Heritage Expeditions
Responsible Travel Policy
POLICY
Heritage Expeditions believes that every successful conservation strategy has three essential elements: Research, Management and Advocacy. When these three are working together outstanding results can be achieved.
Heritage Expeditions supports conservation by providing advocacy through responsible travel and providing funds and logistical support for research and management.
ECONOMIC RESONSIBILITY
With Heritage Expeditions emphasis on natural history, we work principally in unpopulated areas. We visit a number of Nature Reserves where we work very closely with the government agencies responsible for managing the reserves. We make significant annual donations to the New Zealand Department of Conservation, the Tasmanian National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Russian State Reserve Agency.
In addition to these donations, Heritage Expeditions provides transport of significant amounts of freight and personnel to and from these reserves. Heritage Expeditions also supports non-governmental research agencies in similar ways, including WWF (Russia), Canterbury University and the NZ Meteorological Service.
Heritage Expeditions operates an annual “Cruise for Conservation” in which 5% of the advertised fare is given to a specific conservation cause. To date the following agencies have benefited: Save the Albatross, Yellow Eyed Penguin Trust, and Marine Mammal Research Trust.
Where possible and practical, Heritage Expeditions has a policy of buying local produce and supplies for its vessel. The vessel is currently re-supplied in New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and Russia, ensuring that local communities benefit. This policy also applies to specialist equipment.
Likewise, where local personnel have the necessary skills and knowledge they are employed as guides while the vessel is working in their region. We also have a policy of training young local guides so that we have a pool of staff to draw from.
When a group does visit a populated area a lot of care and attention is given to ensure that the interaction is meaningful and appropriate for both parties. Group sizes are kept small, local customs and traditions are respected and observed, and reasonable time is allocated to each visit. Passengers are encouraged to purchase local goods (always mindful of CITIES Agreements).
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
We prepare clients/passengers in advance of their expedition by providing extensive pre-departure information on the region they will be visiting, highlighting conservation issues and providing background information on the history and, where applicable, customs, religion and politics of the region they will be visiting.
We travel in small groups trying to maintain a guiding ratio of 1:12. Local guides and experts are used where at all possible. Each expedition is lead by an experienced Expedition Leader who is familiar with the region being visited.
When selecting our specialist expedition equipment, vehicles and vessels, we research carefully to ensure the most suitable and the most environmentally responsible.
All waste generated on our expeditions is disposed of in a responsible manner. On our vessel it is treated as prescribed by MARPOL, and on land expeditions recycling is encouraged. Non-recyclable waste is brought back for disposal at approved sites.
Heritage Expeditions owns an area of native forest in New Zealand and employs a part-time Conservation Officer for predator control and a replanting project. The forest is covenanted to protect it.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Where expeditions travel through populated regions, contact with local people is encouraged as a way of creating understanding and tolerance between cultures.
Local guides and experts are employed where possible and, where practical, local transportation and facilities are used.
Clients are encouraged to buy local (but are made aware of CITIES and other international conventions) so money comes back to the local community.
Heritage Expeditions partners with the Enderby Trust to provide scholarships for young people, who could not otherwise afford to travel, to join their expeditions.
Heritage Expeditions has active membership in a number of conservation and travel organisations including the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) which promotes responsible travel to Antarctica. It is a member of Friends of Galapagos, which provides funding and support for conservation work on the Galapagos Islands.
