Sustainable and Responsible Trips in Indonesia

1. Introduction
At Sulawesi Adventures, we believe that tourism should be a force for good—enriching the traveler while preserving Indonesia’s people, cultures, and ecosystems. This Sustainability Policy establishes our core principles, commitments, and operational guidelines to ensure that our activities create positive social, environmental, and economic impact for present and future generations.

2. Sustainable Mission Statement
Our mission is to support a more sustainable society and promote responsible tourism by guiding travellers, partners, and local communities toward greater sustainability awareness. We are dedicated to creating authentic experiences across Indonesia that minimize environmental impact, celebrate cultural heritage, and empower communities. We believe in tourism that protects what makes Indonesia unique while enriching everyone involved in the journey.

3. Scope of the Policy
This Sustainability Policy applies to all operations, employees, contracted guides, suppliers, local partners, and activities organized by Sulawesi Adventures. It covers environmental management, social and cultural integrity, economic responsibility, health and safety, ethical business conduct, child protection, destination selection, and customer engagement.

This policy takes effect immediately upon approval by Sustainability Manager Coordinator and circulation to staff. It will be formally reviewed every two years to ensure its relevancy. Any deviation from this policy must be approved by the Managing or a delegated officer.

4. Sustainability Principles & Commitments
Our work is guided by the following principles:

·       Environmental stewardship — minimizing our ecological footprint and protecting natural ecosystems.

·       Cultural respect — preserving and celebrating Indonesia’s tangible and intangible heritage.

·       Community empowerment — ensuring tourism benefits local people directly and fairly.

·       Ethical conduct — protecting human rights, including children’s rights and fair labour conditions.

·       Animal welfare — ensuring all wildlife encounters adhere to responsible, non-intrusive practices.

·       Transparency and accountability — communicating clearly and assessing our performance regularly.

5. Operational Sustainability Policies
5.1 Environmental Responsibility
We integrate environmentally responsible practices across all aspects of our operations:

Internal Resource Management
·       We do not produce physical printouts; all documentation and communication are managed and distributed entirely in digital format, thereby reducing our environmental impact.

·       Although we do not operate from a physical office, we encourage our remote team to use energy and water responsibly, promoting practices that reduce consumption and also encouraging them to apply recycling habits in their workspaces.

Sustainable Transportation
·       We evaluate transportation options to prioritize low-impact, energy-efficient travel whenever feasible.

·       We encourage land-based routes, shared transport options, and the most sustainable alternatives available—while ensuring comfort and safety for our guests.

·       When designing new travel packages, we assess sustainability, price, and comfort before selecting transportation.

Conservation Efforts
·       We support marine protection, reforestation, and wildlife preservation initiatives.

·       Through our partnership with Tree-Nation, we plant trees and monitor our CO₂ offset as part of our goal to operate as a carbon-neutral company.

Wildlife Protection
·       We do not promote souvenirs made from endangered flora or fauna.

·       We do not offer experiences involving touching or feeding wild animals, captive wildlife attractions, animal shows, or any form of animal exploitation.

·       Wildlife-based tours (e.g., Sumatra, Borneo, Komodo) are strictly observational and non-intrusive.

5.2 Social & Cultural Responsibility (Community Empowerment & Cultural Integrity)
We ensure that tourism contributes positively to Indonesian communities:

·       We prioritize collaboration with locally owned businesses, guides, artisans, and accommodation providers.

·       We support fair wages, safe working conditions, and training opportunities.

·       We design experiences that foster respectful, meaningful connections with indigenous and rural communities.

·       We actively protect Indonesia’s cultural heritage, promoting ethical and educational cultural interactions.

·       We support community-based initiatives through our partnerships with Planeterra, PKP Community Centre, and Bulian, promoting social development, cultural preservation, and meaningful local impact.

 
5.3 Economic Responsibility & Fair Trade
·       We support local economies by prioritizing local suppliers, services, and products.

·       We ensure fair compensation for local partners and avoid mass tourism practices that undermine local livelihoods.

5.4 Child Protection
We uphold strict child protection standards in accordance with international guidelines:

·       We prohibit all forms of child labour and exploitation.

·       We do not organise or promote school or orphanage visits.

·       We train our staff and inform travellers to ensure children’s rights and dignity are respected at all times.

5.5 Employee Well-being & Ethical Work Practices
Our team is central to our mission. We guarantee:

·       Compliance with Indonesian labour laws and international human rights standards.

·       Fair wages and safe, inclusive, discrimination-free workplaces.

·       Zero tolerance for harassment, forced labour, or modern slavery.

·       Ongoing training to enhance professional and sustainability skills.

5.6 Responsible Travel Education
Sustainable tourism begins with informed travellers.

·       We educate travellers about responsible behaviour, including reef-safe practices, avoiding illegal souvenirs, respecting local customs, and reducing plastic use.

·       Each traveller receives sustainability guidelines, emergency contacts, and our Responsible Traveller Code of Conduct. See our Code of Conduct for Responsible Travellers: https://sulawesiadventures.com/pdf/code-of-conduct-for-responsible-travelers-sulawesi-adventures.pdf 

·       We encourage visitors to support local businesses, respect wildlife, and protect cultural integrity.

·       We inform consumers about the main sustainability aspects and issues of the destination and provide recommendations on how to make a positive contribution.

5.7 Responsible Customer Engagement
·       We curate immersive experiences that celebrate Indonesian heritage and biodiversity.

·       Our itineraries avoid overcrowded sites and promote slow travel.

·       We maintain transparent communication about sustainability challenges and best practices.

·       We provide accurate information about the destination, including natural environment, local culture, and cultural heritage.

·       We inform customers about health and safety risks in the destination and the precautions to take.

·       We maintain a contact person and phone number available at all times for emergencies.

·       We have clear procedures in place for handling customer complaints.

·       Customer privacy is fully protected in accordance with our Customer Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions. See our Customer Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions: https://sulawesiadventures.com/pdf/customer-privacy-policy-terms-and-conditions-sulawesi-adventures.pdf

5.8 Supplier & Partner Sustainability Standards
We work with partners who share our commitment to responsible tourism.
Our criteria include:

·       Preference for eco-friendly accommodations, especially those with recognized sustainability certifications (GSTC, Travelyst, Travelife, etc). See our Sustainable Accommodation Policy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ptpcx-X3AwlQT0Njv5pWPBHfSUVdAxZq/view?usp=sharing  

·       Commitment to human rights, child protection, and wildlife conservation.

·       Local ownership and use of local staff whenever possible.

·       Ethical business practices, transparent pricing, and efforts to minimize environmental and social impact.

·       Preference for restaurants and warungs that avoid endangered species, reduce food waste, minimise plastics, and serve local or organic products.

·       In selecting sustainable excursion suppliers, we prioritise partners who provide safe and high-quality services at a fair price, operate with transparent and ethical business practices, and actively minimise their environmental and social impact through responsible, sustainable operations. See our Sustainable Excursion Policy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-p747poWvg9VtdYEZHVOwguioEjT8_Lh/view?usp=sharing

We also provide partners access to free sustainability training through Travelife, supporting their ongoing development.

5.9 Destination Selection
Sustainable Destinations
We evaluate environmental, cultural, and social sustainability when selecting new destinations.
Criteria include:

·       Protecting ecosystems and biodiversity

·       Respecting cultural authenticity

·       Supporting local economies

·       Considering existing sustainability certifications or management systems

We collaborate with the Good Tourism Institute to identify destinations that follow responsible tourism practices.

Unsustainable Destinations
We avoid destinations where tourism causes structural negative impacts on biodiversity, waste management, water access, human rights, healthcare, food security, or local well-being.

Accessible Destinations
We evaluate transportation options to ensure energy efficiency, safety, and realistic logistical feasibility before including a destination in our itineraries.

6. Monitoring, Evaluation & Continuous Improvement
Sustainability is an ongoing journey. We:

·      Remain open to feedback and collaborate with stakeholders to strengthen our sustainability strategy.

·      Provide our suppliers and local partners with access to free and up-to-date sustainability training offered by Travelife, thereby supporting their continuous development and encouraging the adoption of responsible practices that contribute to more sustainable tourism.

 
7. Transparency & Communication
“Our company ensures that no marketing and advertisement document, statement, or other publication, shall contain misleading information, over advertise and under deliver. We guarantee that all our staff are aware of and ensure that what is offered can be delivered to our clients with ease.” Any advertisement and/or communication written and released will clearly state when relevant:

·       Exact itinerary (with distances and times)

·       Exact price with dates of validity

·       Included services

·       Insurance details

·       Exclusions (and surcharges if applicable)

·       Detailed destination information

·       Indication of sustainable options

·       Dress code/ethical instructions where needed

·       Accurate photos and visual materials

·       Personal data protection

·       GDPR consent if applicable

·       Complaints instructions

·       Company contacts including emergency contacts

8. Contact
For questions, suggestions, or more information about our responsible tourism practices, please contact us at: sales@sulawesiadventures.com 

The Sustainability Manager Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring that this policy and all other company policy is up kept through the continual monitoring and development of sustainable mechanisms within the organization. 

This policy is a public document, and will be reviewed annually.

Signed:

Ana Martínez,

Sustainability Manager Coordinator, Sulawesi Adventures

Date: 09/12/2025