Dick Sisman & Associates Projects

The past 12 months has been a busy time for Dick Sisman & Associates Ltd. We have completed a number of projects for clients and been involved in many of the new initiatives to develop Responsible Tourism within the industry.

• TICOS was founded late in 2006 as an industry wide carbon offset programme to stimulate collective action by all operators and travel agents selling holidays which include air or other forms of travel. TICOS is supported by a number of international and national agencies including UNESCO, IUCN World Commission for Protected Areas and AITO. TICOS has received 40+ project proposals from across the globe and is currently being embraced by over 20 tour operators. Membership numbers are increasing on a weekly basis and the Service has received tremendous support from the media. For more information visit www.ticos.co.uk.
• We have recently completed two research projects for The Travel Foundation, the first one on tourism hassle at destinations and the second one on carbon footprinting.
• We have provided research for one of the latest Insider Guides produced by The Travel Foundation on Climate Change and Tourism.
• We have worked with a FTSE quoted Tourism Company to develop a comprehensive programme of environmental action which has qualified them for FTSE4good status.
• We have helped a hotel owner in Marrakech to develop an operational manual to deliver best environmental practice.
• We continue to provide a retained service to AITO and its 157 tour operator members.
• We are working with GTZ in Sri Lanka to develop a new Association of Small and Medium Enterprises in tourism (ASMET). We have prepared a green labeling scheme for GTZ which has the support of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board.
• We continue to work in the Gambia to help to develop mechanisms which allow local businesses to gain income from the tourism sector.
• We have concluded an initial programme to understand the impacts of tourism hassle in destinations and are carrying out further research with support from the Travel Foundation.
• We have been contracted by the Travel Foundation to undertake a major research programme to identify action to be taken by the industry regarding carbon emissions.
• We continue to develop Brighter Futures as a trade not aid brand in the industry. We have appointed managers in The Gambia and in Sri Lanka.
• We continue to provide our own 'Helping Hands' programme of financial support to those who are unable to work for a living in Africa.
• We are able to offer a low cost RT audit (including carbon emissions and energy costs) to tour operators, travel agents and suppliers in the tourism industry.

Tourism businesses interested in any of these programmes or in developing Responsible Tourism initiatives in destinations should contact Dick Sisman in the first instance.