Useful information

Responsible Tourism

AITO (the Association of Independent Tour Operators) awards Responsible Tourism stars to its members depending on their commitment to Responsible Tourism. We are delighted to be one of the very few ski operators within the association that has been awarded its 3 star category.

Responsible Tourism benefits the tourists themselves, their holiday hosts and also the environment. In the office, we have introduced the following policy that we will strictly adhere to and we also have some suggestions on how you can help.

Erna Low Office Policy:

1. Ensure there is no energy wasted in the office
2. Keep paper wastage to a minimum by using paperless booking system
3. Recycle waste paper
4. Provide safe parking for bicycles for staff
5. Circulate or email memos rather than copying them
6. Collect the stamps from the post and send them to charity
7. Ensure the stationary we buy comes from a sustainable source
8. Ensure that brochure paper used is from a sustainable source
9. Ensure that unused brochures are recycled

How you can help:

1. Ensure that you dispose of your rubbish correctly
2. Recycle your paper, glass and cans in resort
3. If you smoke, please take extra care to dispose of your cigarette ends and do not leave them in the snow
4. Do not ski off piste in areas where flora and fauna may be disturbed
5. Please use local guides where possible
6. Respect the area if you are in a National Park
7. Please walk around resorts or use the local transport to lessen congestion and pollution
8. Please recycle your brochure when you have finished with it

Offset your carbon footprint

Erna Low have partnered with the Tourism Industry Carbon Offset Service (TICOS) to encourage our clients to help the environment by offsetting the effects of carbon production caused as a part of their holidays.  All clients booking travel with Erna Low will be asked to make a contribution to TICOS, which will then be matched to the environmental projects and locations that are most relevant to Erna Low and our clients. 

For more information on TICOS and its current projects, please visit www.ticos.co.uk.

Please let us know if you have any ideas we can incorporate in to our Responsible tourism policy.

Erna Low also support the Ski Club of Great Britain's RESPECT THE MOUNTAIN Campaign, which was launched to help safeguard the natural environment and the long-term future of skiing.

You can show how much you care about the future of the mountains by wearing a RESPECT THE MOUNTAIN green wristband and t-shirt. Buy Online Now from the Ski Club of Great Britain website. All profits raised from the sale of the wristbands and t-shirts go towards a tree planting scheme and other environmental projects. The Woodland Trust "tree for all" scheme is the largest children's tree planting initiative the UK has ever seen inspiring today's youngsters to become environmental custodians of the future.