Positive impact and responsible travel at Ventura Travel

Sustainability at Ventura Travel is not a side project. It is a result of how we are structured as a company, how we design trips, how we choose partners, and how we make decisions when real trade offs appear.

We believe tourism can only have a positive future if it creates tangible value for local communities, protects nature, and treats people fairly, while remaining honest about its limits. Especially when it comes to flying, growth, and global mobility.

We do not aim for perfection. We aim for responsibility. That means transparency, clear choices, and a long term perspective instead of slogans, shortcuts, or convenient claims.

Why it matters

Laura

CSR Coordinator

Tourism creates opportunities, and it creates pressure. Pretending otherwise would be dishonest.

Sustainability, for us, starts with accepting this tension. We work in an industry that depends on flights, resources, and global movement. That comes with responsibility, not as a side project or a feel-good label, but as a constant part of how we make decisions.

We do not claim to be perfect, and we do not believe in cosmetic solutions. Responsibility is the starting point that shapes what we choose to communicate and what we choose to change. It means questioning our own choices, accepting trade-offs, and being transparent about the impact we create, even when it is uncomfortable.

Avoiding mass tourism by design

Avoiding mass tourism is not a trend for us. It is a consequence of how Ventura Travel is built. Our purpose is to enable travel that creates real interaction, learning, and inspires responsibility. This is incompatible with large scale, extractive tourism models that isolate travelers, concentrate value, and put pressure on destinations without long-term benefit. Mass tourism optimises for volume and convenience. We optimise for depth, local value creation, and long-term partnerships. That choice shapes how our trips are designed, how long they last, and who we work with people on the ground.

Alternative routes spread impact

Our trips are typically longer and go beyond 'must-sees' of a destination. More time allows us to use alternative routes, avoid overcrowded hotspots, and spend time in both iconic places and off-the-beaten-path locations. The result is reduced pressure, fairer income distribution, and better quality.

Koh Tachai Thailand Beach Similan National Park

Timing that reduces pressure

We plan visits to reduce peak pressure wherever possible. National parks are often visited during weekdays, cities outside peak hours, and major highlights at calmer times of day. This improves the experience for travelers while respecting local life and capacity limits.

Community-based by default

Most of our trips include community-based tourism experiences. These communities decide how tourism is integrated, controlled and how income is used. Beyond our visit, we support them through the V Social Foundation, creating lasting value for communities and meaningful encounters for travelers.

Our sustainability principles

Sustainability at Ventura Travel is not a checklist or a promise of perfection. It is a framework for making decisions when trade offs are real and impact matters.

We operate in an industry that depends on flights, global mobility, and growth. Pretending otherwise would be dishonest. Our principles exist to guide how we design trips, choose partners, treat people, and take responsibility for the consequences of travel.

These principles apply across all brands and operations and are meant to be challenged, refined, and improved over time.

Impact where we can truly influence We focus on areas where tourism can realistically create positive change, especially for local communities, guides, and small businesses, instead of spreading effort across symbolic actions.

Fairness over convenience We prioritise fair working conditions, transparent partnerships, and long term relationships with local providers, even when this is not the easiest or cheapest option.

Educate and empower our people vMembers and tour guides are trained to understand sustainability dilemmas, not just rules. They are encouraged to question decisions and improve how trips are run on the ground.

Design trips responsibly Sustainability starts at itinerary level: fewer internal flights, preference for local providers over chains, realistic group sizes, and experiences that respect people, culture, and nature.

Reduce before compensating We first work to avoid and reduce negative impact, especially flights and unnecessary transport, before using compensation mechanisms. Offsetting is not a substitute for better decisions.

Honest trade offs & accountability Some experiences are fun but problematic. Some responsible choices are less spectacular. We acknowledge these tensions, make decisions consciously, and hold ourselves accountable for the impact we create.

Our concrete actions

Sustainability in travel raises difficult questions, and we believe they deserve clear answers. This section addresses the doubts, tensions, and trade offs that come with responsible travel, without simplifying or avoiding the uncomfortable parts.

Responsible mobility
Mobility creates the largest share of travel emissions. We design trips to reduce flights wherever possible and make unavoidable impacts transparent.

Avoiding short trips We do not offer short long distance trips and keep distance and duration in balance.
Rail before flight We promote rail and fly options and avoid domestic feeder flights when alternatives exist.
Direct routing We prioritize direct flights over connections when flying cannot be avoided.
Low flight itineraries We design itineraries with as few internal flights as possible.
Public transport first We prioritize public transport for local transfers where feasible.
Slow transport We integrate walking, cycling, canoeing, and other low impact transport.

Destination and biodiversity protection
Travel should protect ecosystems and cultural heritage rather than overload them.

Avoiding overuse We avoid destinations and sites already under heavy tourism pressure.
Small groups Group sizes are adapted to destinations and limited in sensitive areas.
Park cooperation We follow national park rules and cooperate with local authorities.
Sensitive area behavior Travelers are guided on how to behave in fragile ecosystems.
Cultural care Visits to heritage sites are planned to reduce pressure and damage.
Rainforest Protection Part of our revenue funds Amazon conservation via Forest Guardians.

Animal welfare in tourism
We avoid travel activities that harm animals and actively support wildlife protection where we have impact.

No exploitation We exclude activities involving abusive or unnatural animal handling.
Ethical use Where animals are part of local life, partners follow welfare guidelines.
Wildlife respect Encounters are designed to minimize disturbance and stress.
Research for protection We fund biodiversity research and monitoring through Forest Guardians.

Community and local value creation
Tourism should strengthen local livelihoods and decision-making.

Local partners We work primarily with locally owned guides, hotels, and restaurants.
Fair conditions We expect fair pay, working hours, and respectful treatment.
Community ownership We support community-based tourism, owned and managed locally.
Rotational systems We rotate partners so benefits reach more than one family.
Social funding Traveler donations and revenue shares support community projects through V Social.

Waste and pollution management
Reducing waste and pollution is essential, especially in regions with limited infrastructure.

Reusable solutions We encourage refillable bottles and reusable containers.
Waste guidance Guides provide guidelines on reducing waste and responsible disposal.
Carry out trash Travelers are encouraged to take back trash where systems are lacking.

Responsible partners and suppliers
Responsibility applies across our entire supply chain.

Clear standards Partners commit to social, environmental, and ethical guidelines.
Codes of conduct Contracts include human rights and child protection clauses.
Local agencies We prioritize agencies employing local staff and expertise.
Regular reviews Partners are reviewed and improved through ongoing dialogue.

Tour guides and on-trip responsibility
Guides are key to responsible behavior and learning on the ground.

Guide training Guides receive training on sustainability, ethics, and wildlife rules.
Cultural mediation Local guides support respectful exchange with communities.
Child protection Guides are trained on child protection policies and reporting.
Group management Group size and behavior are actively managed on trips.

Transparent communication with travelers
Responsible tourism requires informed decisions by travelers.

Honest information Trips are described realistically without exaggeration.
CO₂ transparency We inform travelers about emissions and climate impact.
Behavior guidance Guests receive guidance on cultural respect and waste reduction.
Clear pricing Prices are transparent with no hidden costs.

Sustainable corporate travel
We apply sustainability principles to business travel as well.

Travel review Business trips are reviewed and avoided when virtual options exist.
Rail preference Trains are prioritized over flights for short distances.
CO₂ compensation For all corporate travel we compensate 100% of the CO₂ caused by required business trips.

Internal responsibility and company practices
Sustainability also applies to how we work as a company.

Green office We use renewable electricity and reduce paper and waste.
Fair work We offer fair pay, flexible work models, and development options.
CSR training All team members receive a training on social and environmental responsibility.
Team engagement Fair Days and Fundraising events enable hands on involvement.

Our Long Term Impact Goals

We are currently defining our long-term impact goals across environmental, social, and operational areas. This process includes internal analysis, external benchmarks, and alignment with independent standards to ensure that our goals are measurable, relevant, and achievable.

While we have been committed to positive impact from the start, we know that clear, measurable goals are essential as we grow. We therefore work with external experts who guide and review our work.

Our sustainability report

Sustainable travel practices are paramount to safeguarding our planet for future generations. We strive to minimize our ecological footprint through mindful choices, such as carefully planned itineraries, and we focus our efforts where we can create positive impact for people and planet.

For 2025, we decided to make this work fully transparent by publishing a sustainability report. The report summarises our current impact, key challenges, concrete measures, and areas where further progress is needed.

Sustainability in practice, voices behind the work

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Certifications

Ventura Travel was first certified by TourCert in 2010. Since then, we have been regularly recertified. This process requires a comprehensive review of all relevant sustainability aspects across our company, from environmental impact and trip design to social responsibility and internal processes.

Each certification cycle forces us to look closely at what works well, where we fall short, and what needs to improve next. It is not a one time label, but a continuous improvement process that challenges our decisions, structures, and priorities year after year.

Partnerships and Active Memberships

We work with independent organizations and networks that hold us accountable and push responsible travel forward. Membership is not a label for us, but a commitment to shared standards, learning, and long term impact beyond our own operations.

Forum Anders Reisen

Ventura Travel is a proud member of Forum Anders Reisen, one of the leading associations for responsible tourism in German-speaking markets. The network promotes fair working conditions, environmental protection, and transparency in travel. Membership means regular exchange, shared standards, and continuous learning beyond our own compan

Roundtable Human Rights in Tourism

We are an active founding member of the Roundtable Human Rights in Tourism, a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on protecting human rights in travel. The roundtable brings together tour operators, NGOs, and experts to address risks such as exploitation and inequality. Participation strengthens accountability and helps translate human rights principles into concrete action.

The Long Run

Since 2026, we are an active member of The Long Run, a global network for sustainable tourism. The Long Run connects nature-based businesses committed to sustainability through 4Cs: Conservation, Community, Culture, and Commerce. This membership helps us refine our impact goals, learn from innovations across the industry, and strengthen our approach to travel as a force for good.

Sustainability awards and recognition

Independent awards help validate our work by assessing actions and impact rather than intentions, and by holding us to external standards beyond our own claims.

Fairwärts Award for Sustainability

Recognized for responsible travel and local impact

Ventura Travel was awarded the German Fairwärts Award for sustainability for an innovative trip concept that connects responsible travel with real local involvement. The jury highlighted the use of lesser visited routes, diverse transport methods, and the strong integration of local communities. The award confirms our long term commitment to designing travel that creates learning, exchange, and positive impact beyond the journey itself.

Climate impact

Long distance travel creates emissions, and for many of our destinations flying is part of reaching remote places. We do not present this as neutral and we avoid simple claims. Our approach is built on three principles: measure impact consistently, reduce emissions through trip design wherever possible, and take responsibility for what remains.

That means making trade offs visible, improving step by step, and staying honest about limitations. We focus on avoiding unnecessary flights, promoting longer travel instead of repeated long haul trips, and directing climate related funding into long term work we can stand behind.

How we measure We calculate the CO₂ footprint of our travel using the myclimate CO₂ calculator for a consistent, comparable basis across trips and years.

CO₂ compensation From 2018 to 2024 we compensated customer flight emissions, and as of December 2025 we have compensated 142,428 tons of CO₂, while acknowledging the limits and disconnect of compensation models. In addition, since many years we have compensated 100% of all team member flights required for business.

Forest Guardians In 2025 we launched Forest Guardians to focus our climate related funding on long term work with three core impacts: environmental protection, biodiversity protection, and community impact together with partners such as Sinchi Warmi.

Aviation realities Long distance flights create a negative CO₂ balance, and we do not deny it. We monitor Sustainable Aviation Fuel critically as one lever, not a simple solution.

Avoid flights We avoid flights where possible by reducing domestic feeder flights, integrating rail and fly options where feasible, and designing itineraries that require the least amount of internal flights possible.

Travel longer Our trips are typically longer than average. We encourage flying less often, recommend a maximum of one long distance trip per year, and prefer staying longer over taking several short long haul trips.

The Forest Guardians

Forest Guardians turns travel into long term rainforest conservation. It is built by an alliance between Ventura TRAVEL, the V Social Foundation, and the Indigenous community Sinchi Warmi, our partner since 2017. Together we develop community-led conservation that transfers stewardship back to Indigenous communities, funds regular forest patrols, and supports biodiversity monitoring rooted in both science and ancestral knowledge. Your trip helps finance land protection, monitoring, and community initiatives so the forest has more value alive than destroyed. In the Amazon, Sinchi Warmi are protecting 350,000 m² of vulnerable rainforest through an Indigenous-owned reserve that strengthens culture, livelihoods, and biodiversity.

Establish Indigenous Stewardship

We protect threatened rainforests by transfering stewardship back to indigenous communities.

Boost Biodiversity

Our conservation work delivers measurable biodiversity benefits based on science and ancestral wisdom.

Activate Nature Based Economies

We turn travel into a catalyst, generating the resources needed to sustain conservation.

VSocial Foundation

VSocial focuses on the areas where community-based tourism can create long term change: preserving cultures, protecting the environment, empowering women, developing youth training, and building peace. In practice, this means supporting indigenous and rural communities to preserve traditions through cultural exchange, strengthening women-led cooperatives through training and education, creating opportunities for young people through skills and employment in tourism, and enabling tourism initiatives that help post-conflict communities build livelihoods and shift perceptions.

Projects that created positive impact:

In Isla Maciel, Buenos Aires, we support a community-led initiative transforming a neighborhood often affected by stigma into one that tells its own story and creates new opportunities for young people. Through financial, administrative, and capacity-building support, we helped strengthen a volunteer-based project into a solid organization. Around 500 Ventura travelers visit each year, generating sustainable income for youth, supporting 35 families, and sparking a wider movement of community collaboration and social change.

Puraventura and V Social connected with a group of Maya women in rural Yucatán, Mexico. Led by Doña Mechita, they decided to open their homes and share their culture with travelers, creating opportunities and improving livelihoods through community-based tourism. With years of collaboration, training, infrastructure support, and guidance from our V Social coordinator Ifigenia, the women of Mucuyché are now running their tourism project completely on their own. Today, they’re creating jobs, strengthening identity, and giving young people a reason to stay and build their future in the community. Women-led tourism in rural areas faces many challenges, yet this story shows what perseverance and unity can achieve.

With our support starting in 2019, indigenous communities in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina, have built the first Indigenous tourism school, led by the Abya Guarani and fully self-managed by the communities. In 2025, the school had the first six graduates, prepared to built up self-managed projects in their communities based on indigenous cosmovision. It may be one of the few in the region that centers ancestral culture as the foundation of its curriculum. We have also supported additional training and coordinated with different agencies to bring more travelers to the area.

In Colombia, through V Social, we partner with five community organizations of ex-combatants across post-conflict regions to develop authentic tourism experiences that create sustainable livelihoods. Our support includes a capacity-building program for 50 participants, including farmers, peace agreement signatories, and indigenous community members. The impact we aim is to strengthen tourism initiatives that contribute to peacebuilding, reconciliation, and dignified livelihoods in Colombia.

Fair Days

Four times a year we pause normal work for a Fun Day, a Fair Day, and a Focus Day each quarter. This adds up to four Fair Days per year. On these days, vMembers can take up to one day off if they use the time to support a fair cause. This can mean cleaning up a neighborhood, spending time with elderly people, or providing practical support for people experiencing homelessness. Because many of us work remotely, we often agree on one shared theme and then take action in parallel across many locations worldwide at the same time for the same cause.

How we spend our Fair Days

Sportathon

Sportathon is a special Fair Day

Once a year we turn a Fair Day into a shared Sportathon. vMembers choose a personal movement challenge and collect donations for a cause connected to our positive impact in the world. The goal stays simple: move together, make the cause visible, and fund concrete action. Because many of us work remotely, we often take part at the same time from many locations worldwide, connected by one shared target and one shared impact story.

Testimonials from the Field

David Hancock, Natural Earth Safaris

South African Partner

Working with Africaventura has been an absolute pleasure. Their communication is solid, planning is proper, and they genuinely care about how travel is done on the ground. It’s not just ticking boxes, they respect the places, the people, and the wildlife, which makes partnering with them easy and meaningful. For us as Safari Provider, it’s about real connection to nature. Not just seeing a big elephant, but feeling the mud he left behind, smelling the bush, understanding the space. We operate in a way that protects those moments so they’re still there for the next generation.

Cristina

vMember

I think the best impact, and it is visible to me, in the almost 13 years that I work for the company, I have seen how several of the suppliers of Ecuador and V Social projects, changed the way of thinking, and we helped them to be more ecological, more human.

Take the Yunguilla Community: from living by cutting down trees, they went on to restore their forests and create a corporation, now they have a large community tourism project, a restaurant, homestays, jam, cheese and yogurt factory.

And also Sinchi Warmi: they began as a small, unstructured initiative; today it is a self-sufficient, community-run project that receives visitors, holds certification, and, together with us, manages 36 hectares of forest for conservation.

Regina und Dietmar Nuhn

Traveled to Japan

Our long-awaited journey through Japan turned into one of the most unforgettable experiences of our lives. Traveling mainly by public transport, staying overnight with Buddhist monks in a monastery in Koyasan, and living with a host family all allowed us to experience Japan in a truly authentic way.

The hospitality of Yasuko, the engaging conversations—sometimes helped along by our translation apps—and the hands-on introduction to her family’s traditional craft of chopstick making still fascinate us today and will remain a cherished memory.

Our guide Lorenzo, who created an outstanding group spirit, was a guarantee of a smooth, informative, joyful, and often very funny journey, enriched by exceptional culinary experiences.

Each of these stops had its own unique character and revealed the beauty and cultural diversity of this wonderful country, and of its remarkably polite and considerate people, among whom we were fortunate to travel.

We are not where we want to be yet.

Some impacts are still too high, some data still incomplete, and some changes take longer than we would like. We continue to work on reducing emissions, improving transparency, and addressing limits that require broader industry change.

Impact Goals: We want to define clear and measurable impact goals to hold us accountable in reducing harm and maximizing positive social and environmental outcomes as we grow.

Continuous Capacity Building: We need to make sure to turn strong standards into practical tools for guides, employees, and community initiatives. Therefore, we continuously refine and expand our trainings based on learning and experience.

Peer Exchange: We believe in local knowledge and the power of peer-to-peer learning. Building on our strong network of provider partnerships, we aim to create structured exchanges (workshops, forums, digital platforms) that enable shared learning and contribute to continuous, on-the-ground improvement.

Community Support: We support nearly 30 communities, primarily in Latin America where the Ventura TRAVEL journey began. As we explore new destinations, we build local networks to extend our community support and contribute to well-being across all Ventura TRAVEL destinations.

Nature Conservation: Through Forest Guardians, we are developing our first rainforest conservation project in the Ecuadorian Amazon, working with the Sinchi Warmi community to build a self-sustaining model that we aim to replicate to strengthen wildlife conservation. There is a lot to learn along the way!

Human Rights: We steadily strengthen our commitment to human rights by acting with greater care in high-risk destinations and empowering teams, guides, and travelers to act and speak up responsibly.

Sustainability at Ventura Travel is implemented through concrete decisions and standards across our operations, trips, and partnerships. The following actions show how responsibility is translated into daily practice, from trip design to internal processes and long term partnerships.

CSR, V Social, and Forest Guardians teams

Ventura Travel’s Corporate Social Responsibility work is coordinated by a dedicated, cross functional CSR team. The team consists of around five people from different departments, including operations, HR, marketing, trip creation, foundations, and travel operations. This structure reflects the reality that CSR touches many areas and must be integrated into decision making across the entire company.

CSR Team

Laura coordinates CSR as full-time CSR Coordinator, supported by a CSR Lead role that ensures strategic alignment, impact measurement, and continuous development. Together, the team represents CSR perspectives internally and externally, and ensures that social and environmental considerations are embedded in everyday business operations.

If you want to get in touch with us, contact: csr@venturatravel.org

CSR Project Coordinator

Laura drives the implementation of CSR initiatives across the organization

CSR Lead and Foundations Director

Marie manages and strengthens our support for local communities and nature

HR Specialist

Ana oversees and enhances the social impact on our employees

Trip Specialist

Lizelle ensures trip design and client communication meet CSR standards

Operation Specialist

Precious secures fair, transparent, and sustainable provider relationships

vMember Signature with off-white background Annie Keller

Copywriting Specialist

Annie ensures transparent communication of our commitments and challenges

Polar Specialist

Bruna upholds high standards for expedition cruise tourism in highly sensitive regions

V Social and Forest Guardian Team

The V Social Foundation and the Forest Guardians team are also full-time team members within Ventura Travel. Their work focuses on community-based tourism, social development projects, and long-term rainforest protection. These teams translate CSR principles into concrete action on the ground, working closely with local partners and communities. The Foundation team is further supported by additional project coordinators and contributors, whom you can get to know on their website.

Marie

Foundations Director

Camilo

V Social Coordinator South America

Juan

Amazon Conservations and Community Manager

How V Social support looks like

Learn how the community Mucuyche in Yucatan, Mexico, thrives through tourism and how V Social has supported them along the way.

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Responsible Travel is Teamwork

Responsibility for sustainability does not stop with dedicated teams. All vMembers have a role in CSR. Team members receive training, are expected to apply sustainability standards in their daily work, and are accountable for implementing them consistently. This shared responsibility is essential to creating real impact and maintaining credibility.

Critical questions, Honest answers

As a remote, online-focused company with growing AI use, how does Ventura ensure that its AI and digital resource consumption is managed sustainably?

At Ventura, AI is a core part of how we work. We use it intentionally to increase efficiency, improve decision-making, and avoid unnecessary processes, including automating before hiring. We are aware that AI and digital tools consume energy. That’s why we aim to work with responsible providers, choose efficient models where possible, and continuously question how and when we use AI. We believe transformation and responsibility must go hand in hand. We are committed to learning, improving, and reducing our impact as technology evolves, while staying transparent about the choices we make.

Do you still visit iconic hotspots (e.g., major cities/UNESCO sites)? If yes, how do you avoid contributing to overtourism there?

Yes, we still visit iconic hotspots, as they are important cultural and natural highlights. However, we take several measures to ensure our visits do not contribute to overtourism:

Small group size: Our groups are limited to a maximum of 12 travellers, which significantly reduces our impact compared to larger tour groups.
Scheduling to avoid peak times: Where possible, we organise visits during off-peak times of day or outside peak travel seasons. This approach helps minimise pressure on popular attractions and allows for a more enjoyable, less crowded experience.
Supporting local communities: We collaborate with local guides and businesses, ensuring tourism benefits are distributed among the local community, not just concentrated in tourist hotspots.
Traveller education: We brief our travellers on the importance of respecting local rules, following their guide’s recommendations, and acting responsibly at all sites.
Staying mindful and adaptive: We continuously monitor the situation at major sites and are prepared to adjust our itineraries if we find that certain destinations become overwhelmed.

How can travelers or stakeholders know the CO₂ footprint of a trip?

The CO₂e emissions per trip are measured after each design adjustment and are transparently published alongside the trip presentation on the Ventura Travel brands’ websites as part of the Frequently Asked Questions.

How do you address the carbon footprint of your trips?

Ventura TRAVEL regularly measures and monitors the carbon footprint of its journeys, including the long-haul flights as well as the on-the-ground-program. All Brands actively reduce emissions through sustainable travel design: no unnecessary flights, fewer feeder flights, integration of rail and public transport, and promoting longer stays for a more balanced relationship between travel distance and impact.

From 2018 to 2024, VTT supported carbon reduction projects equivalent to the emissions generated. Recognizing the limits of traditional offsetting, we now focus on active environmental protection through our own rainforest project, Forest Guardians. [Link: www.theforestguardians.org]

More information on our climate and environmental responsibility: https://www.venturatravel.org/impact

How do you ensure “fair pay” for guides/drivers when you’re negotiating prices as a foreign company?

At Ventura, we ensure fair remuneration by assessing payments against current industry standards to remain competitive and aligned with local market conditions. In addition, we operate a bonus system that rewards excellent guiding and service, providing opportunities for additional earnings based on performance. This approach balances sustainable pricing with fair compensation and incentivises high-quality guest experiences.

How do you minimize plastic waste and reduce single-use materials while traveling?

We reduce plastic waste by acting at three levels:

Design: Avoiding single-use amenities in accommodations where possible and choosing partners aligned with our sustainability standards.
Guidelines: Encouraging travelers to bring reusable bottles and refill whenever safe water systems are available.
Operations: Working with local partners to reduce disposable packaging and avoid unnecessary printed materials.

How does your foundation create real impact in practice, beyond good intentions?

With the V Social Foundation, we support local organizations in developing viable social enterprises built on participatory community structures: businesses that become effective, long-term vehicles for improving living conditions. At the same time, they contribute to broader goals: preserving cultural heritage, protecting the environment, empowering women, and creating opportunities for young people. To achieve this, we work hands-on and locally anchored, not from a distance. Our support is coordinated by regional coordinators who deeply understand both the local context and the expectations of international travelers. This allows us to strategically strengthen community-based tourism initiatives and use tourism as a real driver of local development.

We focus on building capacities, not dependencies. Our priority is to strengthen skills, governance, and entrepreneurship so communities gain autonomy and long-term independence. At the same time, every project we support must solve a concrete problem or deliver a tangible improvement for the community.

Through regular visits with our travel groups, we stay in constant dialogue with our partner communities. This direct feedback loop helps us quickly identify gaps, respond to emerging needs, and improve together.

And where it makes sense, we measure what matters: traveler satisfaction, real income generation within the project, and meaningful participation of the local population. Find more information on the transparency page of V Social Foundation.

How is the impact of Forest Guardians measured, and how do you ensure it truly benefits the environment?

The impact of the Forest Guardians initiative is measured through territorial governance, ecological recovery, and community continuity. Secure land ownership keeps the forest under community control and protects it from extractive activities such as mining or industrial logging. An Indigenous Guard regularly patrols the territory to prevent illegal logging and hunting, documenting activities and reinforcing collective responsibility. Ecological progress is supported through a forest enrichment plan that reintroduces native species important for wildlife and canopy recovery, strengthening biodiversity over time. We also track implementation of the community’s Forest Management and Annual Operational Plan (POA), documenting conservation and capacity-building activities. Involving younger members in monitoring and restoration ensures that knowledge and stewardship continue across generations, supporting long-term environmental sustainability.

In a remote working setting, how do we take care of employees’ health in the workplace, both physical and mental?

Remote work requires intentional structure and human connection. At Ventura, we support mental wellbeing through weekly 1:1s, peer feedback, annual HR check-ins, and regular satisfaction surveys to stay close to our team’s needs. We provide a home office budget for essential equipment and encourage healthy work habits. Clear roles, documented processes, and open communication help reduce stress in a remote environment. Connection also matters: we meet quarterly as a full company, host monthly FFF (Fun, Fair, Focus) activities, and gather once a year in person. We believe wellbeing is built through trust, clarity, flexibility, and continuous improvement.

Isn’t flying incompatible with “sustainable travel”?

Long-distance travel creates emissions, and for many of our destinations, flying is necessary to reach remote regions. We do not present this reality as climate-neutral, nor do we rely on simplistic claims. Instead, our approach is guided by three principles: consistently measuring our impact, reducing emissions through thoughtful trip design wherever possible, and taking responsibility for the emissions that remain.

While we recognize the environmental cost of long distance travel, we also believe in the power of tourism. Travel can foster mutual understanding, stregthen conservation efforts, preserve cultures and improve livelihoods. For this reason, we are committed to designing and offering journeys that are as responsible and thoughtfully crafted as possible.

What criteria do you use to select your service providers?

Ventura selects service providers based on quality, reliability, and alignment with our sustainability values. We prioritise partners who deliver high service standards, operate safely and ethically, minimise environmental impact, provide fair working conditions, and support local communities. By combining operational excellence with environmental, social, and governance standards, we ensure our partnerships reflect our commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism.

What do you actively do to prevent mass tourism and overtourism?

At Ventura Travel, we are committed to sustainable tourism and take several active steps to prevent mass tourism and overtourism:

Small group tours: We limit the size of our travel groups to a maximum of 12 participants. This ensures minimal impact on destinations, fosters authentic experiences, and helps avoid overwhelming local communities and attractions.
Support for local communities: Our tours are designed in cooperation with local partners. We prioritize locally-owned accommodations, guides, and experiences, ensuring tourism benefits local economies and spreads visitors beyond crowded hotspots.
Alternative destinations & flexible scheduling: We encourage travel to less-visited destinations and promote off-season trips. When visiting popular sites, we also try to schedule our visits at different times of the day to avoid peak crowds and reduce our impact.
Education and awareness: We educate our travellers on responsible tourism practices, cultural sensitivity, and environmental protection. We actively encourage travellers to follow their guides’ recommendations and to respect local rules at hotspots, ensuring we help preserve these destinations for the future.
Advocacy and innovation: Ventura Travel participates in industry initiatives and is currently working towards TourCert certification, demonstrating our commitment to continuously improving our sustainability practices and advocating for responsible tourism industry-wide.

What does TourCert certification practically require and what would make you lose it?

TourCert is an independent international certification for responsible tourism companies. It verifies that a company does not just claim sustainability, but systematically manages and improves its environmental, social, and economic impacts. Certification is based on external audits and internationally recognized sustainability standards. In practical terms, TourCert requires us to:

Implement a structured sustainability management system
Measure and reduce environmental impacts (e.g. emissions, waste, resource use)
Ensure fair labor conditions and responsible supplier standards
Monitor human rights and community impacts
Define measurable sustainability goals and improvement plans
Report transparently and undergo regular independent audits

It is not a one-time label. We must demonstrate continuous improvement and documented progress. We could lose the certification if we:

Fail to comply with required social or environmental standards
Do not implement agreed improvement measures
Provide inaccurate or misleading information
Fail an external audit or refuse transparency

In short, TourCert holds us accountable. Certification only remains valid if we continuously meet the standards and show measurable progress.

What wildlife experiences do you categorically not offer?

At Ventura Travel, we are committed to promoting only ethical and responsible tourism experiences. We categorically do not sell or promote any experiences that exploit animals or harm their welfare. Specifically, we draw a clear line against:

Activities involving captive wildlife for entertainment or human interaction: We do not offer elephant riding, taking selfies with captive wild animals (such as tigers, lions, dolphins), swimming with captive dolphins, visits to circuses, or animal shows.
Any activity that causes stress, harm, or changes natural animal behavior: This includes walking with lions, holding wild animals for photos, or participating in any form of animal exploitation.
Unethical animal sanctuaries or attractions: We do not support or visit facilities that cannot prove genuine conservation or rescue intentions and that allow inappropriate physical contact with wildlife.

Our Approach: We only promote wildlife experiences that are respectful, non-intrusive, and beneficial to conservation and local communities. Our tours focus on observing animals in their natural habitats, guided by knowledgeable, ethical experts who prioritize both wildlife and ecosystem health. We constantly review our products and work with partners who share our values. If any experience is found to be unethical, it is removed from our offerings immediately.

Positive impact through travel

Sustainability that turns travel into a positive force

Why it matters

Avoiding mass tourism by design

Our sustainability principles

Our concrete actions

Our Long Term Impact Goals

Our sustainability report

Sustainability in practice, voices behind the work

Certifications

Partnerships and Active Memberships

Sustainability awards and recognition

Climate impact

The Forest Guardians

VSocial Foundation

Fair Days

Testimonials from the Field

We are not where we want to be yet.

CSR, V Social, and Forest Guardians teams

CSR Team

V Social and Forest Guardian Team

How V Social support looks like

Responsible Travel is Teamwork

Critical questions, Honest answers

As a remote, online-focused company with growing AI use, how does Ventura ensure that its AI and digital resource consumption is managed sustainably?

Do you still visit iconic hotspots (e.g., major cities/UNESCO sites)? If yes, how do you avoid contributing to overtourism there?

How can travelers or stakeholders know the CO₂ footprint of a trip?

How do you address the carbon footprint of your trips?

How do you ensure “fair pay” for guides/drivers when you’re negotiating prices as a foreign company?

How do you minimize plastic waste and reduce single-use materials while traveling?

How does your foundation create real impact in practice, beyond good intentions?

How is the impact of Forest Guardians measured, and how do you ensure it truly benefits the environment?

In a remote working setting, how do we take care of employees’ health in the workplace, both physical and mental?

Isn’t flying incompatible with “sustainable travel”?

What criteria do you use to select your service providers?

What do you actively do to prevent mass tourism and overtourism?

What does TourCert certification practically require and what would make you lose it?

What wildlife experiences do you categorically not offer?

Why it matters

Avoiding mass tourism by design

Alternative routes spread impact

Timing that reduces pressure

Community-based by default

Our sustainability principles

Our concrete actions

Our Long Term Impact Goals

Our sustainability report

Sustainability in practice, voices behind the work

Certifications

Partnerships and Active Memberships

Forum Anders Reisen

Roundtable Human Rights in Tourism

The Long Run

Sustainability awards and recognition

Climate impact

The Forest Guardians

Establish Indigenous Stewardship

Boost Biodiversity

Activate Nature Based Economies

VSocial Foundation

Fair Days

Testimonials from the Field

We are not where we want to be yet.

CSR, V Social, and Forest Guardians teams

CSR Team

CSR Project Coordinator

CSR Lead and Foundations Director

HR Specialist

Trip Specialist

Operation Specialist

Copywriting Specialist

Polar Specialist

V Social and Forest Guardian Team

Marie

Camilo

Juan

How V Social support looks like

Responsible Travel is Teamwork

Critical questions, Honest answers

As a remote, online-focused company with growing AI use, how does Ventura ensure that its AI and digital resource consumption is managed sustainably?