Sustainable Mission and Policies
Continued commitment to sustainability
Our Sustainability Mission
ASEV Travel understands the need to balance sustainable tourism practices alongside social, cultural and ethnic differences.
Our mission works towards a 3 tier approach with a focus on:
Socio-economic development: Supporting local communities and businesses
Environmental sustainability: Reducing our environmental footprint
Cultural sensitivity: Heritage preservation
This 3 tier approach is interweaved in all our objectives and actions:
- Internal management.
- Committing that our travel experiences are in-line with sustainable standards.
- Selecting our partners through sustainable criteria and empowering them with sustainable practice recommendations.
- Maintain a constant commitment to review our policies and practices, to ensure they are in-line with our 3 tier approach.
Our Sustainability Coordinator
“I’m a fan of factual communication and truly believe in a future of sustainable tourism where travelers can enjoy memorable experiences while minimizing their carbon footprint.
With Asev, I will ensure that the company continues to implement and follow responsible behaviors. Knowing that sustainable development can never be achieved alone, I hope to inspire our team members and partners to plan the way forward together in this challenging adventure through my determination, my sharing of know-how and my sense of curiosity.”
Tram
Contact: sustainability@asev-travel.com
Latest Projects and Achievements
Travelife Partner Sustainability Award
Travelife, which has been established with the support of the European Commission, is the leading international sustainability certification for the travel sector. It covers all aspects of the tourism supply chain from environmental issues, biodiversity and human rights to labour relations
Travelife follows a three-stage approach:
(1) Travelife Engaged (become an official member),
(2) Travelife Partner (award),
This requires a verified self-assessment to more than 100 criteria related to sustainability management, office operations, working with suppliers and customer communication.
(3) Travelife Certified (certification).
We are working towards further improvements aiming to eventually reach the third party audited Travelife Certified stage and span this accreditation to all our destinations across South East Asia.
2024
Travelife Partner Sustainability Award for ASEV Travel Cambodia
2024
Travelife Partner Sustainability Award for ASEV Travel Laos
2023
Travelife Partner Sustainability Award for ASEV Travel Vietnam
Sustainable Logo
Our sustainable logo is a powerful symbol that embodies our commitment to fostering more respectful and sustainable tourism practices. It serves as a beacon throughout our tour programs to guide you towards choices that align with our values of environmental stewardship and social responsibility. This logo which we have specifically designed to reflect our values—rather than being affiliated with any official sustainability certification body—is prominently displayed to identify and celebrate the partners, initiatives, projects, and businesses that share our vision of responsible tourism.
By incorporating this logo into our program recommendations, we aim to make it easier to recognize and support those who are making a positive impact on the environment and local communities. We are actively seeking and communicating internally to find and continue promoting key sustainable players, with the goal of continuously increasing the percentage of green activities and committed partners. Whether it’s a local supplier with eco-friendly practices, a hotel that prioritizes sustainability, or an activity that respects and uplifts local cultures, our logo signifies a commitment to leaving a positive footprint. This not only enhances the travel experience but also contributes to the broader goal of developing a tourism industry that is ethical, equitable, and sustainable for future generations.
Refill Not Landfill Project
ASEV Travel is committed to the protection of the environment and has therefore joined the plastic reduction program: “Refill Not Landfill”.
This global campaign aims to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic bottles.
Committed to reducing our environmental footprint, ASEV Travel provides its travellers in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam with reusable and refillable bottles, as well as a network of refill stations.
Elephant Welfare Initiative
ASEV Travel believes in having a robust system for the regulation and continuous improvement of standards in elephant and animal welfare across the globe.
We are actively helping to set the standard across Asia Pacific, ensuring the highest levels of care for elephants in captivity and promoting responsible and ethical tourism.
Through a rigorous and transparent auditing process, elephant camps are thoroughly assessed based on comprehensive criteria that encourage camps to comply with strict guidelines, ensuring the care, protection, and overall wellbeing of Asian elephants in their care.
Carbon Offset Scheme
What does Carbon offset mean?
Carbon offsetting means finding a way to compensate for the carbon-dioxide pollution each individual produce (what we also call the carbon footprint). Technically speaking, entering a carbon offset campaign means exploring solutions to prevent or remove C02 from this atmosphere. The biggest emissions are generated from transportation, accommodation, general office business, and tour packaging materials.
How does it work?
Through data collection, ASEV travel measures the average carbon footprint of each traveller during each tour by using an emission calculator. According to the results, ASEV Travel provides suggestions for carbon offset projects in South East Asia (ex: tree planting…)
Where do we stand?
At ASEV Travel we are making our first steps in developing a carbon offset policy, in partnership with GoldStandard in Laos.
Children Protection Policy
Children living and working in tourist destinations are particularly vulnerable to sexual, emotional, and physical abuse. Depending on the type, severity, and effects of the crime, perpetrators involved in the sexual exploitation of children under 16 face prison sentences of no less than 7 years.
At ASEV Travel, we are committed to contributing to the sustainable development of the destinations where we operate, which includes doing everything within our capacity to ensure that children grow up in a safe and nurturing environment. Protecting children is not only a moral obligation but also a foundation for the future well-being of society
Partnership with ChildSafe
To strengthen this commitment, ASEV Travel has joined forces with ChildSafe, an award-winning advocacy and action-oriented child protection movement. By implementing our child welfare policies and integrating ChildSafe’s principles into our operations, ASEV Travel actively works to raise awareness and improve protection for children in tourism contexts.
Our Initiatives
As part of this engagement, ASEV Travel has developed:
We are also working progressively towards the ChildSafe 7-Star Certification System, which requires:
- Proper communication about child protection with staff and suppliers
- Regular team training sessions
- Awareness initiatives for guests and outreach programs in local communities
Partner & Traveler Involvement
We encourage all partners—agents, suppliers, and travelers—to join this effort. A practical place to start is by reading and sharing ChildSafe’s “7 Tips for Travelers” which provide actionable guidance on how to travel in ways that protect and respect local children.
Reporting & Hotline Numbers
If you witness or suspect a violation, please contact the following hotlines immediately:
- Vietnam: 111 or 18001567, or email report@thinkchildsafe.org
- Laos: +856 20 77 87 75 55, or email report@thinkchildsafe.org
- Cambodia: +855 17 358 758, or email report@thinkchildsafe.org
Additional information is also available from your ASEV guide.