The polar regions are beautiful but fragile and they are at risk both from our presence there and our polluting actions at home. It is of utmost importance to us that our holidays directly benefit the communities we visit and that we minimise the adverse effects of our travels on the wildlife, landscapes and ecosystems which we travel to experience.
Here are some of the ways we are striving to lead the way in responsible tourism and in UK business practise. |
 | Operating in an environmentally responsible manner - In the Office |
| | * Our office is powered by 100% renewable electricity supplied by Green Energy UK.
* We don’t burn fossil fuels commuting.
* We reuse our paper as many times as possible and then recycle or compost it.
* We believe that "you aren't recycling unless you buy recycled" so we send our used printer cartridges to Christian Aid for recycling and we buy recycled print cartridges.
* All of the paper we buy for the office is recycled.
* Our brochures are printed locally on FSC grade paper by SevernPrint, supporting responsible forest management worldwide. |
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 | Linking our Holidays with Conservation |
| | * We are absolutely committed to making our holidays compatible with conservation and base our practice on the WWF priciples for Arctic Tourism. To learn more about the work of WWF and how you can support them see www.panda.org.
* All our Antarctic operators are members of IAATO, the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators, which has set the global precedent for best practice in the region, focusing on protection, management and education to provide first-hand, environmentally responsible tourism.
* Our aim is always to leave places as we found them.
* We really value your feed-back. Please tell us if you think we could do better in any of theses areas.
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| Supportng the Preservation of Wilderness and Biodiversity |
| | Undeveloped areas are a non-renewable resource and large areas of the Arctic and Antarctic are pristine wilderness. We want them to stay that way.
* Our holidays visit places that are 'off the beaten track' but if we think that a place is too fragile to visit without damaging it, we don't go there.
* We support and use areas of managed wilderness such as national parks and nature reserves.
* We respect areas with restricted access and rules governing certain activities in order to protect the wildlife and peace of a place.
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| Using natural resources in a sustainable way |
| | * Our land-based holidays are for small groups so that the 'footprint'of each trip on the land and communities that we visit is minimised.
* Our small groups really are small! Most of our land-based holidays are designed for 2-10 people and our sailing trips for 5-20, depending on the boat.
* We try not to approach close to wildlife while we are watching them - bring a good pair of binoculars and a long lens instead!
* Our whale-watching holidays abide by the WDCS cetacean watching code of conduct.
* In order to see more wildlife (and to avoid noise pollution and terrain damage) we prefer to travel on foot or ski, by kayak, sailing, dog-sledging or other non-motorised transport. For these reasons, we do not sell snow-scooter holidays and we discourage our guests from taking part in helicopter excursions.
* Some of our holidays include fishing or hunting. We encourage our guests only to take what they require and to abide by the local regulations, being sensitive to how the local community use the resource. |
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| Minimising consumption, waste and pollution |
| | * Rubbish disposal and recycling facilities are limited in the polar regions so we request that our guests leave all unnecessary packaging at home.
* We use recycling facilities where they exist.
* Where there are no rubbish disposal facilities, we take our rubbish out with us.
* We request that our guests use biodegradable toilet products on our holidays.
* We are conscious of the energy required for heat, light and warm water on our holidays and try to keep these to a responsible minimum - without privation!
* Wherever possible, we select accommodation which is in keeping with local traditions and with sound environmental credentials.
* Our Spitsbergen holidays are part of the 'Clean Up Svalbard' campaign and guests may be asked to take part in litter collections.
* No need to fly - Many of our holidays are accessible by surface transport sometimes involving picturesque train, bus and ferry journeys which we’ll be delighted to arrange for you. If you do choose to fly, we encourage you to offset your carbon emissions, please contact us for details.
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| Respecting Local Cultures |
| | * Life in the polar regions can feel like living on a frontier and values are different from those at lower latitudes. We ask our guests to respect this and travel with an open mind.
* Most of our Arctic tours are hosted by local people. This gives our guests a unique insight into the culture and perspective of the north. |
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| Respecting Historic and Scientific Sites |
| | * We ask our guests NEVER to disturb or remove any articles from historic sites or places under scientific observation, even if they appear unimportant.
* Where appropriate we enjoy arranging visits to scientific stations to learn about their research projects. |
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| How local communities benefit from our holidays |
| | * By using local people as guides and hosts for our small-group Arctic holidays, we not only benefit from their enormous experience but also contribute directly to the local economy, foster the continuation of traditional skills and reduce our carbon footprint by not flying one of us out there!
* Where the communities can support it, we like to purchase our supplies locally and we encourage our guests to buy souvenirs from local artists. |
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| Very Special Staff |
| | * We run The Polar People because we know and love the polar regions. We hope that our passion shines through!
* Our local hosts and guides live and work in the polar regions - this is their home and they are the true experts!
* We select our ship-based holidays for their small passenger numbers which results in more time exploring ashore and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere on-board - plus knowledgable and experienced on-board staff who are often leaders in their fields.
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| Make your Trip an Opportunity to Learn |
| | * We enourage our guests to find out about the places they'll visit, before their holiday. Glacier Books is an excellent source of new and second-hand books on polar subjects.
* The beauty of the Arctic and Antarctic are their landscapes, wildlife, weather and history. Our holidays focus on the enjoyment and understanding of all these. |
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| Safety First! |
| | The safety and well-being of our guests is our highest priority but the nature of our travel is adventurous and as such,not without hazards.
* We require that guests follow the safety advice of our hosts and expert guides at all times.
* We are careful describe the physical nature of each of our holidays and any experience required. Guests must be honest about their capabilities when selecting a holiday.
* Our guests must accept the risks involved in their holiday and undertake to act responsibly.
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