Raising Environmental Awareness
Guests leave better informed about local ecology
Tourism is an opportunity to educate. This sub-indicator examines whether operators actively develop guests' understanding of local environmental issues — not just as a backdrop to the experience, but as a meaningful outcome, leaving travellers more informed and more likely to act responsibly.
Whether the operator actively educates visitors about local environmental issues and how to minimise their impact.
How RTA measures this
The same sub-indicator is assessed from two sides: operators self-assess their performance; travellers rate their experience. Both use a 1–5 scale.
“How effectively did this tour educate guests about local environmental issues and responsible behaviour?”
- 1We do care but it is not our responsibility to deliver trainings or sensitization on general environmental issues.
- 2We are aware of some waste management issues and/or other environmental issues (wildlife, threat on biodiversity) in the destination but we cannot / do not know how to improve or change these. Some clients have inappropriate behaviours but we cannot lecture them, and/or our guide cannot contradict the traveller.
- 3We provide generic environmental do's and don'ts to our customers and to our guides who are able to explain them to travellers. Our guides are trained to communicate with travellers in case they would act carelessly (pick up/buy shells, walk off-track, etc.).
- 4In addition to the foregoing, we provide and/or facilitate attendance at regular trainings on environmental protection (waste, wildlife, biodiversity, pollution) for our guides and staff.
- 5In addition to the foregoing, we provide training/sensitization on environmental protection (waste, wildlife, biodiversity) to our local suppliers and/or local communities. And/or: we contribute to local initiatives of sensitization on environmental issues.
“How effectively did this tour increase your understanding of local environmental issues?”
- 1The tour provided no environmental education — I left knowing no more about local environmental issues than when I arrived.
- 2Environmental issues were mentioned briefly but the educational content was minimal.
- 3Some useful environmental information was provided, though it could have been more substantial.
- 4The tour significantly improved my understanding of local environmental issues — the educational content was engaging and informative.
- 5The environmental education provided was outstanding — I gained genuine insight and felt inspired to change my behaviour.
Other sub-indicators in Cultural & Environmental Preservation
Rate this indicator yourself
Complete a questionnaire and see how an operator scores across all 16 sub-indicators.