE
We are committed to sustainability management through the following actions:
- Appointing an employee as sustainability coordinator;
- Communicating our sustainability mission to clients, partners, and suppliers;
- Drafting an accessible sustainability policy aimed at reducing negative social, cultural, economic, and environmental impacts, including employee health and safety;
- Actively participating in external forums and working groups promoting sustainable tourism;
- Defining sustainability guidelines and implementing an evaluation system to identify key suppliers’ sustainability performance;
- Developing a sustainability action plan with clear objectives, actions, assigned responsibilities, costs, and timelines;
- Establishing documented procedures to monitor and evaluate policy implementation, objectives, and targets;
- Promoting transparency through public sustainability reports and communications;
- Ensuring all employees understand and actively implement our sustainability policy.
We commit to complying with all national laws, regulations, and codes of conduct.
INTERNAL MANAGEMENT: SOCIAL POLICY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
We commit to sustainable internal management through a clear social policy that incorporates:
- Allowing employees the freedom to terminate employment contracts with advance notice;
- Including employment conditions according to national law and detailed job descriptions;
- Specifying salaries in contracts at or above national minimum wage;
- Appropriately compensating agreed overtime;
- Providing medical and liability insurance as per legal requirements;
- Offering paid annual leave, sick leave, and permitting unpaid annual leave;
- Implementing workplace health and safety policies meeting national standards;
- Providing first aid kits and trained personnel at all facilities;
- Complying with national laws on minimum employment age;
- Establishing documented and effective grievance procedures;
- Implementing clear disciplinary procedures;
- Conducting regular employee satisfaction evaluations;
- Providing regular training on roles, rights, and health/safety responsibilities;
- Creating internship and apprenticeship opportunities for students;
- Promoting employment opportunities for people with special needs.
We respect human rights by ensuring:
- No interference in union membership or collective bargaining;
- No discrimination based on gender, race, age, disability, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation;
- Equal opportunities and regular training for personal development.
INTERNAL MANAGEMENT: ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS
We commit to environmental conservation and community engagement by:
- Reducing consumption and disposable product use;
- Prioritizing sustainable purchases (office supplies, catering, gifts, merchandising);
- Buying bulk products to minimize packaging;
- Configuring office equipment for default double-sided printing;
- Using eco-friendly cleaning products;
- Reducing brochure waste through digital communication;
- Actively monitoring and reducing energy consumption;
- Calculating and offsetting CO2 emissions;
- Using energy-efficient lighting;
- Turning off unused equipment and lights;
- Prioritizing energy-efficient appliances;
- Reducing and regularly monitoring water use;
- Using sustainable water sources and installing water-saving devices;
- Managing waste according to national law;
- Developing waste reduction and recycling policies;
- Reducing non-recyclable packaging and plastic bottle use;
- Properly disposing recyclable materials, ink cartridges, toners, and batteries;
- Respecting national wastewater management laws;
- Reducing staff travel and promoting sustainable transportation;
- Encouraging remote work and virtual meetings to reduce travel;
- Regularly maintaining company vehicles to reduce emissions;
- Providing regular environmental responsibility guidance;
- Contributing to the protection and preservation of historical, archaeological, cultural, and spiritual sites.
PARTNER AGENCIES
We have developed policies to improve our partners’ sustainability through:
- Recording partners’ sustainability practices;
- Collaborating with sustainably-focused organizations;
- Minimizing office ecological footprints;
- Raising awareness among partners through online campaigns and training;
- Informing partners about Travelife standards and national tourism regulations;
- Regularly evaluating partners’ sustainability practices;
- Ensuring partner agencies support local communities, the environment, and guest interests;
- Ensuring partners comply with national worker rights laws.
TRANSPORTATION
We strive to reduce transportation’s environmental impact by:
- Choosing sustainable transport options based on cost and comfort;
- Promoting sustainable tourist products that include sustainable transportation.
ACCOMMODATION
We aim for a fully sustainable tourism supply chain, encouraging partner accommodations to:
- Meet sustainability standards, including energy/water savings, waste management, sustainable supply chains, child protection, and safety training;
- Obtain sustainability certifications;
- Prefer local ownership/management and employment;
- Clearly communicate sustainability requirements to accommodation providers;
- Prioritize internationally certified accommodations (GSTC/Travelife);
- Protect children’s rights;
- Collaborate with accommodations showcasing local cultural heritage.
EXCURSIONS AND ACTIVITIES
We protect animal welfare, community authenticity, and natural environments by:
- Informing guests about respectful behavior;
- Clearly communicating sustainability objectives to service providers;
- Employing qualified guides for sensitive cultural, historical, or ecological sites;
- Promoting activities benefiting local communities.
GUIDES, REPRESENTATIVES, AND LOCAL HOSTS
We prioritize local employment, fair working conditions, and sustainability training for guides and staff, ensuring compliance with international/local regulations and addressing critical issues like child protection.
DESTINATIONS
We maximize positive impacts and minimize negative impacts at destinations by:
- Selecting sustainable and alternative destinations;
- Avoiding destinations with negative tourism impacts unless mitigated;
- Respecting local planning, protected areas, cultural heritage, and management strategies;
- Supporting initiatives enhancing local relationships;
- Influencing local governments on sustainability issues;
- Encouraging responsible guest purchasing.
CUSTOMER COMMUNICATION AND PROTECTION
We ensure clear communication and customer welfare by:
- Providing accurate, balanced destination information;
- Promoting clearly identified sustainable travel options;
- Informing customers about sustainability, safety, and local legislation;
- Maintaining clear emergency procedures;
- Measuring customer satisfaction, including sustainability feedback;
- Having clear complaint-handling procedures.
Accountability Implementation will be overseen by the Sustainability Coordinator and reviewed every two years.
Effective Date This policy is effective from March 1, 2025.