Large Eu Operators Up Supplier Scrutiny

Large European tour operators are ramping up efforts to align with new European Union EU sustainability regulations through measures such as on-site impact assessments to ensure compliance with human rights and environmental standards across their supply chains.

Recently, German and Austrian operators, together with the Roundtable Human Rights in Tourism and local partner Fair Trade Tourism FTT, conducted a 10-day impact assessment of their tourism suppliers in Cape Town, Johannesburg and the greater Kruger National Park.

The assessment directly aligns with the EUs Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive CSDDD adopted last year. The CSDDD requires companies with at least 1000 employees and 450million annual turnover to identify, assess and address potential and actual negative impacts on human rights and the environment across their operations and supply chains.

Participating operators included DERTOUR Group and Studiosus Reisen Mnchen from Germany as well as Kneissl Touristik from Austria.

FTT Communications and Engagement Coordinator Rachel Nxele explained that the assessments are informed by general human rights indices for South Africa with fair wages and workers identified as high-risk areas.