We know travel can have negative impacts, but at Jules Verne we passionately believe that travel can be a force for good and as a responsible business, our goal is to protect the planet so we can continue to travel now and in the future.
We are committed to incorporating sustainability principles into our business operations, through our people, our places, and our products. We want our destination partners and customers to feel that way too, which is why our aim is to provide the highest level of meaningful customer experience, all the while raising awareness about sustainability issues and promoting sustainable tourism practices.
We will make progress over perfection, and we recognise that it will indeed take small steps to make a big change. Some of the steps we have taken so far to ensure we act responsibly are: Starting in our London HQ, we have worked at reducing our carbon footprint through energy conservation measures, recycling policies, reduction in the use of resources and actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment.
The cruise vessels and accommodation we use are locally staffed, providing employment opportunities in the area. We provide healthy, balanced menus with high-quality food that is locally sourced and freshly prepared, making use of seasonal fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, and fish. We do not include overfished species in our menus, and we are working towards a reduction in food waste. We have been pioneers in working with expert local guides for 45 years, and we feel this gives our clients the best possible local experience, not only because they are the local experts and generally the best informed, but also to ensure local communities benefit from our visit, and the impact we have locally is positive.
We work with our partners to ensure that all of our guides are local and in exchange for their expertise, they are paid and treated fairly. Our tours, whilst great fun, are largely focused on culture and history and the itineraries include visits to a number of significant sites. In doing so we promote these cultural assets by establishing an international appreciation of the architecture, history, and artifacts within. Additionally, this creates a demand for local employment and income for local sellers and service providers.