ABSOLUTE CARPATHIAN

Contributor	Herbert Hamele
Country	Romania
Keywords	ETGG2030-GP ETGG2030-MAP
Organisation	ABSOLUTE CARPATHIAN
Postal address	Zarnesti, Romania
Webpage	https;//www.absolute-nature.ro
Release date	08/04/2022
Landscape type	Mountain
Topics	Good Governance & CSR Natural Heritage & Biodiversity
GSTC Criteria for Industry	A4 Staff engagement A9 Information and interpretation B2 Local employment B3 Local purchasing B4 Local entrepreneurs C1 Cultural interactions D2.2 Transport D3.1 Biodiversity conservation D3.4 Wildlife interactions
Marketplace category	Certified Green: Tour operators, Travel agents, Intermediaries
Type	(Best Practice Business)

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#	File name	Contributor	Release date	Uploaded by	Upload date	Size	Content type


Category:	Tour Operator
Size:	Micro
Protected areas nearby:	Piatra Craiului National Park; Bucegi Natural Park; Fagaras Mountains Natura 2000;
Certifying body:	Eco Romania AER

Outstanding contributions

Absolute Carpathian is an incoming tour operator specialising in the provision of wildlife watching experiences in Romania, with a focus on wolf, bear, lynx and bird watching. Programmes range from day visits of just three hours to short breaks and 10-day programmes. The company’s Responsible Tourism Policy, shown on the home page of their website, covers economic, environmental and social sustainability. The company only uses locally provided services and it favours the use of local crafts and produce. Group sizes are kept very small, to minimise negative impact. Itineraries are planned to minimise distances between accommodation and wildlife watching sites. All the accommodation used by the company, including its own operation, has been certified by Eco Romania.

A key element of their approach is to create a positive link between tourism and wildlife. The company clearly states it aim to share wildlife experiences with clients and help them understand the importance of conservation, using ecotourism to help protect large carnivores in their natural habitat. The company has a partnership with the Romanian Wildlife Research Institute and the researchers guide the clients. It is underlined that these activities do not harm the animals and do not put visitors at risk, as the researchers know the best way to approach the animals and the watching is done at a safe distance. Some of the data collected during the tours are used by the Institute as part of their research on wildlife behaviour, including the sensitivity of bears towards humans. The data are also used in advocacy for improving legislation

Key SDGs related to this action

See: Tourism for SDGs - Recommendations for Companies