Sustainability

Sustainability

A sustainable future with Discova

As one of the world’s leading DMCs, we embrace our responsibility to make travel sustainable for local communities and the planet. That’s why, for over 25 years, we have championed a ‘local first’ approach to the way we work. We are a global company, and proud that 95% of our staff are local. This has always meant we are particularly close to the destinations we represent, both geographically and emotionally.

We have used our size and stability to our advantage by supporting various community development projects and social, environmental and economic initiatives throughout our destinations.

By partnering with Discova, your business can have a positive impact too. We share in our successes and offer opportunities for our partners to increase their involvement in our sustainability projects. 

Together we can use travel to benefit everyone, not just our passengers.

Community-based tourism in northern Vietnam

Social Responsibility

As customer appetite for authentic experiences increases, so do the risks of community exploitation. Discova strives to promote the diversity of the world’s cultures with respect. This means working with local communities to promote their culture and creating experiences that provide mutual benefit. We take child welfare particularly seriously, by ensuring that all our staff are ChildSafe trained and strictly not supporting visits to orphanages, institutions or day centres where children are exposed. From our day-to-day internal behaviour to the partners we work with, equality and inclusivity are essential to the way we do business. This positive company attitude has largely developed organically but, as our business grows, we see the opportunity to increase awareness. 

Community-based tourism in northern Vietnam

Social Responsibility

As customer appetite for authentic experiences increases, so do the risks of community exploitation. Discova strives to promote the diversity of the world’s cultures with respect. This means working with local communities to promote their culture and creating experiences that provide mutual benefit. We take child welfare particularly seriously, by ensuring that all our staff are ChildSafe trained and strictly not supporting visits to orphanages, institutions or day centres where children are exposed. From our day-to-day internal behaviour to the partners we work with, equality and inclusivity are essential to the way we do business. This positive company attitude has largely developed organically but, as our business grows, we see the opportunity to increase awareness. 

Environmental Responsibility

To work in travel is to truly love and appreciate the natural world we live in. Therefore, we have an ongoing commitment to address the most urgent environmental issues facing tourism: plastic waste, animal welfare and carbon emissions. Our efforts include preventing the use of over 100 000 plastic bottles annually, the replacement of conventional wet tissues with biodegradable ones in many of our destination tours, and animal audits and supplier realignment. Below you will find our Responsible Travel Report with all the details. We have also partnered with Path Net Zero so that we can simply and effectively calculate and reduce the carbon emissions of your travellers’ trips with us.

View or download our Carbon Impact Correction Journey

Environmental Responsibility

To work in travel is to truly love and appreciate the natural world we live in. Therefore, we have an ongoing commitment to address the most urgent environmental issues facing tourism: plastic waste, animal welfare and carbon emissions. Our efforts include preventing the use of over 100 000 plastic bottles annually, the replacement of conventional wet tissues with biodegradable ones in many of our destination tours, and animal audits and supplier realignment. Below you will find our Responsible Travel Report with all the details. We have also partnered with Path Net Zero so that we can simply and effectively calculate and reduce the carbon emissions of your travellers’ trips with us.

View or download our Carbon Impact Correction Journey

Craft vendors in Phnom Penh

Economic Responsibility

Our ‘local first’ policy means we are always looking for new ways to empower and promote local enterprise. By doing this, we maximise the amount of revenue that stays within our communities, which helps support development. Our community work spans decades, with community tourism programmes across Southeast Asia continuing to provide training, financial support, and income to disadvantaged regions. We also established our Local Life product range – a specially curated collection of experiences that present passengers an authentic alternative to the tourist trail while channeling revenue to the local economy.

View or download our Responsible Travel Report

Craft vendors in Phnom Penh

Economic Responsibility

Our ‘local first’ policy means we are always looking for new ways to empower and promote local enterprise. By doing this, we maximise the amount of revenue that stays within our communities, which helps support development. Our community work spans decades, with community tourism programmes across Southeast Asia continuing to provide training, financial support, and income to disadvantaged regions. We also established our Local Life product range – a specially curated collection of experiences that present passengers an authentic alternative to the tourist trail while channeling revenue to the local economy.

View or download our Responsible Travel Report

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and stay at the forefront of new product offerings, Discova behind-the-scenes, destination news, travel trends and thought leadership articles from our on-the-ground experts.