The certification allows a region to demonstrate how they take sustainability seriously, but also ensures they are accountable to make necessary and ongoing improvements.
The Responsible Tourism Institute Biosphere certification is based on established standards in areas that include climate change, environment, social, economy and culture – and guarantees compliance and continuous improvement through a private, voluntary and independent certification system – which is evaluated on an annual basis.
As part of the Biosphere commitment, NBCTA will be sharing resources for stakeholders to support the Biosphere sustainability objectives.
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End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
Goal: NBCTA has a fair trade purchase policy and promotes fair trade resources to stakeholders.
End hunger, archive food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
Goal: NBCTA shares with tourists, public and private entities, visitor centres and visitor counsellors of Northern BC a list of exotic and invasive species to the region that can be consulted so the extraction of invasive species can be facilitated and replaced with local species.
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
Goal: NBCTA works with partners to provide mental health well-being resources to our staff and stakeholders across the region.
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Goal: NBCTA has a sustainability policy and promotion strategy developed, as a means of providing a sustainability toolkit for local companies to understand and integrate sustainability practices into their operations.
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Goal: British Columbia has has developed programs and policies to promote gender equality in the workplace through Work BC, recognizing the challenges and discrimination women can suffer from in the workplace and give the tools and resources needed to empower women and facilitate their inclusion in the workplace.
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Goal: NBCTA has ecological taps installed in all facilities and promotes the use of ecological taps in tourism assets across the region.
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Goal: NBCTA is an active member of the Climate-Change Network for Northern BC, sharing the promoting energy conservation and transition programs and strategies for all stakeholders, visitors included.
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
Goal: An awareness, information, training and motivation plan for employees is approved by management, to guarantee their involvement and functions of responsible tourism system. In addition, it incorporates training and continuous training of personnel, in relations to the activities carried out in their jobs, with a priority placed on training related to environmental, socio-cultural, health, safety, and sustainability.
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
Goal: In partnership with Emergency Management BC and go2HR, a tourism emergency management plan, called PREPARED BC - Emergency Planning Resources for Tourism Operators, is being developed to provide support resources to tourism operators in preparing for potential emergencies, like wildfires or floods, that could effect their staff and guests.
Reduce inequality within and among countries.
Goal: NBCTA has an accessibility strategy for the tourism assets and workplaces across the region.
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Goal: NBCTA promotes services and products of the region, highlighting the value of supporting local small and medium sized enterprises in the tourism supply chain.
Goal: Information on accessibility is included in the communication actions of NBCTA, in particular on tourist places, facilities and services, including those of natural and cultural importance, are accessible to everyone, including visitors with disabilities and other who have requirement so of specific access or other special needs.
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Goal: Purchasing from suppliers aware of the environment and who can demonstrate their commitment is prioritized, through the NBCTA Sustainable Purchasing Policy.
Take urgent action to combat climate changes and its impacts.
Goal: NBCTA support and promote the network of EV charging stations throughout the region, and promote special use vehicle incentive program (Clean BC) to stakeholders as well as supporting telecommuting solutions for our own staff.
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
Goal: With much of the waste in the world ending up in aquatic environments, NBCTA provides stakeholders suggestions on how to help reduce pollution in daily operations, such as eliminating plastic bottles by replacing them with reusable bottles and reducing food waste.
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forest, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
Goal: NBCTA has a sustainability strategy for the Northern BC region, including supports for stakeholders. This strategy will include listings of natural heritage sites and assets with assessments on their conservation status and vulnerabilities, programs aimed at supporting conservation of biodiversity and natural heritage, and proposed mechanisms to utilize tourism revenues to support conservation of natural assets.
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effect, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Goal: NBCTA shares information about the management of the region as a sign of commitment and transparency to provide reliability to citizens and visitors who might be interested, while improving the image of the region.
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.
Goal: NBCTA promotes Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle platform to stakeholders as a means to development their own sustainability plans, engage their employees, track their progress, and share with their guests and vendors.
Our summit will bring together industry experts, travel enthusiasts, and local businesses to discuss the latest trends, strategies, and opportunities in Northern BC's tourism sector.
Expect engaging discussions, insightful keynote speakers, and interactive workshops that will equip you with valuable knowledge and insights. Connect with like-minded individuals, forge new partnerships, and gain inspiration to take the tourism sector to the next level in the region.
