ReNatour - Traveling with responsibility
ReNatour has stood for sustainable tourism in its purest form since 1994. As an alternative tour operator with a focus on family vacations, the company combines authentic nature experiences with consistently practiced sustainability - from climate-friendly travel to socially responsible offers. With topics such as airplane-free vacations, tourism and human rights and zero-waste travel, ReNatour sets standards for responsible, sustainable travel.
INTERVIEWER
What do you consider to be sufficiency-oriented economic activity?
ReNatour
That's a good question - and to be honest, I wasn't even familiar with the term sufficiency-oriented economy before your question. Of course, I could guess from the word what it was about, but I hadn't come across it as a fixed term before.
INTERVIEWER
Is the term moderate management more tangible and appropriate for you?
ReNatour
Yes, of course - moderate management is very tangible for me. The topic has basically been with us since the beginning of our work. Even back then, our slogan was: environmentally and socially responsible tourism. We used to call it „soft tourism“, today we talk about „sustainable tourism“. All of these terms essentially mean the same thing: a conscious, responsible approach to resources and people. Moderate management is therefore not an add-on, but an essential part of what we have always understood by sustainability.
"Moderate management is therefore not an add-on, but an essential part of what we have always understood by sustainability."
INTERVIEWER
What sufficiency measures are implemented in your company?
ReNatour
Yes, the subject of flying immediately comes to mind. We now have the
CO2 compensation firmly integrated into our pricing - in other words, the actual external costs that are often ignored. In the past, we relied on voluntary offsetting and were quite successful compared to other tour operators: around 20 to 25 percent of our guests compensated. Nevertheless, the potential remained limited. Today, offsetting is included in the travel price as standard because it is simply a real cost that reflects responsibility. Even if they are not directly visible, for us they are consistently included.
INTERVIEWER
How did customers react when you integrated the CO2 price?
ReNatour
The surprising thing is: there are hardly any reactions. Our customers simply accept the integrated CO2 compensation. We communicate openly about it - according to the motto
„Do good and talk about it“ - but there is hardly any response. Even our more environmentally conscious guests rarely respond to it, apart from a few who want to explore the topic in more depth. The majority simply accept it as part of the offer. There is neither protest nor a great need for discussion - it is simply accepted as a matter of course.
