OUR MISSION

Fiore Tours has grown to become one of the Croatian leading independent adventure travel company specialized in organizing adventure, cultural and gourmet travel in Croatia. Our guides / tour leaders are carefully selected among travel enthusiasts and outdoor specialists. We are among the leading experts in arranging self-guided walking and cycling holidays in Croatia. 

At Fiore Tours, we are deeply committed to fostering a sustainable future for the travel industry while delivering unforgettable experiences to our guests. 

Our mission is to balance the wonder of exploration with the responsibility of preserving the natural, cultural, and social heritage of the destinations we visit. We recognize the urgent need to address environmental challenges and are dedicated to minimizing our ecological footprint through every aspect of our operations.

This includes prioritizing eco-friendly practices, collaborating with local communities, and championing initiatives that promote conservation and sustainable development. 

Fiore Tours believes that travel has the power to inspire, educate, and connect people across the globe. By embedding sustainability into every aspect of our operations, we aim to protect the planet, uplift communities, and ensure that future generations can continue to explore and enjoy the wonders of the world. Together with our travelers and partners, we strive to lead by example in the adventure travel industry.

At Fiore Tours, we are committed to leading the way in sustainable tourism by integrating environmental, social and economic responsibility into our travel experiences.

Environmental Responsibility
We recognize the impact of tourism on the natural environment and are dedicated to minimizing our ecological footprint. Fiore Tours actively seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote energy and water efficiency, and minimize waste throughout our operations. We prioritize partnerships with eco-conscious suppliers, support conservation initiatives, and advocate for responsible travel practices among our staff and clients.

Social Responsibility
Fiore Tours is passionate about celebrating and preserving the cultural heritage of the destinations we explore. We work closely with local communities to ensure their traditions, customs, and values are respected and upheld. Our tours include immersive, educational experiences that foster meaningful connections between travelers and local cultures while promoting the protection of historical landmarks and cultural sites.

Economic Responsibility
Empowering local communities is central to our sustainability mission. We prioritize partnerships with local guides, businesses, accommodation providers, local producers to ensure that tourism dollars directly benefit the people and economies of the regions we visit. Through fair wages, community engagement, and ethical sourcing, we strive to create opportunities for sustainable economic growth.

Sustainable Travel Education
Fiore Tours believes in the transformative power of education to inspire positive change. We are committed to raising awareness among our clients, partners, and employees about sustainable tourism practices. By sharing knowledge and providing resources, we encourage responsible behavior that protects the environment and supports local communities.

Continuous Improvement and Certification Standards
Achieving and maintaining high standards in sustainability is a dynamic process. As a Travelife Partner we are dedicated to continually assessing and improving our policies, operations, and supply chains to align with internationally recognized sustainability standards. We have implemented the Travelife training, management and certification system into our operations to align with the internationally recognized sustainability standard.

Our sustainability policy is divided into 6 themes.  Each theme consists of a set of principles and practical actions accordingly.      

1. Sustainability Management & Legal Compliance, 
2. Internal Management: Social Policy & Human Rights, Environment & Community Relations
3. Accommodation Providers
4. Tour Leaders and Guides
5. Destinations, Excursions and Activities 
6. Customer Communication & Protection

1.SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT & LEGAL COMPLIANCE

Fiore tours commits to sustainability management, practiced by these following actions:

• To have an appointed employee who is responsible for the sustainability management performance;
• To have a sustainability mission statement that is communicated to customers, partners and suppliers;
• To have an accessible and written sustainability policy that aims for a reduction of the negative social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts of the company’s activities; and includes employee related health and safety aspects;
• To have sustainability action plan with clear targets, actions, measures, responsibilities and time planning; 
• To develop documented procedures to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the sustainability policy, objectives and targets;
• To collaborate and actively involved in external forums and working groups which are supportive to sustainability in tourism;
• To ensure company’s transparency in sustainability by public reporting and communicating;
• We commit to complying with all national legislation, regulations and codes of practice.

2.INTERNAL MANAGEMENT

Fiore tours commits to sustainable internal management by having clear written and well-communicated social policy that includes the following principles:

a) Social Policy and Human Rights

• To grant employees the freedom of employment and contract termination with notice (ideally minimum one month) and without penalty 
• To include labor conditions according to national labor law and a job description in the employment contract;
• Wage rate is to be mentioned in the contract and equals or above the national legal wage;
• To determinate and compensate of overtime working hours based on agreement;
• To provide medical and liability insurance according to the national law;
• To grant employees fixed paid yearly holiday and sick leave and unpaid annual leave allowance;
• To have health and safety policy for employees which complies to national legal standards;
• To have first aid sets and trained staff are available at all relevant locations;
• To obey national concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment;
• To have a measurement system for employee satisfaction on a regular basis;
• To provide periodic guidance and training for employees on roles, rights and responsibilities regarding health 

We commit to practice human rights by ensure the enforcement of following practices:

• To declare not to hinder trade union membership, collective labor negotiations and representation of members by trade unions;
• To prohibit discriminations, regard to recruitment, conditions of employment, access to training and senior positions, or promotion in terms of gender, race, age, disability, ethnicity, religion/beliefs or sexual orientation;

b) Environment and Community Relations

Fiore tours commits to practice environmental protection and enhance community relations by ensuring the enforcement of following practices:

• Actively reduce the use of disposable and consumer goods;
• Favor the purchase of sustainable goods and services, office and catering supply, giveaways and merchandise;
• Purchase products in bulk, to reduce the amount of packaging materials;
• Set copy and printing machines by default to double-sided printing or other forms of paper saving modes;
• Use cleaning materials which are non-hazardous, non-eutrophic and biodegradable and are certified with an eco-label, if locally available;
• Have an active commitment to measure, monitor and reduce energy consumption;
• Switch off Lights and equipment when not in use, 
• Prefer low energy equipment when buying new items, including considerations of cost and quality;
• Have an active policy to reduce water consumption, implemented and monitored on a monthly or yearly basis for benchmark purposes;
• Not use plastic bottles/glasses8cutlery for office use; 
• Separate all materials which can be recycled and organize collection and proper disposal;
• Recycle or properly dispose of batteries;  
• Measure and reduce staff related travel and use more sustainable modes of transport. Calculate its emissions, with the aim to reduce and compensate, through a reliable locally available program;
• Encourage employees to use public or share transport, walk or use bicycle to work
• Provide periodic guidance, training and/or information to all staff members, about their roles and responsibilities with respect to internal environmental practices;
• Contribute to the protection and preservation of local historical, archaeological, culturally, and spiritually important properties and sites, and   not impede access to them by local residents;

3. ACCOMMODATION PROVIDERS

We try to achieve a tourism supply chain that is sustainable. The partner accommodations play an important role in achieving this and are stimulated and motivated to adapt sustainable practices. 

Fiore tours commits to:

• Motivating and encouraging partner accommodations to become sustainably certified (eg Travelife certified, GSCT recognized, etc.);
• Preferring and selecting accommodations that are locally owned and managed;
• Selecting accommodations that employ local communities;
• Encouraging accommodations to follow best practices/trainings on responsible tourism;
• Clearly and actively communicating our sustainability objectives and requirements regarding accommodations to contracted and other relevant accommodations; 
• Including standard sustainability clauses in all contracts with accommodation providers that focus on child labor, anti-corruption and bribery, waste management and protection of biodiversity;
• Working with accommodations and restaurants that incorporate elements of local art, architecture, or cultural heritage; while respecting the intellectual property rights of local communities;
• Terminating cooperation with accommodation in case of clear evidence that contracted accommodations jeopardize the provision of integrity of basic services such as food, water, energy, healthcare, or soil to the neighbouring companies.

4. TOUR LEADERS AND GUIDES

We aim at involving as many locals as possible by employing them in the tourism business. We stand for a fair and safe working environment that supports and respects local communities.

Fiore tours commits to:

• Ensuring that all employees have a written employment contract, including labour conditions and a job description, and fully understand the terms and conditions;
• Preferring to work with local tour leaders, tour guides, representatives and drivers
• Ensuring that our local partners comply with all applicable international, national, and local laws and regulations, industry minimum standards, 
• Paying tour leaders, local representatives, guides and other local staff contracted by us at least a living wage that is equal to or above the legal minimum or relevant industry standard;
• Ensuring that our tour guides and other employees under contract are qualified and trained regularly;
• Ensuring that our local employees are informed on relevant aspects of our sustainability policy, by newsletters, emails, or training and information sessions;
• Having our tour leaders, local representatives and guides inform clients on relevant sustainability matters in the destination (e.g. protection of flora, fauna, and cultural heritage, resource use), social norms and values (e.g. tips, dressing code and photography) and human rights (e.g. sexual exploitation);

5. DESTINATIONS, EXCURSIONS AND ACTIVITIES

Fiore tours aims to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative impacts at destination to ensure the sustainable development of the places that we operate in. We are safeguarding the authenticity of the communities and the natural environment and are strongly against harming wildlife and polluting the environment. 

Fiore tours commits to:

• Consider sustainability aspects in the selection process of new destinations and possibly offer alternative, non-mainstream destinations;
• Support initiatives that improve the relationships between accommodations and local producers;
• Support biodiversity conservation, including protected areas and areas of high biodiversity, through financial contribution and integration in product offers;
• Having an inventory of environmentally or culturally sensitive excursions which are offered in each destination;
• Advising guests on behaviour standards during excursions and activities with a focus on respecting the local culture, nature, and environment;
• Not offering any excursions that harm humans, animals, plants, natural resources such as water and energy, or which are socially and culturally unacceptable;
• Having skilled and/or certified guides to guide our guests in sensitive cultural sites, heritage sites, or ecologically sensitive destinations;
• Promoting and advise our guests on excursions and activities which directly involve and support local communities by purchasing services or goods, traditional crafts and local (food) production methods, or visiting social projects; 
• Not promote souvenirs which contain threatened flora and fauna species as indicated in the CITES treaty and the IUCN ‘Red List’; or historic and archaeological artefacts (except as permitted by law). 

6. CUSTOMER COMMUNICATION AND PROTECTION 

Customers welfare and information are very important to us. At Fiore Tours, we ensure clear and constant communication and high protection to our clients before booking, after booking, during and after holidays. 

a) Before booking, Fiore tours commits to the following:

• Make the company’s guidelines for consultation with clients available to its employees;
• Not to promise more than is delivered;
• Ensure client privacy;
• Provide clear, complete and accurate information about the product and price, as well as about the agency and its products and services, including information about sustainability, and adhere to relevant standards and codes of conduct in marketing and advertising messages;
• Inform customers about sustainable alternatives concerning accommodations, excursions, package holidays and transport options, if available;
• Provide destination information, including sustainability aspects, which is factually correct, balanced and complete; 

b) After booking and during the trip, Fiore tours undertakes:

• Provide information to customers about the natural surroundings, local culture and cultural heritage in the destination, key aspects of sustainability in the destination and receive recommendations on how to make a positive contribution;
• Provide information on risks and precautions related to health and safety matters in the destination;
• Keep a contact person and a telephone number permanently available for emergency situations (24/7);
• Train employees in handling emergencies and prepare appropriate guidelines for this purpose;
• Provide clients with documented guidelines and/or codes of conduct for sensitive excursions and activities, in order to minimize negative visitor impact for the purpose of a positive experience;
• Provide customers with information about possible commercial, sexual or any other form of exploitation and harassment, particularly of children and adolescents;
• Encourage clients to use local restaurants, shops and local producers (where appropriate);
• Inform customers about sustainable transport options in destinations, when feasible.

c) After the trip, Fiore tours undertakes to:

• Systematically measure customer satisfaction and take the results into account, to improve services and products
• Have clear procedures in case of customers complaints

Place and date: Poreč, 03.02.2025.