Sustainable Tourism in Costa Rica

[Amadeus Travel Agency]

The environmentalist activities of Amadeus Travel Agency  already qualified as a sustainable company in the tourism sector by the ICT with the highest level 5, are based on the concept of sustainable tourism, whose objective is to follow the guidelines of sound practices on the physical – biological medium, the management of service, the external client and community development.

Amadeus  promotes environmental practices, establishing practices such as: recycling, energy and water saving, adequate practices in the field (knowledge about carrying capacity regulations, rules for visiting National Parks and reserves) as norms within the company.

The goal is to reduce the negative effects on the environment during the execution of the services acquired by the client. This is achieved by managing our operations and our supplier network and by incorporating sound practices programs. Amadeus does not utilize endangered species for any commercial purpose and requires that its suppliers avoid purchasing from places where there is clear evidence of human or animal rights abuse or of threat to the environment or when the method of purchase or distribution is illegal. In its advertising and other company activities, Amadeus shows animals in a dignified fashion and sends messages which promote adequate practices for their protection. Amadeus retransmits to its suppliers and clients that which is established by the: Child Sexual Exploitation Law, National Archaeological Heritage Law, Wild Life Conservation Law, Illegal Substance Trafficking and Consumption Law, Forest Law, Environment Law. As well as with the Regulation for the Use of Protected Areas, Adventure Activities and the points covered in the CITES Treaty.

Suppliers: Amadeus seeks to only hire sub – contractors and suppliers that adhere to environmental and international human rights laws and practices. Amadeus commits to supervising the ethical conduct of its suppliers and to take immediate and exhaustive measures, in the case that the ethical conduct of its suppliers were questioned. Amadeus informs its suppliers about that related to the: 7600 Law, Sexual Harassment Law, Child Sexual Exploitation Law, National Archaeological Heritage Law, Wild Life Conservation Law, Illegal Substance Trafficking and Consumption Law, Forest Law, Environment Law. As well as with the Regulation for the Use of Protected Areas, Adventure Activities and the points covered in the CITES Treaty.

Our Policies

Amadeus works to promote respect for national and international conservation policies. We carry out a constant effort to publicize Law No. 7495 of Wild Life Conservation, whose main objective is focused on the protection and conservation of flora and fauna that is still living in their natural habitats. This effort also concerns the Environmental Organic Law No 7554 and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – CITES).

Our guides will retransmit this information to our clients so that they may become familiar with the guidelines that exist in our country concerning this field. In this sense, we will establish a strategic image of the country which emphasizes on the efforts which Costa Rica makes to promote conservation of the ecosystems and environmental education. Our wholesalers will also be provided with all the pertinent information so that they can become a part of our effort.

About the Archaeological Heritage and Wildlife Protection Law

Amadeus defines itself as a loyal defender of our national archaeological heritage, so that it commits to the protection of all cultural assets that are a product of the activities of human groups of the past (specifically, indigenous groups previous or contemporary to the establishment of Spanish culture in the national territory). This is why it will proceed with vehemence in any situation that menaces the national archaeological heritage through three specific actions

1) Training of its collaborators on Law No 6703 of National Archaeological Heritage.

2) Dissemination of this law

3) Formal accusation before the National Museum in case of detection of a situation that threatens this heritage.

About the Law against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

Amadeus Travel Agency declares itself a vehement defender of the integrity and Rights of Costa Ricans in general, adults, teenagers, boys and girls, for this reason it will carry out its tourist activities under the strictest guidelines of respect toward Laws No. 8204 of Narcotics, psychotropic substances, drugs of unauthorized use, legitimization of capital and connected activities; No 7476 against Sexual Harassment in the work place and in education and Law No 7899 against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children.

We will divulge among our collaborators, clients suppliers and families that sex with minors in Costa Rica is penalized by jail.

Our message towards collaborators, clients, suppliers and families emphasizes that children and adolescents must never be blamed or held responsible for the acts to which they have been induced or forced into by the exploiters.

We will promote the creation of a “zero tolerance” culture against all forms of exploitation of girls, boys and adolescents, so as to modify the deeply rooted cultural patterns that justify authoritarianism, discretion, and arbitrariness with which adults act towards girls, boys and adolescents.

The information about the mentioned laws for the establishment of these policies will be available to its collaborators, suppliers, clients and family members.