Company Policy

As a travel company who engage with various stakeholders in tourism as high-end technological companies, clients from all around the world, travel agencies, hotels, transport companies, car hire and flights providers, Aeolos Cyprus Travel Ltd. understands our key role and influence in the sustainability development of tourism. Therefore, we are committed to promoting sustainability. We aim to follow, implement and promote good sustainability practices to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative impacts on tourism of our operations and to influence our clients and partners to do the same. Our policy is divided into 10 themes. Each theme consists of a set of principles and practical actions accordingly.       

1. Sustainability Management & Legal compliance

We commit to sustainability management, practiced by these following actions:

  • To have an appointed employee who is responsible for sustainability coordinator tasks.
  • To have a sustainability mission statement that is communicated to customers, partners and suppliers.
  • To have an accessible and written sustainability policy that aims for a reduction of the negative social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts of the company’s activities and includes employee related health and safety aspects.
  • To collaborate and actively involved in external forums and working groups which are supportive to sustainability in tourism.
  • To conduct baseline assessment of the company’s performance on sustainable practices.
  • To have sustainability guidelines and assessment system in place to identify the sustainability performance of key suppliers/partners.
  • To have sustainability action plan with clear targets, actions, measures, responsibilities and time planning.
  • To develop documented procedures to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the sustainability policy, objectives and targets.
  • To ensure company’s transparency in sustainability by public reporting and communicating.
  • To ensure that all staff are fully aware of our Sustainability Policy and are committed to implementing and improving it.

We commit to complying with all national legislation, regulations and codes of practice.

2. Internal management: social policy & human rights

We commit to sustainable internal management by having clear written and well-communicated social policy that includes the following principles:

  • To grant employees the freedom of employment and contract termination with notice (ideally minimum one month) and without penalty.
  • To include labor conditions according to national labor law and a job description in the employment contract.
  • Wage rate is to be mentioned in the contract and equals or above the national legal wage.
  • To determinate and compensate of overtime working hours based on agreement. At the moment we do not have overtime working hours in Aeolos Cyprus Travel Ltd., however if in the future we have overtime working hours we will determinate the compensation of overtime working hours.
  • To provide medical and liability insurance according to the national law.
  • To grant employees fixed paid yearly holiday and sick leave and unpaid annual leave allowance.
  • To have health and safety policy for employees which complies to national legal standards.
  • Aeolos Cyprus Travel ensures that people are not discriminated in regards to recruitment, conditions of employment, access to training and senior positions, advancement in terms of residentship, gender, race, age, disability, ethnicity, religion/beliefs, sexual orientation or in any other way. 
Aeolos Cyprus Travel Ltd. has responsibility for the health and safety of its employees. Some basic mandatory requirements that the Company is commit to are:
 
  • Have a safe working place.
  • Prevent risks to our employees’ health.
  • Ensure safe working practices are documented and implemented.
  • Make sure that all materials are handled, stored, and used safely.
  • Provide adequate first aid facilities.
  • Inform employees about any potential hazards of the job (e.g., chemicals and other substances), and provide adequate information, instructions, training, and supervision to safely perform the job.
  • Set up emergency plans.
  • Ensure that ventilation, temperature, lighting, toilet, washing and rest facilities all meet health, safety, and welfare requirements.
  • Regularly check that equipment is being used as intended and is well-maintained.
  • Prevent or control exposure to substances that may be a health hazard.
  • Take precautions particularly when using or in proximity to flammable or explosive materials, electrical equipment, noise, and radiation.
  • Avoid potentially dangerous work involving manual handling (and when this work is absolutely necessary, take precautions to reduce the risk of injury).
  • Provide health supervision as needed.
  • Provide protective clothing or equipment for employees.
  • Display warning and health and safety posters appropriately.
  • Report and record accidents, injuries, diseases, and dangerous occurrences.
 
Aeolos Cyprus Travel Ltd. employers should further provide a safe and healthy work premises, by: 
 
  • Making sure premises are properly ventilated with clean and fresh air.
  • Keeping temperatures at a comfortable level (e.g., a minimum of 13?C (55?F) where the work involves physical activity).
  • Making sure facilities are well lit.
  • Keeping the workplace and equipment clean and well-maintained.
  • Ensuring that areas are big enough to allow easy movement (at least 11m3/388ft3 per person).
  • Providing workstations suitable for the employees and their tasks.
  • Keeping floors, walkways, stairs, roadways safe to use.
  • Protecting people from falling from high levels or into dangerous substances.
  • Storing things properly to avoid injuries.
  • Fitting windows, doors, and gates with safety devices.
  • Providing suitable washing facilities and clean drinking water.
  • Giving access to rest areas for breaks and lunches, including suitable facilities for pregnant women and nursing mothers.
  • Allowing employees proper breaks and leave.
  • Assuring safety of employees who work alone, or off-site.
  • To have first aid sets and trained staff are available at all relevant locations.
  • To obey national concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment.
  • To have effective procedures in place for employees to voice out their complaints and expectations.
  • To have a measurement system for employee satisfaction on a regular basis.
  • To provide periodic guidance and training for employees on roles, rights and responsibilities regarding health and safety issues. This includes fire and relevant natural disasters.
  • To create opportunities for students in participating in traineeship/internship/apprenticeship.
  • To encourage employment opportunities for persons with special needs.

3. Internal Management: Environment and community relations

We commit to practice environmental protection and enhance community relations by ensuring the enforcement of following practices:
  • Actively reduce the use of disposable and consumer goods.
  • Favor the purchase of sustainable goods and services, office and catering supply, giveaways and merchandise and from local suppliers where possible.
  • Purchase products in bulk, to reduce the amount of packaging materials and from local suppliers where possible.
  • Set copy and printing machines by default to double-sided printing or other forms of paper saving modes.
  • Use cleaning materials which are non-hazardous, non-eutrophic and biodegradable and are certified with an eco-label, if locally available.
  • Avoid printing brochures – prefer distributing all brochures or any other communication material online. In the rare case of the need to print communication material we use environmentally friendly paper, with a printing company that works with a certified environmental management system, if locally available at reasonable costs.
  • Implement measurements to have an 'internet only' policy.
  • Have an active commitment to measure, monitor and reduce energy consumption.
  • Calculate and compensate CO2 emissions and compare different periods.
  • Purchase green energy and energy efficient lighting for all areas, when available.
  • Switch off Lights and equipment when not in use, use automatic switch on/off system with timers or movement sensors and set equipment by default in the energy saving mode, where this is feasible.
  • Prefer low energy equipment when buying new items, including considerations of cost and quality.
  • Have an active policy to reduce water consumption, implemented and monitored on a monthly or yearly basis for benchmark purposes.
  • Use sustainable water sourcing, which does not adversely affect environmental flows.
  • Install water saving equipment in toilets.
  • Comply with the national legislation concerning waste disposal.
  • Develop and implement a solid waste reduction and recycling policy, with quantitative goals.
  • Take measures to reduce the amount of packaging materials and not provide non-recyclable or non-biodegradable package materials.
  • Take action to reduce the amount of (non-refillable) plastic bottles of drinking water for office use.
  • Separate all materials which can be recycled and organize collection and proper disposal.
  • Implement waste reducing methods when using ink and toner cartridges for printing and copying, whenever feasible. 
  • Recycle or properly dispose of batteries. 
  • Comply with national legislation of wastewater treatment, which should be reused or released safely.
  • Minimize and substitute the use of harmful substances and manage properly the storage, handling and disposal of chemicals.
  • Use lead-free and water-based paints, both inside and outside, when locally available.
  • Implement practices to minimize pollution from its buildings (as far as being able to be controlled by the company).
  • Measure and reduce staff related travel and use more sustainable modes of transport. Calculate its emissions, with the aim to reduce and compensate, through a reliable locally available program.
  • Encourage employees to use public transport or sustainable means of transport.
  • Reduce transport related impacts by tele-work, tele/video meetings, work-at-home policies or other means.
  • Maintain and properly check motorized company vehicles, to reduce emissions and energy use and make sure they comply with the legal emission standards.
  • Provide periodic guidance, training and/or information to all staff members, about their roles and responsibilities with respect to internal environmental practices.
  • Comply with land use, zoning and protected or heritage area laws and regulations. when planning, designing, constructing, renovating, operating or demolishing   company buildings and infrastructure.
  • Base planning, design and construction of new buildings or renovations, on locally appropriate and feasible sustainable practices and materials.
  • Contribute to the protection and preservation of local historical, archaeological, culturally, and spiritually important properties and sites, and   not impede access to them by local residents.

4. Partner agencies

Based on an inventory of our key partner agencies, we have developed and implemented a policy to improve sustainability of our partner agencies. Our aim is to make sustainable development concrete to each and every partner within our business. 
 
We commit to this by:
  • Keeping a list of the sustainability practices of partner accommodations and agents.
  • Only working with organisations who are truly implementing sustainability in their tourism policy.
  • Minimalizing the ecologic footprint of the office by travelling mainly via public transport, working as paperless as possible, separating waste, and to make use of certified recycled paper.
  • Paying attention to the local benefits of communities when selecting local accommodations and their social policy for employees.
  • Raising awareness among key partners on sustainable consumption by organising (online) campaigns and trainings.
  • Informing key partners on the Travelife and national tourism standards.
  • Having a cooperation contract including an annex of the national code of conduct for local partners to encourage their practices towards sustainability.
  • Evaluating the sustainability practices regularly of our key partners to ensure their practices are truly sustainable.
  • Informing key partners about the travel companies’ sustainability policy and that they are expected to comply with it and/or communicate it to final customers where relevant.
  • Including key sustainability clauses in contracts with inbound/receptive partners.
  • Motivating incoming/inbound partners to participate in sustainability trainings for travel companies.
  • Having a written contract with partner agencies.
  • Including clauses in the partner contracts that enable contract partners to end the contractual agreement prematurely if the partner company does not take adequate measures to prevent sexual exploitation of children within the direct supply chain.
  • Ensuring that partner companies comply with all relevant national laws protecting the rights of employees.

5. Transport

We try to ensure that vehicles used on tours do not cause more than average pollution. We believe that transport is an important aspect of sustainable tourism, and we do our best to decrease the average pollution level.
 
We commit to this by:
  • Selecting the most sustainable options considering price and comfort when selecting transport options to the destination.
  • Including sustainable (public) transport to the point of departure for the international/long distance journey.
  • Considering and giving preference to more sustainable alternatives when selecting transport options for transfers and excursions in the destination, taking into account price, comfort, and practical considerations.
  • Integrating and/or promoting one or more sustainable holiday products/packages based on a recognised methodology, including sustainable transport, sustainable accommodations, and sustainable activities. 

6. Accommodations

We try to achieve a tourism supply chain that is fully sustainable. The partner accommodations play an important role in achieving this, and are stimulated and motivated to adapt sustainable practices. 
 
We commit to this by:
  • Mainly selecting accommodations that comply with sustainability and quality standards with a special focus on the following items:
                      - Do they have a signed sustainability contract?
                      - Do they have a water saving program?
                      - Do they have an energy saving program?
                      - Do they have a waste management program?
                      - Do they have an energy reduction system?
                      - Do they have a sustainable supply chain?
                      - Do they have a child protection policy?
                      - Do they conduct CSR activities? 
                      - Do they train employees in Health & Safety?
  • Motivating and encouraging partner accommodations to become sustainably certified.
  • Preferring and selecting accommodations that are locally owned and managed.
  • Selecting accommodations that employ local communities.
  • Having accommodations provide evidence clarifying their sustainability goals and strategies.
  • Having accommodations having included sustainability clauses in existing and new contracts.
  • Encouraging accommodations to follow best practices/trainings on responsible tourism.
  • Encouraging accommodations to fill in the sustainability questionnaire to gain insight in their practises.
  • Clearly and actively communicating our sustainability objectives and requirements regarding accommodations to contracted and other relevant accommodations.
  • Giving clear preference to accommodations that work with internationally acknowledged (e.g. GSTC recognised) and/or Travelife certification.
  • Including standard sustainability clauses in all contracts with accommodation providers that focus on child labour, anti-corruption and bribery, waste management and protection of biodiversity.
  • Offering incentives to accommodations that are actively engaging in sustainability.
  • Ensuring that through our accommodation supply chain, the rights of children are respected and safeguarded by:
  1. Having a clause in contracts throughout the value chain stating a common repudiation and zero tolerance policy of sexual exploitation of children.
  2. Having a clause dedicated to this aspect in their contract that enables the travel company to end the contractual agreement prematurely if the accommodation supplier does not take adequate measures to prevent sexual exploitation of children.
  3. Training employees in children’s rights, the prevention of sexual exploitation and how to report suspected cases.
  4. Supporting, collaborating with, and engaging stakeholders in the prevention of sexual exploitation of children.
  • Working with accommodations that incorporate elements of local art, architecture, or cultural heritage. while respecting the intellectual property rights of local communities.
  • Terminating cooperation with accommodation in case of clear evidence that contracted accommodations jeopardize the provision of integrity of basic services such as food, water, energy, healthcare, or soil to the neighbouring companies.
  • We will join or organise collaborative initiatives with other tour operators and/or stakeholders to promote sustainability among accommodations in destinations, when possible. 

7. Excursions and activities

We value animal and community welfare extremely high and aims at tours that only leave a minor footprint. We are safeguarding the authenticity of the communities and the natural environment, and are strongly against harming wildlife and polluting the environment. The company has developed and implemented a policy to improve the sustainability of its (future) excursion base.
 
We commit to this by:
  • Having an inventory of environmentally or culturally sensitive excursions which are offered in each destination.
  • Advising guests on behaviour standards during excursions and activities with a focus on respecting the local culture, nature, and environment.
  • Communicating our sustainability objectives and requirements to contracted and other relevant excursion providers by distributing this information via code of conducts, representative agents, social media, email, discussions, and/or meetings, to minimise negative visitor impact and maximise enjoyment.
  • Not offering any excursions that harm humans, animals, plants, natural resources such as water and energy, or which are socially and culturally unacceptable.
  • Not offering any excursions in which wildlife is held captive, except for properly regulated activities in compliance with local, national, and international law.
  • Offering excursions where Wildlife species are not harvested, consumed, displayed, sold, or traded, except as part of a regulated activity that ensures that their utilization is sustainable and in compliance with local, national and international law. The supplier does not promote souvenirs or food that contain threatened flora and fauna species as indicated in the CITES treaty and the IUCN ‘Red List’. Should any such criminal behavior come to light, Aeolos Cyprus Travel Ltd. reserves the right to terminate the contract without notice.
  • Not being involved with companies that harvest, consume, display, sell, or trade wildlife species unless it is part of a regulated activity that ensures that their utilisation is sustainable and in compliance with local, national, and international law.
  • Having skilled and/or certified guides to guide our guests in sensitive cultural sites, heritage sites, or ecologically sensitive destinations.
  • Promoting and advise our guests on excursions and activities which directly involve and support local communities by purchasing services or goods, traditional crafts and local (food) production methods, or visiting social projects.
  • Promoting and advising our guests on excursions and activities which support local environment and biodiversity such as visiting protected areas or environmental protection projects.
  • Where available, preference is given to activities and excursions who operate on the basis of acknowledged and controlled sustainability standards.
  • Having Excursion providers to not offer products or services that harm humans, animals, plants, natural resources (e.g., water/energy), or products that are socially/culturally unacceptable. No activities where captive wildlife is held are offered, except for properly regulated activities in compliance with local, national, and international law. Excursions, which include interactions with wildlife, comply with relevant codes of conduct. Any disturbance of natural ecosystems is minimized. We also consider various types of activities unacceptable as for example:
  1. Animal shows/performances (e.g., elephant shows, dolphinarium)
  2. Visits to schools/orphanages
  3. Visits to specific communities for voyeurism purposes
  4. Having Excursions and attractions in which captive wildlife is held are not offered, except for activities that are properly regulated and are in compliance with local, national, and international laws. Excursions that include interactions with wildlife, comply with relevant codes of conduct. Any disturbance of natural  ecosystems is minimized.

8. Tour leaders, local representatives and guides

We aim at involving as many locals as possible by employing them in the tourism business. We stand for a fair and safe working environment that supports and respects local communities. 
 
We commit to this by:
  • Ensuring that all employees have a written employment contract, including labour conditions and a job description, and fully understand the terms and conditions.
  • Preferring to work with local tour leaders, local representatives, local tour guides, porters, drivers, cooks, and other local staff in case of equal ability, and provide training as required.
  • Ensuring that our local partners comply with all applicable international, national, and local laws and regulations, industry minimum standards, and any other relevant statutory requirements whichever requirements are more stringent.
  • Paying tour leaders, local representatives, guides, porters and other local staff contracted by us at least a living wage that is equal to or above the legal minimum or relevant industry standard.
  • Ensuring that our tour guides, hosts, and other employees under contract are qualified and trained regularly.
  • Ensuring that our local employees are informed on relevant aspects of our sustainability policy and comply with it, by newsletters, references or supplements to contracts, emails, or training and information sessions.
  • Having our tour leaders, local representatives and guides inform clients on relevant sustainability matters in the destination (e.g. protection of flora, fauna, and cultural heritage, resource use), social norms and values (e.g. tips, dressing code and photography) and human rights (e.g. sexual exploitation).
  • Training our employed tour leaders and local representatives on the avoidance of sexual exploitation of children. This will include training on how to check the requirements concerning exclusion of child abuse.

9. Destination

We aim to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative impacts at destination to ensure the sustainable development of the places that we operate in. 
 
We consider sustainability aspects in destinations in the selection of new destinations and in the product development process. We intend to provide social and environmental benefits to the communities we visit. We understand the importance of visitor dispersion and of not exceeding the carrying capacity of destinations. therefore, we encourage the promotion of lesser-known areas (with the approval of the local community), to prevent over tourism and its negative impacts.
 
We commit to this by:
  • Consider sustainability aspects in the selection process of new destinations and possibly offer alternative, non-mainstream destinations.
  • Not selecting destinations in which tourism leads to structural negative local effects, (unless the company's involvement results in clear counter balancing effects).
  • Consider selection of new destinations, which are reachable through more sustainable means of transport.
  • Comply with legally based spatial planning, protected areas and heritage regulations.  Also with destination management strategies of local, regional and national authorities.
  • Support initiatives that improve the relationships between accommodations and local producers.
  • Influence and support local government (when possible, together with other travel companies and stakeholders) concerning sustainability, destination planning and management, use of natural resources and socio-cultural issues.
  • Support biodiversity conservation, including protected areas and areas of high biodiversity, through   financial contribution, political support, and integration in product offers.
  • Not promote souvenirs which contain threatened flora and fauna species as indicated in the CITES treaty and the IUCN ‘Red List’. or historic and archaeological artefacts (except as permitted by law).

10. Customer communication and protection

Customers welfare and information are very important to us. At Aeolos Cyprus Travel Ltd., we ensure clear and constant communication and high protection to our clients. 
 
Prior to booking, we commit to this by:
  • Make available a company guideline for client consultation, which is followed by client advisors.
  • Ensure that customer privacy is not compromised.
  • Comply with relevant standards and voluntary codes of conduct in marketing and advertising messages, and not promise more than is delivered.
  • Make product and price information clear, complete and accurate, with regard to the company and its products and services, including sustainability claims.
  • Provide destination information, including sustainability aspects, which is factually correct, balanced and complete.
  • Inform clients about the environmental impact of different transport options to reach the destination (in case these are not included in the package), and to offer sustainable alternatives, where available.
  • Promote (Certified) sustainable accommodations, excursions, packages and/or transport & car hire options, with logos or other messages. ensuring they are recognizable to consumer and presented as the “better” option.
  • Inform the customer about sustainable alternatives concerning accommodations, excursions, package holidays and transport options, if available.
  • Clearly inform (potential) direct customers, about sustainability commitments and actions.
After booking and during holidays, we commit to this by:
  • Provide Information to consumers about the natural surroundings, local culture and cultural heritage in the holiday destination.
  • Inform consumers about key sustainability aspects and issues in the destination and receive recommendations on how to make a positive contribution.
  • Inform customers about risks and precautions related to health and safety matters in the destination.
  • Keep a contact person and a telephone number permanently available for emergency situations.
  • Train personnel and keep guidelines available, on how to deal with emergency situations.
  • Provide clients with documented guidelines and/or codes of conduct for sensitive excursions and activities, to minimize negative visitor impact and maximize enjoyment. When possible, guidelines are developed in collaboration with relevant NGO's and the affected community.
  • By agreeing to make a reservation on our websites customers are informed about our General Company policy and Booking Terms and Conditions so they agree with our Company zero tolerance about commercial, sexual or any other form of exploitation and harassment, particularly of children and adolescents.
  • Inform clients about applicable legislation concerning the purchasing, sales, import and export of historic or religious artefacts and articles containing materials of threatened flora and/or fauna in the destination.
Restrictions & Prohibitions on Importation & on Exportation 
 
According to the Law, the importation and exportation of certain goods is prohibited or restricted. Restrictions usually refer to the need for securing the authority or inspection from the appropriate Government Department. The aim of prohibitions and restrictions is the protection of society and the perpetuation of a safe environment. More specifically, such prohibitions and restrictions are essential for the safeguard of social ethics, order and security, protection of public health or the health of animals or the protection of plant-life, the protection of industrial and commercial property, archaeological treasures, cultural artefacts and others.
 
Some examples of prohibitions that apply on importation:
Narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and other controlled pharmaceuticals. obscene matters and objects, such as videocassettes, DVD’s, films, books, magazines etc.. flick knives and daggers. counterfeit and pirated goods. nuclear, chemical, toxic, biological weapons and similar substances. goods used for illegal hunting of game. counterfeit bank notes.
 
Some examples of restrictions on exportation:
  • Antiquities (including items of cultural heritage, e.g. old earthen jars)
  • Materials and equipment for the production of weapons of mass destruction and similar weapons (nuclear, biological, chemical)       
  • Wild fauna and flora, endangered by extinction and products their of (Washington Convention - CITES), e.g. animals, birds, fowls, lizards, cactus, hides, ivory, etc). In order to export those special licenses are needed.
You can find a list of all of the prohibitions and restrictions, which passengers may carry with them on the Customs & Excise department page on the Cyprus Ministry of Finance website.
 
Aeolos Cyprus Travel Ltd. and its direct service providers do not promote souvenirs which contain threatened flora and fauna species as indicated in the CITES treaty and the IUCN ‘Red List’. historic and archaeological artefacts (except as permitted by law). 
  • Motivate clients to use local restaurants and shops (where appropriate).
  • Inform clients on sustainable transport options in destinations, when feasible.
Best practices of Sustainable tourism on destination:
All guests are encouraged to:
  1. Bring their own bottles and refill at water stations.
  2. Avoid using non-biodegradable products.
  3. Avoid conflicts with local people; be respectful of local customs (especially with clothing).
  4. Avoid donating money directly to people, especially children; rather, donate money to vetted projects.
  5. Ensure that they dispose properly of waste and do not litter.
  6. Avoid damaging nature or harming wildlife.
  7. Avoid taking pictures of people without asking for permission.
  8. Avoid buying illegal souvenirs, such as religious artefacts or products containing materials of threatened flora and/or fauna.
  9. Ask questions about a destination’s sustainability, including socio-cultural and environmental practices.
After holidays, we commit to this by:
  • Measure systematically client satisfaction and take into account the results, for service and product improvements.
  • Include sustainability as an integral part of the research into client satisfaction.
  • Have clear procedures in case of complaints from clients. (This procedure is mentioned on  clause 'No. 8'  on our Booking Terms & Conditions: Should the customer have reason to make a complaint, the complaint must be made and a remedy requested immediately on location to the office referred to in the confirmation. The right to raise claims is invalidated if a participant omits to notify a defect on location.)
If you have any questions related to Sustainability matters or regarding this Policy you can send us an email at marketing@bookcyprus.com.
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