AITO RESPONSIBLE TOURISM SUPPLIERS' PROGRAMME (November 2003)

AITO RESPONSIBLE TOURISM SUPPLIERS' PROGRAMME (November 2003)

At the recent annual Conference in Sri Lanka, AITO's first Suppliers' Programme was launched. This scheme, endorsed by AITO Council and its Responsible Tourism Committee, seeks to extend AITO's Responsible Tourism (RT) strategy beyond member operators and into destinations and suppliers.

The programme is aimed at encouraging tourism industry suppliers to adopt the same RT values and business practices as AITO members themselves. In doing so, it will also benefit both operators, by providing further information and best practice guidance for their RT managers, and AITO itself, by making a financial contribution towards AITO's RT costs. Suppliers agreeing to enter the RT programme will be able to sign up via this website. The annual registration fee of £100 will entitle them to access a range of services, information and training opportunities being developed to help suppliers to achieve RT goals.

Once they have demonstrated that they have the correct procedures in place they can then be included on an RT-approved list which will contain contact details and information about the RT practices adopted. This list will be included in the information supplied on line to AITO RT managers. The programme has clear business advantages for operators, suppliers and AITO itself. Many operators have indicated that they will use the listings as a part of their own commitment to work with suppliers to achieve RT goals; they will also have easy access to new suppliers with the desired profile. Suppliers themselves can use their credentials not only to provide more sustainable services, but also to make these credentials and services known to potential tour operator clients. AITO will receive a proportion of the registration fee from each supplier who signs up. AITO hopes that as many members as possible will encourage their suppliers to sign up for this scheme, which is the logical next step in maintaining the Association's pre-eminent position in RT practice.