SUSTAINABILITY POLICY

Years ago, we embarked on a journey with a mission to simplify travel while transforming the Acholi community which has been profoundly affected by the LRA war. The Acholi region with its rich cultural heritage, beautiful untouched landscapes and warm people offers a profound experience for travelers looking for more than just a typical vacation.

We are committed to redefining travel by developing immersive experiences aimed at improving livelihoods of our community. By training locals as guides and creating market linkages for crafts and community products, we transform rural communities and uplift livelihoods. Our experiences showcase the best of culture, fostering pride, sustainability, and meaningful connections.

Our core values.

To advance Loremi Tours vision to empower rural communities in Acholi to achieve social, economic and environmental sustainability, our staff are guided by our core value of sustainability, which forms the foundation of our work culture and drives everything we do.

1. Sustainability.

At Loremi Tours, we are strongly devoted to the ethical stewardship of both natural and cultural resources, driven by our dedication to fostering long-term continuity for future generations. Staff are required to carry out their tasks with People, Planet and Profit in mind.

We approach every decision with mindfulness, ensuring our actions today positively contribute to the sustainability and resilience of the communities and environments we engage with. Our goal is to integrate tourism as a means of sustainable livelihoods.

2. Fairness.

We treat all customers, employees, and partners with equality and respect. This includes offering transparent pricing, providing equal opportunities for local communities, ensuring diverse and accessible experiences for all guests, and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone’s rights are valued and upheld.

3. Inclusion.

We recognize that locals are the custodians of both natural and cultural resources, and we want them to share in the benefits as hosts and guides. Loremi Tours is committed to promoting inclusive tourism that provides communities with a sustainable income through their participation. Additionally, we are committed to welcoming guests from diverse locations, providing inclusive and accessible experiences that foster cross-cultural exchange.

Our commitment.

We are dedicated to driving lasting change through travel, that celebrates and revitalizes the long-lost aspects of Acholi culture.

4. Innovation.

We challenge ourselves to achieve the highest level of performance. This motivates us to continuously improve and provide unique, sustainable, and inclusive tourism experiences that leave a lasting impact. We creatively present the cultural heritage of the Acholi people, integrate modern approaches with indigenous practices, and explore new ways to empower local communities through innovative business models and skill-building opportunities.

5. Celebration.

Our staff shall respect and celebrate diversity within the organization: demonstrate inclusive behavior, operate effectively in a multi-cultural environment, encourage reflection and learning.

We care about protecting our Environmental

Loremi Tours is committed to minimizing its environmental impact and ensuring the protection of natural resources for future generations.

Our office.

• We reduce waste by running on paperless policy through digital marketing
• We prioritize purchasing eco-certified, recyclable, and organic products whenever possible.
• We separate our wastes and actively participates in recycling and prefer suppliers that do the same.
• Our operations are currently during official work hours which is an efficient measure to reduce energy usage as we can use the natural lights instead of electricity.
• We offer filtered water to avoid single-use plastics and use refillable bottles through a local supplier we have partnered with.

Our Excursions.

• We collaborate with service providers that prioritize operating sustainably. We encourage them to align with our mission of promoting inclusive tourism that supports the social, economic, and environmental well-being of the Acholi region.

We work closely with local providers to co-create more sustainable excursion options that align with our vision of empowering rural Acholi communities through tourism.

• We empower stakeholders to embrace sustainability by raising awareness and provide training and resources to embed sustainability into all aspects of their roles and experiences.

Our Transportation:

We recognize the environmental impact of carbon emissions produced by vehicles and are committed to reducing it by:

We give preference to road transportation options and discourage domestic flights

We use fuel-efficient vehicles and encouraging drivers to turn off engines when not in use.

We encourage and promote walking/biking for city tours and excursions.

We ease vehicles from suppliers that prioritize proper maintenance to reduce carbon emission in the environment.

1. Our Guides:

Our guides play a crucial role in promoting sustainability. They are at the forefront of educating travelers and local communities, serving as role models for responsible travel behavior. Our guides help protect destinations and communities by inspiring sustainable travel habits and fostering understanding and respect for Acholi culture and the environment.

2. Respecting Destinations and Local Cultures.

As part of Loremi Tours’ dedication to responsible tourism, we;

We educate guests about local customs and traditions to ensure respectful behavior. This includes discouraging the practice of giving away money or goods, which can foster dependency and undermine the local economy.

We work with local communities to co-create experiences that showcase Acholi culture, arts, and crafts, ensuring they are part of the tourism experience.

 Ensure all tours respect the cultural heritage of the regions we visit, especially when visiting sensitive cultural or historical sites, and we only use local guides with knowledge of these areas.

3. Protecting Vulnerable People.

Loremi Tours upholds human rights and ensures the protection of vulnerable groups in various ways.

 We are committed to zero tolerance for child exploitation in any form. This includes ensuring that no child labor is involved in any part of our supply chain and that guests are aware of ethical behavior toward children.

We ensure there is equal opportunities for everyone by creating employment opportunities for marginalized groups, including people with disabilities, providing a safe and inclusive work environment.

We promote gender equality by providing equal access to opportunities and training, increasing women’s participation in decision-making, and addressing wage disparities.

Support for Local People and Communities.

We prioritize hiring from the local community, including youth and individuals with disabilities.

By providing training and employment opportunities, we empower locals to actively participate in and benefit from the tourism industry.

We collaborate with suppliers and service providers who are deeply invested in their communities and contribute to strengthening the local economy. These partnerships align with our goal of fostering inclusive and sustainable development in Acholi.

We carefully curate excursions and experiences that directly contribute to poverty alleviation. This includes integrating activities that create meaningful income opportunities for local communities, such as cultural performances, guided tours, and showcasing community crafts.

 We prioritize purchasing sustainable, locally made products, such as Moo Yaa (shea butter) and crafts, to support Acholi artisans and ensure minimal environmental impact.

 Our guides actively encourage travelers to purchase souvenirs, crafts, and art from local artisans. This supports small businesses and promotes appreciation for Acholi culture and craftsmanship.

 We collaborate with local communities to co-create authentic and enriching experiences for travelers. By incorporating their knowledge, stories, and traditions, we ensure that the tourism offerings are culturally accurate and mutually beneficial.

5. Animal Welfare.

We encourage Ethical Wildlife Interactions and avoid supporting any businesses that exploit or harm animals. This includes preventing guests from participating in activities that involve wildlife exploitation, and not supporting restaurants that serve bush meat.

We educate tourists about how to behave when encountering wildlife to prevent harm to animals and ecosystems. This includes providing guidelines for ethical animal encounters.

6. Fair Relationships.

Loremi Tours is committed to fairness in all its business dealings, ensuring respectful and transparent relationships with staff, partners, and communities.

We are committed to fair employment practices and provide fair wages, equal opportunities, and decent working conditions for all employees. We are committed to eliminating exploitation, paying a living wage, and providing paid leave and sick leave.

We support local enterprises by offering them platforms to showcase and market their goods and services through organizing events like Gulu art exhibition and encouraging business collaborations that align with our sustainability goals.

7. Carbon Compensation Program.

• We protect endangered indigenous tree species like shea trees by collaborating with local stakeholders and the community to encourage a sustainable use of the shea trees instead of cutting them down.

We do this through supporting the improvement of the value chain and providing sustainable market linkages for the main product, shea butter.

8. Monitoring and Accountability.

• Loremi Tours will regularly review and update this sustainability policy, ensuring that we remain accountable to our commitments. We will measure the impact of our activities and make adjustments where necessary to enhance sustainability outcomes.