RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
Environment
All our trips are about enjoying and experiencing the natural and cultural beauty of the region, in a respectful and considerate way. Our trips are only run with small groups, most often from two people to eight people, to ensure that impact on the environment is a minimum at all times, and the most personal and rich experience can be had by all.
We are a member of the Svenska Ekoturismföreningen (Swedish Ecotourism Association) which works towards an improved tourism which protects and takes responsibility for our delicate natural and cultural environment. Our company beliefs reflect this vision.
As our trips are self-guided, we make extra efforts to provide travellers with as much information about the local area as possible, including information about bird, animal and plantlife as well as historical and cultural information. This ensures that, even without a guide, we can inform travellers about the region. With additional knowledge, travellers can go one step further to protecting the environment.
We take responsibility of ensuring that rubbish is handled accordingly, both in the countryside and in the office, with a developed sorting system. Use of paper is spared with all marketing made online to avoid the production of own brochures. Travellers are encouraged to recycle as much literature as possible that they are provided with at the start of the trip.
Community
We wholeheartedly support the local economy - our guests want to experience the genuine region in which they are travelling, and our aim is to let it be seen and enjoyed.
Encounters with the locals are a fundamental aspect of our trips, and we therefore make all efforts to use suppliers from the area. With this aim in mind, we ensure all meals are provided from local suppliers with a commitment to using local produce. Where meals are not provided, we encourage travellers to visit locally-owned restaurants, take extra day trips, etc.
We prefer to use accommodation that is smaller and more personal which allows an insight into the local community. Where possible, we use local suppliers (e.g. boat and canoe suppliers). Our aim is always to promote and support the local community.
Our trips are designed so that travellers pass by cultural and historical sites en route, and information is provided about these sites. Travellers are encouraged to visit or take guided tours, and all opening times of sites, shops, facilities are indicated to allow the traveller the opportunity to maximise their visit.
We have also supported the local community by providing translation services of local websites to help encourage tourism from abroad.Our trips would quite simply not be the same without the support of the local community.
Nordic Trails is a member of Travelife and is currently working towards Travelife certification.
The Travelife Partner award is a recognition of our commitment towards social and environmental sustainability. We comply with more than 100 criteria related to sustainability management, office operations, working with suppliers and customer communication. We are working towards further improvements aiming to eventually reach the Travelife Certified stage.
Travelife is a three-stage certification program for tour operators and travel agents: (1) Travelife Engaged; (2) Travelife Partner and (3) Travelife Certified. We are at stage 2 – Travelife Partner. We are working to move forward to stage 3 - Travelife Certified.