Purpose
Nueva Vista DMC and Tour Operator is committed to contribute to a more sustainable tourism industry, enhance customer experiences, and positively impact environments and communities it serves. The purpose of this policy is to promote environmentally friendly practices, enhance community welfare, and ensure responsible tourism by developing, executing and promoting a comprehensive set of good sustainability practices. Recognising that the environment, communities and cultures are crucial for successful tourism business of Nueva Vista, the company's aim is to ensure the utmost benefits of our operations to individuals and local communities with the least possible social, economic. environmental and cultural adverse effects.
Scope
This policy applies to its staff, guides, operations, tours and all the other activities of Nueva Vista. As an exclusively B2B tour operator and DMC, our external partners and suppliers are expected to uphold to the objectives of this policy whenever applicable and possible as well as within their prevailing budgets and regulatory requirements.
The Sustainability Coordinator of Nueva Vista is responsible for implementing the company’s sustainability policy.
Sustainability management & legal compliance
Sustainability commitment
Nueva Vista's leadership is wholly committed to the company's sustainability performance and endorses the company's sustainability mission statement and policy.
We will use the Travelife platform to report on our sustainability progress and to monitor and evaluate progress. We are committed to (publicly) communicating our sustainability performance (by means of the Travelife report) every two years.
Sustainability management & legal compliance
Nueva Vista commits to continuous improvement of sustainability practices, including the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of our sustainability policy, with dedicated personnel and resources to achieve our sustainability goals.
Nueva Vista follows all local, regional, national, and international regulations as they relate to human resources, human rights, children’s rights, land rights, environmental management, wildlife, and land use. We follow a strict Code of Ethics, including a zero-tolerance policy for corruption, bribery, forced labor, and discrimination.
Internal management: social policy & human rights
Employees
We recognize that our employees are our biggest asset for delivering meaningful travel experiences to our customers. Therefore, Nueva Vista supports both career-related and job-related professional development activities.
Nueva Vista is committed to the principle of fair and equal pay for like work and for work of equal value for all its employees, and contractors, regardless of gender/sex, race, national origin, marital status, age, religion.
Nueva Vista is committed to fostering a safe, healthy, and inclusive work place/work culture where all employees are able to perform their duties and to recognise their potential.
Nueva Vista is committed to a zero-tolerance policy for acts of bribery, corruption, discrimination, and violation of human rights, including forced labour, human trafficking, and all rights of children.
Nueva Vista further expects this commitment from all partners and suppliers.
Internal management: environment
Environmental management of office operations
Nueva Vista is committed to managing environmental impact as an integral part of our operations. It is our policy to assure the environmental integrity of our processes and products at all times by:
Continuously seeking opportunities to improve our environmental performance by establishing objectives and targets, measuring progress, and reporting our results, including but not limited to energy, water, paper, and carbon.
Practicing a waste hierarchical approach to always reduce, reuse, and recycle commodities and products instead of waste, particularly waste to landfill.
Promoting participation and communicating our commitment to responsible environmental management by promoting environmental responsibility amongst our employees and stakeholders and soliciting input from them to better achieve our environmental goals.
Minimizing pollution including light, noise, and any soil, water, or air contaminants, and avoiding use of any toxic or hazardous substances.
Carbon management of office operations
Nueva Vista is committed to reducing our carbon footprint and endeavours to reduce the amount we travel as much as possible by:
Reduce the amount we travel as much as possible
Monitoring and measuring carbon footprint with the aim to reduce as much as possible and offset remaining amounts.
Encourageing remote work whenever possible, and when it is not possible, making it easier for employees to limit their carbon footprint by use of eco modes of transportation.
We commit to offsetting our remaining direct and indirect carbon from travel and fossil energy use via carbon offset company, whenever possible.
Installing energy efficient equipment and appliances where and when appropriate, feasible, reasonable and possible.
Land use
Nueva Vista's office is located in an urban area and abides by all local land use laws, respects local cultural and natural resources in our business operations, and favours sustainable architecture and design.
General suppliers policy
Nueva Vista is committed to sourcing its products and services responsibly, avoiding harmful impacts on society, culture and nature as much as possible. We expect the same level of engagement and commitment from our suppliers.
Nueva Vista prefers to work with partners that share the company’s commitment towards sustainability. This means that we prefer partners that have a written sustainability statement as an integral part of their business policy and/or a clear sustainability policy in place.
Nueva Vista prefers to work with suppliers in the destinations that are locally owned or managed, use local and seasonal products and services and benefit the local community by hiring locally and equitably and by providing fair working conditions.
Whenever possible, Nueva Vista prefers to select partner companies that comply with tourism-specific, internationally recognized (GSTC-accredited) certifications, or other sustainability certifications like B Corp or ISO.
Nueva Vista offers incentives for partners that are actively engaged in sustainable operations.
Nueva Vista expects its suppliers to adhere to the Code of Conduct and Ethics of the company, that includes the following responsible business practices:
Complying with all local, regional, national and international regulations
Respecting all human rights including labour rights, children’s rights, and women’s rights
Committing to fair employment conditions
Following anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-extortion, and anti-discrimination policies
Protecting children from (sexual) exploitation through tourism
Protecting the environment and natural resources
Acting in the best interest of local communities
Protecting the interests of Nueva Vista
The supplier Code of Conduct and Ethics is available at www.nuevavista.am.
Following a zero-tolerance policy, Nueva Vista will immediately terminate any relationships with suppliers that violate our policies, specifically through acts of bribery, corruption, discrimination, and violation of human rights.
Nueva Vista raises awareness amongst its suppliers to adopt sound social and environmental practices, and to minimise their carbon footprint.
Nueva Vista actively collaborates with suppliers to improve their sustainability performance. We encourage our suppliers to continuously learn about sustainability and provide/support this learning whenever possible.
Nueva Vista maintains open lines of communication with our suppliers and partners and encourage feedback from our stakeholders at any time and on any topic, particularly sustainability.
Inbound partner agencies
Nueva Vista is committed to working with partner agencies that adhere to the company’s Code of Conduct and Ethics.
In the entire process of developing and operating our travel packages, Nueva Vista expects partner agencies to act in the best interests of the surrounding communities and environment as well as our guests.
Nueva Vista is committed to providing partner agencies opportunities for sustainability learning and management, including free access to the Travelife online learning and reporting platform.
Transport
Nueva Vista is committed to working with transport providers that adhere to the company’s Code of Conduct and Ethics.
When selecting transport for guests and business-related travel, Nueva Vista commits to choosing the most environmentally friendly options available for travelling to, from, and within the destination – taking into consideration distance, price, route, and comfort.
Nueva Vista is committed to implementing clear guidelines for reducing GHG emissions from transport and selecting the most environmentally friendly transport options, including the following measures:
Preferring ground transport over air transport for short-haul travel destinations
Avoiding destination flights as much as possible
Offering the official airport Echo taxi services by electric or hybrid cars to and from the airport
Using public transportation options in the destinations
Using appropriate vehicle sizes for group sizes and purchasing most efficient vehicles available
Training drivers on eco-driving techniques.
Nueva Vista is committed to have a system in place to measure and compensate for the unavoidable GHG emissions produced from transportation, whenever applicable. We encourage our B2B tour operators to ensure that compensation costs are either included by default in the package price or compensation is actively promoted to the clients as a booking option.
Accommodations
Nueva Vista is committed to work with accommodations that adhere to the company’s Code of Conduct and Ethics.
In the accommodation selection process, Nueva Vista considers the sustainability practices of accommodation by taking into account their sustainability management and social and environmental footprint.
Nueva Vista favours the selection of accommodations that respect and protect land use, as well as respectfully highlight elements of local architecture, customs and traditions.
Activities & Excursions
Nueva Vista is committed to work with excursion providers that adhere to the company’s Code of Conduct and Ethics.
All excursions and activities run by or on behalf of Nueva Vista respect local customs, traditions, cultural integrity, and natural resources.
Nueva Vista commits to not offering any excursions that harm humans, wildlife, environment, or natural resources such as water and energy.
Nueva Vista gives preference to excursions and activities that benefit local communities, respect animal welfare and support environmental protection.
Nueva Vista has clear guidelines/Codes of Conduct in place for environmentally and culturally sensitive excursions offered by or on behalf of the company. These guidelines are actively communicated to guests as well as distributed and implemented by excursion providers and guides.
Preference will be given to excursion and activity providers that comply with GSTC-recognised standards in cases when Nueva Vista is not the direct implementer.
Nueva Vista provides excursion and attractions providers opportunities for sustainability learning and management, including free access to the Travelife online learning and reporting platform.
Nueva Vista makes all possible efforts to ensure the utmost accessibility (the highest possible level) to ascertain that a person with a disability is afforded the opportunity to acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as a person without a disability in an equally effective and equally integrated manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use.
Tour leaders, local representatives, and guides
Nueva Vista commits to hiring qualified local guides, drivers or other local staff, paying them living wages and providing safe and fair working conditions. We expect the same from our suppliers that are hiring local staff on behalf of Nueva Vista.
Nueva Vista understands that guides are the intermediaries between the guests and the socio-cultural and environmental context of the destination, conveying the appropriate behaviors to them. Therefore, we make sure that all guides hired by or leading tours on behalf of Nueva Vista are trained regularly and knowledgeable in the sustainability topics of the destination.
Our guides are specifically trained on the critical issue of sexual exploitation of children in tourism.
Nueva Vista provides guides with learning opportunities on sustainability topics including providing free access to the Travelife online learning platform.
Guides recruited have the relevant qualifications for the type of tour, and appropriate level of expertise as required by local regulations.
Guides are regularly trained and provided with the necessary knowledge (including first aid, sustainability, destination, customer service, etc.).
Guides recruited meet the legal minimum age to work and have clear contract employment documentation.
Guides are informed about appropriate behaviors towards customers (the company will investigate any claims or suspicions of inappropriate behavior and implement a disciplinary procedure when required).
As a responsible company, Nueva Vista is to ensure that tour leaders/guides deliver appropriate advice to travelers:
Before the tour
- Inform travelers about eco-friendly means of transportation in the destination city and provide detailed directions to the meeting point (when applicable).
- Inform clients about the potable water situation in-country, and advise on whether they can bring a reusable water bottle for tap water, or suggest other eco-friendly solutions (e.g., portable water filter) to minimize single-use of plastic during the tour.
- Inform clients about the dress code, especially if visiting culturally sensitive areas or religious places.
- Inform clients about the company’s photography policy (e.g., ask locals before taking pictures) and sites where they will not be allowed to take photographs.
During the tour - Help travelers behave responsibly and appropriately in the destination.
- Support the learning and practice of the local language (basic words).
- Inform guests about how to behave to minimise their footprint (e.g., which side of the sidewalk to walk on, regulations about smoking in public places, illegal souvenirs to avoid purchasing etc.).
- Guide travelers towards positive ways of supporting your local communities while in the country and after their return home (e.g., donating to non-profit organizations, purchasing souvenirs from responsible shops, dining at vocational training restaurants).
- Inform our guests about risks and precautions related to health and safety matters in the destination.
- Inform travelers about political or social issues in the destination.
- Discourage the purchase of endangered flora and fauna products that may be offered for sale.
- Prohibit guide and passenger participation in commercial sexual activities and/or illegal drug use.
- Provide tips on how to minimise waste, and give information about any specific waste management regulations, for example how recycling and composting works in your city, where guests can refill their water bottles, etc.
- Provide site interpretation when visiting natural areas or cultural heritage sites.
After the tour (As B2B inbound tour operator, we shall agree with the Partner Tour Operator before doing the below actions)
- Ask for constructive feedback and be sure to include questions about responsible travel (e.g., if the guest learned anything new, if sustainability practices met their expectations, etc.).
- Deliver what was promised (e.g., send photos you promised to send, restaurant recommendations).
- Provide an opportunity or ideas of how travelers can continue to connect with the destination, the company, and each other after the tour.
Destinations
Sustainable destinations
Nueva Vista prefers to work in destinations that have committed to sustainability as an integral part of community and destination development.
Nueva Vista aims to send visitors to secondary or lesser-known tourist areas to avoid overtourism.
Nueva Vista does not support destinations that have a questionable human rights track record.
We do not allow the purchase of souvenirs containing threatened flora and fauna species, any illegally obtained historic/archaeological artefacts, drugs or illegal substances, and abide by local and international laws in place to prevent this.
We consider sustainability aspects in destinations in the selection of new destinations and in the product development process. We intend to provide social and environmental benefits to the communities we visit. We understand the importance of visitor dispersion and of not exceeding the carrying capacity of destinations; therefore, we encourage the promotion of lesser-known areas (with the approval of the local community), to prevent over tourism and its negative impacts”.
Contribution to local communities / local economic network
Nueva Vista commits to positive contribution to the destinations in which we operate, by:
Sourcing locally and responsibly, and supporting local and traditional arts and culture
Encouraging guests to shop responsibly and educating them about illegal/prohibited/forbidden souvenirs
Collaborating with other local tourism stakeholders [including local government, other tourism businesses, academia, community groups] to further the sustainable tourism development of the destination
Respecting and advocating for all human rights (i.e. children's rights, women’s rights, labour rights, etc.) as well as land rights
Environmental stewardship in destinations
Nueva Vista commits to environmental stewardship in the destinations in which we operate by:
Ensuring natural resources remain intact
Educating guests about the principles of responsible travel and responsible visitor behaviour
Customer communication and protection
Privacy
Our customer protection is our priority. Therefore, we are committed to maintain a clear privacy policy to ensure:
Legal compliance in all regards
Customers and their data are protected
Customers know how their information is being used
Marketing and communication
Nueva Vista strives to be truthful in all situations and at all times. We offer products and services that do what we claim in our communications.
We honour our explicit and implicit commitments and promises.
We are anti-greenwashing and stand behind our sustainability claims 100%.
We endeavour to be inclusive and representative in our marketing, and to always take into account cultural, religious, and ethnic sensitivities.
Customer experience
The company aims for all customer experiences to be positive, and follows strict health and safety, marketing, and excursion policies to ensure customer satisfaction. These policies cover specific topics of:
Health and safety
Emergency procedures
Privacy
Group numbers
Greenhouse Gas emissions and offsetting
Transport
Shopping
Sexual exploitation
Children in tourism
Satisfaction and complaints
Nueva Vista maintains open lines of communication with our customers and encourages feedback at any time and on any topic, particularly sustainability.
Contact / Responsible person
All staff are responsible for the ownership and undertaking of this policy.
All staff are responsible for the promotion and implementation of this sustainability policy within their departments.
The implementation of this policy will be lead by the Sustainability Coordinator, Armen Chobanyan, who can be reached at: armen@nuevavista.am.
Effective date
This policy is effective from 13 January 2026