Sustainability Policy

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 conduct a baseline assessment of the company’s performance on sustainable practices;
• To have a 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 the 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.

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 provide all relevant insurance according to the national law;
• To grant employees fixed paid yearly holiday and unpaid annual leave allowance;
• To have a health and safety policy for employees which complies with national legal standards;
• To have first aid sets and trained staff are available at all relevant locations;
• To obey the national law concerning the Minimum Age for Admission to Employment;

We commit to practicing human rights by ensuring the enforcement of the following practices:

• To prohibit discrimination, regard to recruitment, conditions of employment, access to training and senior positions, or promotion in terms of gender, race, age, disability, ethnicity, religion/beliefs or sexual orientation;

Sexual Exploitation:

• As a responsible tour company, we prioritize the protection of children from exploitation and abuse. In Jordan, engaging in any form of exploitation of children is strictly prohibited by law, with severe consequences in place to safeguard minors from such reprehensible acts. Clients must understand that participating in activities related to child trafficking, exploitation, or abuse is punishable by law in Jordan. Should clients witness or suspect any exploitation of children during their travels, it is imperative that they promptly report it to local authorities or seek assistance from the nearest embassy or consulate.

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;
• Set copy and printing machines by default to double-sided printing or other forms of paper saving modes;
• Switch off lights and equipment when not in use, set equipment by default in the energy saving mode, where this is feasible;
• Comply with the national legislation concerning waste disposal;
• Comply with national legislation of wastewater treatment, which should be reused or released safely;

We aim 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;
• 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;
• When selecting boating providers, give preference to local companies and seek out lower carbon footprint vessels (e.g., sailboats, canoes, kayaks) rather than motorised boats.

  General rules for drivers when transporting tourists:

  • Driving safely and in control of the vehicle, (using both hands)
  • Never use the mobile phone while driving, except for earphones and in emergencies, also in emergencies, you can ask the tourists permission to stop on the side of the road for a minute.
  • Never speed and always abide by the DMV road speeds.
  • No smoking in the car, (even when there are no tourists in the car), or near tourists.
  • Leave a safe distance between you and the cars in front.
  • Basically, abiding by all the rules of driving by the DMV.

   

  Eco-driving Rules:

  1. Drive at the designated speed limit and on low gears to save carbon emissions;
  2. Use the engine more consciously (let go of the gas pedal in time);
  3. Check your route before leaving to avoid traffic and avoid getting lost;
  4. Use a relaxed and defensive driving style and view ahead to avoid sudden stops (e.g., with traffic jams or red lights ahead, stop giving gas and just let the car go);
  5. Do not idle; rather, switch the engine off when you anticipate a long wait.
  6. Check tire pressure before leaving
  7. Only use heating/air conditioning when necessary.

   

  Communication with tourists:

  1-    Talking with a nice and proper tone of voice with travelers.

  2- Touching customers is forbidden in any form that can be misunderstood, in case the traveler initiated a handshake or a hug at the end of the trip it is ok and acceptable, but never initiate anything except a handshake

  3- Explain the role of a driver in the tour, especially when there is no tour guide with the group.

We aim to achieve a fully sustainable tourism supply chain. The partner accommodation plays an important role in this and are stimulated and motivated to adopt sustainable practices.

We commit to this by;

• Selecting accommodations that show proven records of sustainability practices and quality standards, especially ones that work with internationally acknowledged sustainability certification.
• Preferring and selecting accommodations that are locally owned and managed, and that offer locally made products.
• Selecting accommodations that employ local communities and source their food locally.
• Encouraging accommodations to follow best practices/trainings on responsible tourism;
• Communicate our sustainability objectives and requirements regarding accommodations to contracted and other relevant accommodations;
• Preferring and selecting accommodations that accommodations that limit their negative impact on local and global biodiversity.
• In case of clear evidence that contracted accommodations jeopardize the provision or integrity of basic services such as food, water, energy, healthcare, or soil to the neighboring communities, it can be a reason to terminate the cooperation with the accommodation.

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.

We commit to this by;

• Advising guests on behaviour standards during excursions and activities with a focus on respecting the local culture, nature, animal and environment;
• Not offering any excursions in which wildlife is held captive, except for properly regulated activities in compliance with local, national, and international law;
• 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 advising 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;

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;
• 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;
• 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);

We aim to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative impacts at the destination to ensure the sustainable development of the places where we operate.

We commit to this by:

• Support biodiversity conservation, including protected areas and areas of high biodiversity through integration into our product offers;
• Not promote souvenirs that contain threatened flora and fauna species as indicated in the CITES treaty and the IUCN ‘Red List’; or historic and archaeological artifacts (except as permitted by law);
• When selecting new destinations, prioritize those accessible through more sustainable means of transport.

For questions and remarks related to our sustainability/CSR policies, please contact:

Ms. Heba Shaheen
Sustainable Tourism Manager
Email: heba.shaheen@wjtours.com
Mobile: +962 7 9964 5081