GEBECO

Contributor	Herbert Hamele
Country	Germany
Keywords	ETGG2030-GP ETGG2030-MAP
Organisation	GEBECO
Postal address	Holzkoppelweg 19, 24118 Kiel
Webpage	http://gebeco.de
Release date	08/04/2022
Landscape type	Unspecified
Topics	Good Governance & CSR
GSTC Criteria for Industry	A1 Sustainability management system A3 Reporting and communication A4 Staff engagement A9 Information and interpretation B1 Community support B4 Local entrepreneurs B5 Exploitation and harassment B6 Equal opportunity D2.1 Greenhouse gas emissions D2.2 Transport D3.1 Biodiversity conservation
Marketplace category	Certified Green: Tour operators, Travel agents, Intermediaries
Type	(Best Practice Business)

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Certified by TourCert
Category:	Tour operator
Size:	Medium
Protected areas nearby:	Various, in destinations visited
Certifying body:	TourCert

Outstanding contributions

Gebeco is a tour operator offering programmes in Germany, the rest of Europe and further afield. The commitment to sustainability, with certification by TourCert, is clearly stated on their website. Gebeco has developed a catalogue of sustainability criteria (covering accommodation, departure and arrival, transport, visits, sustainability-related activities, food and group size), which must be met in part or in total by all trips. The criteria are monitored each year and trips that meet all the criteria are marked with a special label.

Gebeco seeks to use accommodation that has been certified by internationally recognised sustainability certification schemes. It also favours accommodation with a close connection to local culture and which uses organic produce. The company takes account of flight-based emissions per overnight stay: where flights are over 800 km the minimum stay is one week (two weeks if over 3,800 km). The Atmosphere Airlines Index is used to select environmentally efficient airlines, compensation of emissions is promoted, train transfers are included in the offer and the use of domestic flights has been reduced. The use of public transport, bicycles and other low carbon travel options is favoured in destinations.

A key aspect of Gebeco’s approach is its relationship with staff, local partners and communities. Social and environmental projects are supported directly and through engagement with other bodies such as Futouris. An example is the wilderness tracker project with the local Khwe community in Namibia. Guests can visit various aid projects during their trips. Every new employee receives a training course on human rights in tourism. Framework agreements with local partners ensure compliance with human rights and other sustainability requirements. Gebeco also works with other tour operators and international bodies to promote fair wages, working conditions and social security in the sector and to outlaw child exploitation.

Key SDGs related to this action

See: Tourism for SDGs - Recommendations for Companies