SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Travel responsibly. Support local. Preserve for the future.

At Wajdusna, we believe that tourism can be a way of discovering a place that benefits visitors, the local community and the environment.

The Vipava Valley is our home. We want our guests to experience it authentically, respectfully and at their own pace. When creating our experiences, we work with local guides, winemakers, farmers, beekeepers, food producers and other local partners.

We continuously strive to improve the way we operate, looking for ways to reduce negative impacts and increase the positive contribution of tourism to our destination.

OUR APPROACH

Sustainability is part of the way we develop and deliver our tourism products.

We mainly work with small groups, allowing us to create more personal experiences while supporting meaningful cooperation with local providers and a more responsible approach to the local environment.

When planning and delivering our experiences, we consider:

• the local community and local economy;
• the protection of natural and cultural heritage;
• the use of local products and services;
• responsible mobility;
• reducing waste and the use of resources;
• good working conditions;
• accessibility and inclusion;
• responsible communication with our guests.

TRAVELIFE PARTNER

We are proud to hold Travelife Partner recognition, first awarded to our company on 10 February 2021.

Travelife Partner is the entry recognition level within the international Travelife sustainability programme for tour operators and travel agents. This recognition confirms our commitment to further improving the sustainability of our business operations through a structured sustainability management system and the implementation of recognised sustainability practices.

Travelife Partner recognition is awarded following an independent assessment based on the Travelife Partner criteria. During this assessment, our sustainability policy, objectives, management system, implementation of key sustainability practices and supporting documentation are evaluated against 60 mandatory sustainability criteria.

To maintain this recognition, our company is independently reassessed every two years to verify that we continue to comply with the Travelife Partner criteria.

Travelife Partner also provides the basis for progressing to the highest recognition level: Travelife Certified. This recognition is awarded following a comprehensive independent on-site audit based on the Travelife Certified criteria. This standard comprises more than 200 mandatory sustainability criteria and verifies the implementation of sustainability management and sustainability practices throughout the entire organisation.

More information about the Travelife programme, the different recognition levels, the validity of our current Travelife Partner recognition and the Travelife criteria can be found on the Travelife information website for travellers:

Travelife – information for travellers

OUR SUSTAINABILITY PRIORITIES

1. Local community and local economy

We believe that tourism should also benefit the people who live in the destination.

We work with local providers and include them in our tourism products. On our tours, we visit local winemakers, farms, beekeepers and other providers, giving our guests the opportunity to discover local traditions and, where possible, purchase products directly from the producers.

In this way, we aim to contribute to the local economy and support the preservation of knowledge, traditions and activities that are part of life in the Vipava Valley.

2. Local guides and authentic experiences

Our guides come from the local area and know the Vipava Valley as their home.

We want to show our guests more than just the best-known attractions. We also want to share the stories, people, traditions and everyday life of the valley.

Our approach is based on respecting local customs, the privacy of residents, and the natural and cultural heritage of the area.

3. Local food and drink

Whenever food or drink is included in our experiences, we give preference to local and seasonal products and to working with local providers.

We want to introduce guests to the Vipava Valley through its flavours – local wines, traditional cuisine and products from local farms and other producers.

In this way, we support local producers while allowing our guests to discover the characteristic flavours of our destination.

4. Soft mobility

We encourage ways of exploring the destination that allow for slower and more immersive travel.

Our Bike & Wine, Hike & Wine, e-bike tours and other experiences include walking and cycling as alternatives to travelling by car.

When developing cycling experiences, we want to present cycling not only as a sport, but also as a way of exploring the destination and travelling between places.

5. Nature and biodiversity

The Vipava Valley is a destination with a rich natural and cultural landscape. When carrying out our activities, we strive to minimise our impact on the natural environment.

We encourage guests to stay on designated paths and to respect nature, plants, wildlife and the local environment.

We also aim to raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity. For example, some of our experiences introduce guests to the world of bees and the importance of a healthy environment for their survival.

6. Climate and carbon footprint

We monitor the carbon footprint of our tourism activities because we want to better understand the impacts of our operations and identify opportunities to reduce them.

We use carbon footprint monitoring as a tool to track our impact and support continuous improvement.

We also try to reduce unnecessary emissions in our office. Whenever possible, we walk or cycle to work; in bad weather, we share car journeys, and when appropriate, we use online meetings instead of travelling.

7. Reducing waste and responsible use of resources

In our daily operations, we strive to reduce unnecessary consumption of resources.

Where possible, we limit printing and use digital communication. When organising our activities, we look for solutions that help reduce waste and unnecessary use of resources.

8. Accessibility and inclusion

We want tourism to be accessible to as many people as possible.

We therefore also develop and deliver experiences that enable guests with different abilities and needs to participate. We work with local partners and look for practical solutions that make exploring the Vipava Valley more inclusive.

OUR CONCRETE ACTIONS

Sustainability is not just about words. It is important to us to turn our goals into concrete actions.

Among other things, we:

• work with local providers and producers;
• use local products and services in our experiences;
• develop cycling and hiking products;
• encourage guests to use soft mobility;
• monitor the carbon footprint of our activities;
• limit unnecessary printing and use of resources;
• cooperate with the local community in tourism development;
• support educational activities for local schools;
• develop more inclusive tourism experiences;
• raise guests’ awareness of responsible behaviour in nature and the local environment.

OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

We want tourism to remain part of everyday life in the Vipava Valley.

We therefore encourage our guests to respect local customs, people and places. We recommend visiting local providers, buying directly from producers and exploring the destination in ways that allow for a genuine connection with the local environment.

We also participate in local initiatives and projects that contribute to the development of responsible and sustainability-oriented tourism.

HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE?

Even small choices made by visitors can contribute to more responsible tourism.

During your visit to the Vipava Valley, we invite you to:

• choose walking or cycling whenever possible;
• use local providers;
• buy directly from local producers;
• try local and seasonal food;
• respect nature and stay on designated paths;
• respect local residents, their customs and privacy;
• reduce the amount of waste you create;
• use water and other resources responsibly.

More green tips for visiting the Vipava Valley can be found on the destination’s website: Vipava Valley – Green Destination.

OUR COMMITMENT

We know that sustainability is not a goal that can be achieved once and for all.

We will therefore continue to monitor our impacts, look for improvements and develop tourism products that respect people, nature and the character of the Vipava Valley.

Our goal is simple: to enable people to experience the Vipava Valley today without reducing the opportunities for future generations to experience it tomorrow.

OUR RECOGNITIONS

Travelife Partner

First awarded: 10 February 2021

Travelife Partner is the entry recognition level within the international Travelife sustainability programme for tour operators and travel agents. The recognition is based on an independent assessment against the Travelife Partner criteria.

Slovenia Green Travel Agency

We hold the Slovenia Green Travel Agency label as part of the national Slovenia Green programme.

MORE INFORMATION

Travelife – information for travellers:
Travelife consumer website

Slovenia Green:
Slovenia Green

Vipava Valley – Green Destination:
Vipava Valley – green tips

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