Sustainability Policy

• Adhere to all relevant legislation and integrate sustainable development principles into our core business practices.
• Integrate sustainability practices within our offices and destinations, including Islamabad, Baltistan, and Hunza.
• Ensure the implementation of all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) established for sustainable tourism.
• Preserve these remote valleys’ social, cultural, and environmental heritage, continuously improving our practices and preventing tourism leakages.
• Provide information, training, and support to our staff, vendors, communities, and support personnel from the remote valleys to promote sustainability.
• Provide sustainable information about our products and practices to encourage our clients to opt for sustainable travel options.
• Employ effective marketing strategies to promote sustainable tourism in Pakistan.

Beyond The Valley is committed to sustainability management, practiced by the following actions:
• To have an appointed employee who is responsible for sustainability coordinator tasks
• Beyond The Valley has a sustainability mission statement that is shared with customers, partners, and suppliers.
• To establish a clear and accessible sustainability policy that seeks to reduce the negative social, cultural, economic, and environmental impacts of the company’s activities while also addressing employee health and safety concerns
• To collaborate and be actively involved in external forums and working groups which are supportive of sustainability in tourism
• To conduct a baseline assessment of the company’s performance on sustainable practices
• To have sustainability guidelines and assessment system in place to identify the sustainability performance of key suppliers/partners
• To have a sustainability action plan with clear targets, actions, measures, responsibilities, and time planning
• To develop documented procedures to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the sustainability policy, objectives, and targets
• To ensure the company’s transparency in sustainability by public reporting and communicating.
• Ensure that all staff are fully aware of our Sustainability Policy and committed to implementing and improving it.
• BTV commits to complying with all local and national legislation, regulations, and codes of practice

BTV commits to sustainable internal management by having a clear written and well-communicated social policy that includes the following principles
• To ensure the company’s transparency in sustainability by public reporting and communicating
• Ensure that all staff are fully aware of our Sustainability Policy and committed to implementing and improving it.
• To grant employees the freedom of employment and contract termination with notice (ideally a minimum of two months) and without penalty
• BTV has a written HR policy that includes labor conditions under national labor laws and outlines job descriptions in the employment contracts
• Salaries for permanent employees and wages for local guides and support staff are specified in the contracts and are higher than the national minimum wages
• To determine and compensate for overtime working hours based on the agreement
• To provide medical and liability insurance according to the national law
• To grant employees fixed paid yearly holiday and sick leave and unpaid annual leave allowance
• To have a health and safety policy for employees which complies with national legal standards
• To have first aid sets and trained staff available at all relevant locations
• To obey the national Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
• To have documented effective procedures in place for employees to voice out their complaints and expectations
• To have a straightforward disciplinary procedure that is effectively communicated to employees
• To have a measurement system for employee satisfaction regularly
• To provide periodic guidance and training for employees on roles, rights, and responsibilities regarding health and safety issues. This includes fire and relevant natural disasters
• To create opportunities for students to participate in traineeship/internship/apprenticeship
• To encourage employment opportunities for persons with special needs
We commit to practicing human rights by ensuring the enforcement of the following practices:
• To declare not to hinder trade union membership, collective labor negotiations, and representation of members by trade unions
• To prohibit discrimination regarding recruitment, conditions of employment, access to training and senior positions, or promotion in terms of gender, race, age, disability, ethnicity, religion/beliefs, or sexual orientation
• To ensure all employees have an equal chance and access to resources and opportunities for personal development through regular training, education.

We commit to practicing environmental protection and enhancing community relations by ensuring the enforcement of the following practices;
• Implement all of BTV’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) related to environmental and community relations
• Actively reduce the use of disposable and consumer goods
• Prioritize the purchase of sustainable goods and services, including office supplies
• Purchase products in bulk to reduce the amount of packaging materials
• Set copy and printing machines by default to double-sided printing or other forms of paper-saving modes
• Use cleaning materials that are non-hazardous and biodegradable and are certified with an eco-label if locally available
• Print brochures on environmentally friendly paper with a company that works with a certified environmental management system, if locally available, at reasonable costs.
• Implement measurements to reduce brochure wastage or an” internet only’ policy.”
• Have an active commitment to measuring, monitoring, and reducing energy consumption.
• Calculate and compensate CO2 emissions and compare different periods
• Purchase energy-efficient lighting for all areas when available
• Switch off Lights and equipment when not in use, use the automatic switch on/off system with timers or movement sensors, and set equipment by default in the energy-saving mode, where this is feasible
• Prefer low-energy equipment when buying new items, including considerations of cost and quality
• Have an active policy to reduce water consumption, implemented and monitored on a monthly or yearly basis for benchmark purposes
• Use sustainable water sourcing, which does not adversely affect environmental flows, particularly during trekking trips
• Install water-saving equipment in toilets, re-use waste water and/or collected rainwater
• Comply with the national legislation concerning waste disposal
• Take measures to reduce the amount of packaging materials and not provide non-recyclable or non-biodegradable package materials
• Take action to reduce the amount of (non-refillable) plastic bottles of drinking water for office use
• Separate all materials that can be recycled and organize the collection and proper disposal
• Implement waste-reducing methods when using ink and toner cartridges for printing and copying whenever feasible
• Recycle or properly dispose of batteries
• Minimize and substitute the use of harmful substances and manage the storage, handling, and disposal of chemicals properly.
• Measure and reduce staff-related travel and use more sustainable modes of transport. Calculate its emissions to reduce and compensate through a reliable, locally available program.
• Financially encourage employees to use public transport or sustainable means of transport.
• Reduce transport-related impacts by telework, tele/video meetings, work-at-home policies, or other means
• Maintain and adequately check motorized company vehicles to reduce emissions and energy use and comply with the legal emission standards.
• Provide periodic guidance, training, and/or information to all staff members about their roles and responsibilities with respect to internal environmental practices.
• Contribute to the protection and preservation of local historical, archaeological, culturally, and spiritually important properties and sites and not impede access to them by local residents.

Beyond The Valley has thoughtfully developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and implemented a policy to enhance the sustainability of our vendors. We aim to make sustainable development a tangible practice for every partner within our business.
• Create Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for sustainable practices for all vendors and update them regularly.
• Share all SOPs with vendors and prioritize those who actively implement sustainability in their tourism policies.
• Paying attention to the local benefits of communities when selecting local accommodations and their social policy for employees
• Raising awareness among key partners on sustainable consumption by organizing (online) campaigns and training
• Informing key partners on the Travelife and national tourism standards
• Evaluating the sustainability practices regularly of our key partners to ensure their practices are truly sustainable
• Including key sustainability clauses in contracts with inbound/receptive partners
• Motivating incoming/inbound partners to participate in sustainability training for travel companies
• Having a written contract with partner agencies
• Including clauses in the partner contracts that enable contract partners to end the contractual agreement prematurely if the partner company does not take adequate measures to prevent the sexual exploitation of children within the direct supply chain
• Ensuring that partner companies comply with all relevant national laws protecting the rights of employees

BTV has carefully developed SOPs for transport providers to ensure that vehicles used on tours produce no more than average pollution. We recognize that transportation plays a vital role in sustainable tourism and strive to reduce overall pollution levels wherever possible.
• Selecting the most sustainable options considering price and comfort when selecting transport options to the destination
• Including sustainable transport to the point of departure for the long-distance journey
• Considering and giving preference to more sustainable alternatives when selecting transport options for transfers and excursions in the destination, taking into account price, comfort, and practical considerations
• Integrating and promoting one or more sustainable holiday products/packages based on a recognized methodology, including sustainable transport, sustainable accommodations, and sustainable activities

BTV has developed SOPs for accommodations to promote sustainable practices. We are committed to implementing these SOPs and updating as needed, working toward a fully sustainable tourism supply chain. Our partner accommodations play a key role in this effort, and we actively encourage and support them in adopting sustainable practices;
• Choose accommodations that fully comply with established SOPs
• Motivating and encouraging partner accommodations to become sustainably certified
• Preferring and selecting accommodations that are locally owned and managed
• Selecting accommodations that employ local communities
• Having accommodations provides evidence clarifying their sustainability goals and strategies
• Encouraging accommodations to follow best practices/training on responsible tourism
• Clearly and actively communicating our sustainability objectives and requirements regarding accommodations to contracted and other relevant accommodations
• Giving clear preference to accommodations that work with internationally acknowledged (e.g., GSTC recognized) and/or Travelife certification
• Including standard sustainability clauses in all contracts with accommodation providers that focus on child labor, anti-corruption and bribery, waste management, and protection of biodiversity
• Offering incentives to accommodations that are actively engaging in sustainability
• Working with accommodations and restaurants that incorporate elements of local art, architecture, or cultural heritage while respecting the intellectual property rights of local communities
• Terminating cooperation with accommodation in case of clear evidence that contracted accommodations jeopardize the provision of the integrity of basic services such as food, water, energy, healthcare, or soil to the neighboring companies

We highly value animal and community welfare and aim at tours that only have a minor footprint. We are safeguarding the authenticity of the communities and the natural environment and are firmly against harming wildlife and polluting the environment. We commit to this by
• Having an inventory of environmentally or culturally sensitive excursions that are offered in each destination
• Advising guests on behavior standards during excursions and activities with a focus on respecting the local culture, nature, and environment
• Communicating our sustainability objectives and requirements to contracted and other relevant excursion providers
• Not offering excursions that harm humans, animals, plants, or natural resources such as water and energy or are socially and culturally unacceptable.
• Not offering any excursions where wildlife is held captive, except for properly regulated activities in compliance with local, national, and international law.
• Not being involved with companies that harvest, consume, display, sell, or trade wildlife species unless it is part of a regulated activity that ensures that their utilization is sustainable and complies with local, national, and international law.
• Having skilled and/or certified guides to guide our guests in sensitive cultural sites, heritage sites, or ecologically sensitive destinations
• Promoting and advising our guests on excursions and activities that directly involve and support local communities by purchasing services or goods, traditional crafts, and regional (food) production methods, or visiting social projects
• Promoting and advising our guests on excursions and activities that support the local environment and biodiversity, such as visiting protected areas or environmental protection projects

We aim to involve as many locals as possible by employing them in tourism. We stand for a fair and safe working environment that supports and respects local communities. We commit to this by;
• Ensuring that all employees have a written employment contract, including labor conditions and a job description, and fully understand the terms and conditions
• Preferring to work with local tour leaders, local representatives, local tour guides, porters, drivers, cooks, and other local staff in case of equal ability and provide training as required
• Paying tour leaders, local representatives, guides, porters, and other regional staff contracted by us at least a living wage that is equal to or above the legal minimum or relevant industry standard
• Ensuring that our tour guides, hosts, and other employees under contract are qualified and trained regularly
• Ensuring that our local employees are informed on relevant aspects of our sustainability policy and comply with it through newsletters, references, or supplements to contracts, emails, or training and information sessions
• Offering a special sustainable travel module in the training program for local tour guides and hosts, in which the main aspects of responsible tourism are brought to attention, followed by the role expected from the employees. This module will also include knowledge regarding the destination and its relevant sustainability aspects.
• Having our tour leaders, local representatives, and guides inform clients on relevant sustainability matters in the destination (e.g., protection of flora, fauna, and cultural heritage, resource use), social norms and values (e.g., tips, dressing code, and photography) and human rights (e.g., sexual exploitation)
• Training our employed tour leaders and local representatives on the avoidance of sexual exploitation of children. This will include training on how to check the requirements concerning the exclusion of child abuse.

We aim to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative impacts at our destinations to ensure the sustainable development of the places where we operate. We commit to this by;
• Consider sustainability aspects in selecting new destinations and possibly offer alternative, non-mainstream destinations.
• Not selecting destinations in which tourism leads to structural negative local effects (unless the company’s involvement results in apparent counterbalancing effects)
• Consider the selection of new destinations that are reachable through more sustainable means of transport.
• Support initiatives that improve the relationships between accommodations and local producers
• Influence and support the local government (when possible, together with other travel companies and stakeholders) concerning sustainability, destination planning and management, use of natural resources, and socio-cultural issues
• Support biodiversity conservation, including protected areas and areas of high biodiversity, through financial contribution, political support, and integration into product offers.
• Do Not promote souvenirs that contain threatened flora and fauna species as indicated in the CITES treaty and the IUCN’ Red List’ or historical and archaeological artifacts (except as permitted by law)

BTV has a clear written policy for customer communication and protection. We commit to this by;
• BTV has a thoughtfully designed privacy policy that will be updated as necessary
• Ensure that customer privacy is not compromised
• Comply with relevant standards and voluntary codes of conduct in marketing and advertising messages, and do not promise more than is delivered.
• Make product and price information clear, complete, and accurate concerning the company and its products and services, including sustainability claims.
• Provide destination information, including sustainability aspects, which is factually correct, balanced, and complete.
• Inform clients about the environmental impact of different transport options to reach the destination (in case these are not included in the package) and offer sustainable alternatives, where available.
• Promote (Certified) sustainable accommodations, excursions, packages, and/or transport options with logos or other messages, ensuring they are recognizable to consumers and presented as the “better” option.
• If available, inform the customer about sustainable alternatives concerning accommodations, excursions, package holidays, and transport options.
• Clearly inform (potential) direct customers about sustainability commitments and actions.

After booking and during holidays, we commit to this by
• Provide information to consumers about the natural surroundings, local culture, and cultural heritage in the holiday destination
• Inform consumers about key sustainability aspects and issues in the destination and receive recommendations on how to make a positive contribution
• Inform customers about risks and precautions related to health and safety matters at the destination
• Keep a contact person and a telephone number permanently available for emergency situations
• Train personnel and keep guidelines available on how to deal with emergencies
• Provide clients with documented guidelines and/or codes of conduct for sensitive excursions and activities to minimize negative visitor impact and maximize enjoyment. When possible, guidelines are developed in collaboration with relevant NGOs and the affected community
• Provide customers with information about commercial, sexual, or any other form of exploitation and harassment, particularly of children and adolescents
• Inform clients about applicable legislation concerning the purchasing, sales, import, and export of historical or religious artifacts and articles containing materials of threatened flora and/or fauna in the destination
• Motivate clients to use local restaurants and shops (where appropriate)
• Inform clients on sustainable transport options in destinations when feasible
• Encourage clients to donate to local charities and sustainable initiatives

After the holidays, we commit to this by:
• Measure systematically client satisfaction and take into account the results for service and product improvements
• Include sustainability as an integral part of the research into client satisfaction
• Have clear procedures in case of complaints from clients