Ecolabels - Smart Voyager Certification

Ecolabels - Smart Voyager certification

This label was created by Corporation y Desarello with the help of Rainforest alliance, which is an organization from New York. Corporation y Desarello is from Ecuador. The label saw life in 1998. It's a non-profit and non-governmental group. Many organizations are part of this program which have strict requirements in 3 different areas: environment; social; economical & safety for tour operator boats in Galapagos/Latin America and hotel in South America. This certification is so complete that it was recognized by the UNESCO in 2002. Ecoventura is also part of this certification

List of tour operators boats which received the certification:

- Galapagos yacht La Pinta

- Hybrid Galapagos cruises

- MV Santa Cruz

- Yacht Isabella II

- Yacht sea Finch

- Finch bay Eco Hotel

Smart Voyager wants to find an environmental, economical and social solution that a region is facing, like the Galapagos Islands which is in a very sensible balance.

To be able to get the certification a society has to require many obligations

Social:

- Improving the quality of life for locals

- Offerings travelers the chance to help people

- Just proper worker's conditions and treatments

- Community relations welfare

Environment

- Reducing the ecological impact of tourism of supply and storage

- Conservation of natural ecosystems => strict contract

- Prevention of risk of introduction of exotic species

- Employee environment education and training

- Control of quality, safety and security

- Planning and monitoring the visitors

These are already lot of objectives and of course a heavy investment for the society who wants to receive this certification. As an example the president of Santiago Dunn invested 500'000 $ to change his yachts:

- Producing its own drinking water and good waste management (garbage recycling, passengers awareness) towels are only changes when on the floor

- Crew training about the environment, ecology and resources

- Passenger training = encourage to reduce garbage and conserve energy

- Marketing materials are printed on consumer paper and manufactured with wind power

- Biodegradable soap & detergent

- On the trip to Galapagos, visitors can only take water with them and they are asked not to touch any vegetal and animals. They are also asked to be careful to not bring seeds or live material to the island and they have to stay with the guide and walk on the trails. The tourists cannot buy souvenirs made with Galapagos products like : black coral, sea lion teeth

These rules are the rules of the national park, but the cruise will tell the passengers on board about this policy.

The objectives of the label of Smart Voyager are that tourism has to be sustainable and minimize the impact of tourism. This label is also concerned about the locals' life and condition. Smart Voyager asks their partners to be truly sustainable for the environment and to improve workers and native community conditions.

So when a traveler decides to take his journey with a tour operator which is certified by Smart Voyager, he knows he will travel in an ecofriendly nature and the locals in the region. To travel with Smart Voyager means

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