Morocco food and wine vacation

Planet

As an organization, we acknowledge that climate change is a pressing global issue, and the tourism sector is a significant contributor to this problem. Approximately 5% of global CO2 emissions are attributed to travel and tourism. Our responsibility is to proactively address this challenge by minimizing our environmental impact while preserving the social and economic benefits of tourism for both the host community and our customers.

We are committed to collaborating with local bodies and authorities to safeguard and improve the environment for the long-term benefit of the host community. We expect all our suppliers to adopt or develop sustainable practices. Our local teams are actively working with our hotel partners to reduce plastic waste and promote the use of reusable water bottles. For instance, at Riad Myra, such practices have been successfully implemented, and discussions are ongoing on how to implement a food waste management program. Similarly, at the Riad Mimouna in Essaouira, we are introducing a local food supplier scheme to promote the use of locally sourced produce in the restaurant.

In Morocco, our team pays meticulous attention to even the smallest details, such as ensuring that our picnic meals are served with reusable plastic or carton utensils. Moreover, we carefully select hotels, camps, and lodges that adhere to high environmental standards for our guests.

While we acknowledge the need to travel by air to reach our destinations, we are committed to promoting overland travel instead of internal flights wherever possible to minimize carbon emissions. We will also encourage the use of alternative modes of transportation, such as trains and other sustainable options, to reach destinations whenever feasible. This is particularly relevant for reaching Morocco, where overland travel is a viable option for those with adequate time.

People

We strongly discourage the exploitation of local communities and exclusively collaborate with suppliers who demonstrate a commitment to the well-being of their employees. Our team in Morocco actively encourages tour leaders and guides to share any concerns with us. All our suppliers are expected to uphold fundamental human rights, including non-discrimination, freedom of assembly, prohibition of forced labour and child labour.

We strictly prohibit any involvement in or endorsement of commercial sexual activities, exploitative sexual activities, or drug use during our trips, by both staff and customers. We do not engage with any suppliers in Morocco that exploit children for tourism purposes, and we do not facilitate visits to schools, day-care centers, or orphanages, as children should not be treated as tourist attractions. We also do not offer excursions or volunteering opportunities with vulnerable populations.

In Morocco, we actively support female-owned businesses and ensure they are compensated and treated equitably. We use a number of local cooks to demonstrate and teach authentic Moroccan techniques, for example at our hands-on cooking class in Fes and when we have dinner with a local family. Our commitment is to sustainable and responsible tourism that promotes the welfare and dignity of local people.