What is Sustainable Tourism?
Sustainable tourism is a form of tourism that follows the principles of sustainability. Sustainable tourism is an industry committed to making a low impact on the environment and local culture while contributing to generating income and employment for the local population.
"Tourism is currently one of the fastest-growing business sectors in the world, so much so that in several countries it has become one of the main drivers of development. However, as it can be widely beneficial, it could also cause major damages if not properly managed, since it can affect the wealth of the natural and cultural heritage of any country, understanding the heritage as "the set of movable, immovable, and cultural manifestations that synthesize and manifest the history and identity of a nation ", that is why Paraíso Travels Col. has implemented the NTS Sector Technical Standard - TS 003 - Sustainability Requirements to join sustainable change without neglecting the country's legal and regulatory commitments.
(Taken from the book of good practices in nature tourism in travel agencies of the Productive Transformation Program (PTP) of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism)
Code of conduct
The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism is an initiative of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and ECPAT International and UNICEF, developed in both the countries of origin and the destination countries of tourism. It seeks the participation and commitment of the tourism industry to discourage and punish the commercial sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, associated with travel and tourism.
What is it about?
Sex tourism in minors is defined as the sexual exploitation of a minor by a person or persons who engage in sexual activities with the minor while traveling outside their country or region. Usually, these types of activities include some form of payment either in cash or in-kind such as food, clothing, among others.
The problem
In general terms, the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents (ESCNNA) has been recognized as a global phenomenon that impacts millions of minors every year, in countries of all continents. This exploitation occurs mainly in Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa and in Eastern Europe. The western world is the one that most demands sex with minors.
In Colombia, there is great concern, so the Tourism Industry has taken a very energetic position of zero tolerance, to protect children and adolescents from commercial sexual exploitation. Therefore, they have come together to promote the incorporation of the CODE OF CONDUCT in tourist companies to face this problem.
Normative
In accordance with the provisions of Law 679 of August 3, 2001, all persons must prevent, block, combat and denounce the exploitation, accommodation, use, publication, dissemination of images, texts, documents, audiovisual archives, misuse of global information networks, or the establishment of telematic links of any kind, related to pornographic material or allusive to sexual exploitation activities of minors. Failure to comply with the foregoing could generate criminal and administrative liability.
Ethics Policy
Paraíso Travels Col. is committed to implementing the following measures:
1. Implement corporate ethical policies against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of minors.
2. Train our staff on the guidelines and policies of the company regarding the protection of minors against Commercial Sexual Exploitation and act as preventive agents in this problem area.
3. Report to the competent authority the cases that are evident.
4. Provide information to customers through catalogs, pamphlets, the website, and other means.
5. Provide information to local “key people” in different destinations.
6. Report annually on the company's actions regarding this project.
7. Under no circumstances may employees or suppliers promote or offer tourist packages, sites, images, texts, advertising, video, or any other means where sexual activities are shown with minors.
Natural and Cultural Heritage
In Colombia we have the following natural and cultural heritage declared by UNESCO:
- Traditional marimba music and songs from the South Pacific of Colombia-Nariño, Cauca and Valle del Cauca
- Cultural space of Palenque de San Basilio-Bolívar
- Barranquilla’s carnival
- The Holy Week processions of Popayán-Cauca
- Carnival of Blacks and whites -Nariño
- Wayuu’s Regulatory System - Guajira
- Traditional knowledge of the jaguar shamans of Yuruparí-Vaupés
- Feast of San Francisco de Asís-Quibdó
- The historic center of Santa Cruz de Mompox-Bolívar
- The cultural landscape of coffee from Colombia-Risaralda, Caldas, Quindío and Valle del Cauca
- San Agustín Archaeological Park
- Tierra Adentro National Park
- Katios National Park- Choco (Endangered)
- Port, fortresses and monumental complex of Cartagena- Bolívar
How can you contribute?
*Do not destroy them
*Do not take them home
*Do not speak ill of them
Better enjoy them healthily and help spread their importance.
Remember that it is everyone's responsibility to take care of them since it depends on that that they continue to be considered the heritage of humanity.
