About Bamba Travel
Bamba Travel is an adventure travel company that provides flexible and customizable travel itineraries for independent travelers.
About the Manifesto
The Bamba Travel Manifesto demonstrates how both Bamba Travel and their suppliers pledge to follow the terms and conditions of the Manifesto, as well as a commitment to make travel Ethical, Sustainable, and a Force for Good.
Entities involved
- Bamba Travel, its members, employees, and officers
- Referred to here in the contract as Supplier/s
- Referred publicly as Suppliers and Operators
- Including its employees, agents, and independent contractors
- The Bamba Travel Client. Any Client that is provided to the Supplier, through the Bamba Travel platform.
- Local Operators are those who provide services at the destination such as guides, chauffeurs, activities, lodging, and other types of service providers.
- Single countries, regions of the World (i.e.: the Amazon), or a collection of countries (i.e.: Scandinavia) are all considered a Destination.
- Communities are locations where our Travelers interact with the local people, including villages, towns, cities, and regions within a country.
The Manifesto
At Bamba Travel, our passion for Mother Earth and its inhabitants drives us to actively contribute to the overall environmental well-being of our planet and support those in need. We strive to protect biodiversity, empower local communities, and actively combat climate change.
As a Bamba Travel Supplier, being a fully functioning, licensed, and insured travel firm is just the beginning. Our collaboration is built on a mutual commitment to offering fair pricing, exceptional service, and an unwavering dedication to exceeding the expectations of our travelers. Together, we will deliver an unparalleled product of the highest quality.
Our mission goes beyond creating unforgettable experiences and providing top-notch service; Bamba Travel and its suppliers are committed to building a better future. We recognize the significant impact of tourism on the environment, from CO2 emissions and deforestation to animal welfare, reef destruction, and soil erosion. While these are harsh realities, we are determined to make a positive difference in the world. Let's join forces to counteract over-tourism, combat socioeconomic inequality, and protect our precious cultures and environment.
Bamba Travel Suppliers are expected to adhere to a set of minimum standards when building travel packages. These standards are designed to promote ethical and ecological practices and ensure that travelers have a positive and memorable experience. Here are the key components of these standards:
Respectful treatment of customers, rivals, and employees is paramount. This includes offering truthful, fair-priced travel plans and services, avoiding false or misleading information, and ensuring that all interactions are conducted with integrity and honesty.
Suppliers must strive to offer exceptional quality and value, treating travelers with the utmost care and respect. This involves creating itineraries that meet the needs of travelers while also fairly valuing the time spent on them by the Supplier. Additionally, Suppliers must distribute the money spent to local transportation, accommodation, and activity providers.
The Supplier will provide access to previously unknown and under-the-radar attractions, ensuring that the package offers amazing activities and experiences. This will make the trip truly one-of-a-kind and unforgettable.
The Bamba Travel platform has been designed to allow Travelers to make secure payments online and to ensure that all security protocols are met. Travelers' safety and security will be taken into account at every step of their trip by our Suppliers. The Supplier will also offer 24/7 on-travel assistance.
The Supplier will take action to safeguard the local environment and indigenous culture, adhering to stringent rules to preserve and even enhance the natural environment. Along with these activities and experiences, the Suppliers will support the communities in which they operate, ethically invest monies into Local Operators, and speak out against unethical tourism and cultural exploitation.
Bamba Travel and its Suppliers are committed to treating travelers with the utmost respect and ensuring a positive
experience for everyone involved. This commitment is reflected in the following policies and principles:
Bamba Travel and its Suppliers are dedicated to providing a friendly and inclusive atmosphere for customers, employees, destination communities, and local operators. This includes a strict zero-tolerance policy for any form of racial, ethnic, religious, or gender-based discrimination in any of their activities or operations.
Suppliers are required to maintain the confidentiality of any sensitive or private information they receive. This includes any information related to the traveler or Bamba Travel products or services deemed confidential or private by the parties involved. (for more information: Privacy Policy)
Bamba Travel Suppliers must accurately and honestly report all business transactions. The accuracy of the information received by Bamba Travel is crucial for meeting legal and regulatory obligations.
Suppliers are responsible for reporting any potential violations, concerns about Manifesto compliance, or expressions of concern. Bamba Travel will not penalize, discriminate against, or retaliate against a Supplier who makes a report in good faith, unless proven that the Supplier made the report with the knowledge that it was fraudulent.
Local Operators: Bamba Travel acknowledges the importance of Local Operators within the travel supply chain. We require our Suppliers to select Local Operators based on their professionalism, exceptional service, adherence to safety standards, and commitment to sustainability. To fulfill Bamba Travel's requirements, Suppliers should actively seek out, train, and hire local community members, including those vulnerable to poverty. Suppliers must value the services of Local Operators at or above the national minimum wage.
Bamba Travel is committed to promoting the conservation of wild animals and their natural habitats. We do not sell or advertise elephant or wild animal rides and instead focus on providing animal conservation and welfare activities, viewing animals in their natural habitat, and partnering with World Animal Protection.
Bamba Travel supports the Five Pillars of Basic Animal Welfare, which are universally accepted animal rights that include the following freedoms:
- Freedom from Hunger & Thirst.
- Freedom From Discomfort.
- Freedom From Pain, Injury & Disease.
- Freedom to Express Normal Behavior.
- Freedom From Fear & Distress.
Horses, donkeys, and camels have gone through a selective breeding process over ten generations. They are used to working. Even so, we keep in mind some basic guidelines to ensure the animal’s health and safety.
- The animal should be well-fed and in good health, with no sores or wounds on their body or neck from the harness or damage to their legs and feet.
- Handlers should treat the animal with respect and provide appropriate and sufficient food, water, and medical care.
- The size of the animal should be suitable for the weight of its rider/load.
Wild animals are best viewed in their natural habitat. Many of the most incredible travel experiences occur when we simply sit back and watch a scene unfold before our eyes. Those moments are magical. Interfering with an animal’s natural habitat and behavior can cause them undue stress. Also, they might attack when under pressure. Keep your safety in mind at all times. Respecting the animals and staying at a safe distance is best.
A trip abroad provides a tempting opportunity to buy an ivory necklace or tiger-tooth necklace, but remember that wild animals lost their lives for these products to reach the market. The materials for these products are generally obtained illegally, putting animals at risk. Buying things for which animals have died is simply not cool. Not buying them gives a clear signal to the market. By doing so, you might save the lives of other animals.
Bamba Travel does not include any Elephant Riding activities in our programs and discourages tourists from participating in activities that use animals for entertainment. Elephant riding is popular in Southeast Asia, and it’s on many travelers’ bucket lists. Many tourists don’t know that for tourists to ride an elephant; the animal first must be tamed. In that process, the elephants suffer greatly. You do not want Elephants to suffer, do you?
As free-living animals deserve to live in their natural habitat, wild animals used for entertainment have likely had a traumatic and harsh “breaking” process. Chaining, isolation, neglect, and an unhealthy diet are very common. Movies such as “The Cove” and “Blackfish” question and criticize the methods used to acquire and hold marine animals in entertainment parks.
Tourist attractions may use wild animals and even big cats. You might be able to walk with them or even take selfies. But if you cannot verify the animals’ welfare, you should steer away from these activities. These big young cats are usually separated from their mothers when they are barely born. Baby tigers and lions in petting zoos face many dangers and are often drugged to keep them submissive. It’s just sad when you think about it.
Our commitment goes beyond merely protecting and conserving the environment; we aim to enhance both the land and water ecosystems. As a Supplier, it is your responsibility to gain knowledge about sustainable practices relevant to your Destination.
Advocates against poverty are combating cultural exploitation by promoting the portrayal of local communities in
distinctive and often non-traditional ways. Instead, they encourage fostering cultural connections with groups who
have the autonomy to shape their own image and narrative.
For Bamba Travel, the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) hold significant relevance to their mission. To create a meaningful impact, Bamba Travel, along with its Suppliers and Travelers, must commit to following the United Nations SDGs:
- Create low-cost tourism products and services to make travel more accessible to everyone.
- Invest a portion of the money you get from tourists on environmentally friendly farming methods, and expand your engagement with academic and scientific organizations.
- Ensure that 30 percent or more of the decision-making and governance roles in tourism-related enterprises are filled by women.
- As part of your value chain, incorporate local community people, including those who are poor, into your workforce and training programs.
- Reduce waste as much as possible and make sure that any trash that cannot be avoided is used to its full potential (e.g., organic waste as fuel or fertilizer).
- It is essential to strengthen the global Suppliership for Sustainable Development, as well as the many other multi-Stakeholder Supplierships that promote the attainment in poor nations of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Bamba Travel aligns with the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact and endorses the "know and show" approach to manifest respect for these principles. Our commitment to upholding internationally recognized Human Rights aligns with our passion for enhancing our workplace, collaborating with our supply chain, protecting the environment, and empowering the communities in which we operate.
Principle 1 — Bamba Travel supports and respects the protection of international human rights;
Principle 2 — Bamba Travel won't be complicit, but rather help prevent human rights abuses;
Principle 3 — Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
Principle 4 — The elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labor;
Principle 5 — The effective abolition of child labor;
Principle 6 — The elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation;
Principle 7 — Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
Principle 8 — Undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility;
Principle 9 — Encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies;
Principle 10 — Work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.
Annually, Bamba Travel conducts audits on its Suppliers to confirm that their company licenses remain valid and their operations and ethical standards are up to par. Upholding the commitments made in this Manifesto and the Supplier Agreement is a top priority. Furthermore, these audits serve to support Suppliers' growth, identify potential resource gaps, and explore ways Bamba Travel can assist them in achieving their goals. Through this process, all involved parties collaborate towards a unified objective of discovering solutions.
Moving forward, this Manifesto will be revised and updated to adapt to evolving industry practices. Bamba Travel and its Suppliers will remain vigilant in tracking these changes to ensure a better future. Semiannually, the Directive Board conducts audits to review the Bamba Travel Manifesto and its associated