✔️ Achieved Reduced energy, waste, fuel and water usage
✔️ Achieved Became carbon neutral through native Irish tree planting
✔️ Achieved Installed solar panels at VagaHQ
♻️ Ongoing Respect Ireland’s landscape through Leave No Trace
♻️ Ongoing Litter picking and adoption of local Pure Mile sites
♻️ Ongoing Encourage tourism industry to adopt similar practices
“Tourism that takes full account of its current and future environmental, social and economic impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and communities” - The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)
We’ve been proactive in carbon off-setting using native Irish woodlands.
Using native Irish tree species promotes biodiversity and helps foster more effective natural habitats for insects, birds and mammals.
We planted 110 trees in 2016; 150 in 2017; and 170 in 2018.
We are all conscious of the carbon footprint we create in our travels.
Climatecare is a non-profit organisation which raises awareness of climate change by supporting humanitarian and environmental projects globally.
Use the carbon calculator and offset your emissions at Climarecare.
Click here to launch the Climate Care Calculator App.
In 2017, Vagabond Tours of Ireland achieved Irish Ecotourism Gold Level certification.
Rob engaged EcoTourism Ireland to formalise and further develop Vagabond’s already extensive responsible tourism practises. After a thorough process of training, evaluation and independent audit, Vagabond is currently the only tour operator in Ireland to hold the Gold Standard Ecotourism Ireland certification.
As Rob says, ‘the process has lead to cost savings, product innovation, marketing opportunities and has been fantastic for team engagement. It is also vital that the tourism industry as a whole takes positive action on climate change, environmental impacts and responsible tourism generally’
In 2019, Rob took his commitment to responsible tourism one step further by acquiring EcoTourism Ireland. We are currently in the process of researching a suitably independent body to re-certify Vagabond Tours, as we will no longer be certified by Ecotourism Ireland.
We save water, conserve fuel and practice Leave No Trace while on tour
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We operate a green headquarters by recycling, saving water and energy.
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We go further by litter picking, educating our guests and helping local communities.
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Read why Vagabond founder, Rob Rankin, acquired EcoTourism Ireland in 2019.
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As proud partners of Leave No Trace Ireland, we train all of our guides in the Leave No Trace Ireland awareness programme.
Twelve of our staff have qualified as Leave No Trace Trainers. This approach not only ensures that our footprint on the landscape remains minimal. It also enables us to raise the level of environmental awareness among Vagabond guests.
We are proud members of Birdwatch Ireland and maintain both bird feeders and nesting boxes at Vagabond HQ.
We actively encourage our accommodation suppliers to follow suit. We were delighted when Beech Hill House Hotel and Gougane Barra Hotel both followed our example!
