Responsible Travel
ACIS believes in the power of travel to inspire understanding and collaboration between the citizens and cultures of the world. But as the saying goes, with great power, comes great responsibility. And we also believe that as we travel, we must do so with the utmost care.
Mission of Care
We are working towards incorporating a focus on select United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into our operations and programming. The goals “provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.” Our aim is to re-imagine our mission of creating Global Citizens through travel to include sustainable best practices.
We recognize this is a work in progress and in some areas we are more achieved than others. We’ve signed the USTOA Sustainability Promise as proof of our desire to improve. Sustainability and travel aren’t always the likeliest of marriages, but with our team dedicated towards doing our part, we know we will make improvements, both big and small, that will impact our travelers, the environment and world for the better. Sounds lofty, but dreaming big is part of our ethos. Travel changes lives, after all.
Giving Back
AIFS Founder Sir Cyril Taylor, believed so much in the life-changing power of international travel that he set up a charitable foundation to serve students who otherwise would not have the opportunity, in an effort to promote world peace. Each year, using any company profits not dedicated to staff operations, the Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation (CTCF) provides millions of dollars in grants to organizations working toward cultural immersion. Critically, the scholarships are not designed for students traveling on AIFS or ACIS tours. Rather, the money is intended for 501C3s, regardless of size, that create travel opportunities, connect students across the world, and offer critical care after natural disasters. Cyril encouraged the brief, but impactful motto of “Do Good.” The foundation is ACIS’ way of carrying out his legacy and supporting our mission to make the world more equitable and compassionate.
Learn More
Discover How We Travel Responsibly
Smart Transportation
ACIS participants limit their impact on the cities they explore. We include free public transportation for our travelers wherever possible – which is a lot of places! And, thanks to our commitment to providing centrally located hotels, walking and public transportation are the primary way we navigate the city. In addition, we partner with coach companies that own modern fleets and are proactively attempting to reduce emissions, ensuring all their vehicles comply with the latest environmental policies and legislation. By only using coaches with Euro 6 engines we can guarantee that no more than 80mg /km of NOx is released, which is equivalent to an 80% reduction in NOx emissions compared to the preceding standard. We’re also big believers in high-speed trains. Not only do they provide energy-efficient and fast travel, they also provide an enriching cultural experience for our travelers.
Support Local
Our tours are designed to immerse our travelers in the local community with activities provided by local small business vendors. Groups stay in the heart of the city, eat at local restaurants and explore local attractions all with the goal of learning the local culture and supporting its residents. We incorporate Cultural Connections, hands-on activities aimed at embodying the culture into most of our tours. Examples of Cultural Connections include visiting with local students, cooking lessons to learn about the local cuisine, dance and handicraft lessons to learn about local art and service learning projects.
Seeking Responsible Partners
<<insert procurement policy once it’s developed>>
Reducing Plastic and Paper Waste
We’re committed to reducing single-use plastic and paper waste. For us, this means lots of small steps that add up. We’ve digitized our registration and communication and provide an ACIS Travel App to reduce the need for paper documentation. We encourage travelers bring reusable water bottles and in select destinations like Costa Rica and Peru where water is provided, we use large jugs instead of single use bottles.
Traveler Education
We have partnered with a Cultural and Creative Learning Consultant who holds both a Carbon Literacy certification and the GSTC (Global Sustainable Travel Council) ‘Professional Certificate in Sustainable Travel’, the global standard for sustainability practices in the travel and tourism industry, to educate our travelers on how to travel responsibly. Our robust set of pre-, on- and post-tour sustainable travel tips are communicated to our travelers prior to departure. And Tour Managers, while on tour, reinforce these lessons.
ACIS Sustainability Education
Members of our executive team have recently completed certification in the Carbon Literacy Project. This innovative global project was recognized by the UN and awarded as one of 100 worldwide Transformative Action Programs. In the upcoming months at least one member of each of ACIS’ departments and offices will also complete the certification. As we continue to educate ourselves on global sustainability, we will be better able to modify and innovate our offerings to better achieve our sustainability goals.
Sustainable Trips
ACIS’ Sustainable Travel itineraries are designed to showcase activities, organizations, transport and food movements that align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, alongside traditional sightseeing fun. Highlights include beekeeping workshops, eating farm-to-table meals, finding biodiversity in gardens and urban green spaces, cycling, cooking lessons, and visiting science museums. In addition, we will engage with environmental non-profits, clean energy initiatives, community art projects, urban regeneration, local markets, sustainable fishing, food waste reduction, traditional artisans and more.
These itineraries will delight STEM groups, eco-clubs, and anyone looking to infuse their educational tour with unique, thoughtful local experiences that bring an extra layer of responsible travel exploration and global citizenship development to the touring experience.
Browse Tours