Support to Social & Environmental Projects
Operator contributes to local causes beyond tourism
Responsible operators connect their business to the broader health of the destination — financially supporting, promoting, or partnering with local social and environmental projects. This sub-indicator looks at whether those commitments are real and ongoing, not just token gestures.
Whether the operator actively funds, promotes, or partners with local social or environmental projects.
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.
“To what extent did this tour contribute to local social and environmental projects?”
- 1We do not support local projects.
- 2We donate to a cause which is not benefiting directly or indirectly this specific area. And/or: we give to a local project but have not researched how it is used and by whom. And/or: our travellers go to see and interact with / donate to / purchase from children in a school / orphanage / we visit a hospital.
- 3We have included in our tour the visit of a local project (excluding meeting children in school/orphanage/hospital). And/or: we incite travellers to donate to a local project. And/or: we have given once some financial support for a local project (please insert details in the description of your tour).
- 4We regularly support social projects (marginalized groups / schools / vocational training schools for the poorest). And/or environmental projects (please insert details in the description of your tour).
- 5We set aside a decent percentage of the tour to one or several managed and audited community funds and we report / provide evidence of our engagement to anyone interested.
“How effectively did this tour support local social or environmental initiatives?”
- 1No connection to local social or environmental projects was apparent during the tour.
- 2A passing mention of local projects was made but no meaningful engagement was offered.
- 3Some contribution to local initiatives was evident, though the commitment felt limited.
- 4Clear and genuine support for local projects was demonstrated — guests could see how their visit contributed.
- 5The operator's commitment to local social and environmental projects was outstanding — impact was visible and well-communicated.
Other sub-indicators in Involvement of Local Communities
Rate this indicator yourself
Complete a questionnaire and see how an operator scores across all 16 sub-indicators.