Travel While Doing Good
Group Vision for Sustainable Tourism
Sustainability has always been a cornerstone of our operational philosophy. Throughout the years, DTH Travel Group has remained committed to fostering responsible tourism that balances environmental stewardship, community empowerment, and cultural preservation across all destinations where we operate. We aim to maximize the positive socioeconomic impacts of tourism on local communities while minimizing adverse social, cultural, and environmental footprints. Here’s how we do it:
Our approach aligns with the international Travelife standard and Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) criteria. By supporting local industries, uplifting communities, and protecting the planet, we aim to create a thriving future and invite our partners and stakeholders to shape it with us.
We Care for Animal Welfare
We are dedicated to protecting wildlife and ensuring our programmes are ethical and positive for both travellers and animals. Our initiatives include:
- Committing to protecting animals and wildlife across the region.
- ‘Stop sell’ on tours involving unethical animal experiences. We strictly follow ABTA-compliant animal welfare principles.
- Working with partners who align with our animal welfare stance and actions.
Go Local Experiences
Our itineraries prioritise authentic Community-Based Tourism (CBT), helping redirect economic benefits towards local artisans, community enterprises, and social enterprises, while respecting cultural heritage, local customs, and site-specific etiquette.
Equally important is our adherence to international Child Safe standards. We strictly prohibit visits to commercialized orphanages or educational tours that disrupt active school sessions.
Partner Communities
We collaborate with a variety of partners to empower communities across Asia and preserve intangible cultural heritage. Some of our trusted partners include:
- PHARE Circus: A troupe which employs alumni of Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPSA), a non-profit arts school in Battambang, Cambodia, providing underprivileged children and young adults with artistic education and vocational training.
- Living Land Farm: A community enterprise in Luang Prabang, Laos, founded by locals who wanted to make better use of their land, eventually turning it into a community farm and craft centre.
- Jungle School Gombak: A leadership experiential program that empowers the people of Gombak, Malaysia to share their cultural knowledge and expertise.
- Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre: A textile and artisan institution in Laos, founded on the principles of fair trade and sustainable business practices.
Corporate Social Responsibility Activities
We actively engage in and organise programs that foster a better Asia for both explorers and locals. We support initiatives and groups such as:
- Pencils for Kids: An organisation dedicated to helping children in developing countries attend school. We’ve been supporting their missions across Myanmar and Thailand, to provide school supplies for underprivileged children.
- Laos Friends Hospital for Children:DTH Travel joined the hospital’s half-marathon to support its cause in raising awareness for the important work it does, providing medical care for children in Laos.
- Bangaan Elementary School: A school in Nueva Viscaya, Philippines. They’re one of the recipients of DTH Travel’s donations, both monetary and in kind, from weekly soup kitchen programs and more, to keep its undernourished kids healthy.
Enhanced Sustainable Practices in Offices
Our comprehensive efforts range from the big commitments — such as regular sustainability training for our staff and suppliers, sustainability clauses in all supplier contracts, and a clear carbon reduction roadmap — to the small, everyday actions that add up, including waste segregation and recycling, eliminating single-use plastics, and fostering fair workplace environments that embrace cultural diversity.
Together, these practices help embed responsible travel into how we work, how we partner, and how we operate across our destinations.
Future Projects and Community Collaboration
Looking ahead, we continue to strengthen our approach through Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Policy training for our Sustainability Team and the ongoing refinement of our internal and external sustainability policies. We believe sustainability is a journey of continuous improvement — staying curious, adapting to better practices, and raising the bar as we go.
We also aim to expand and strengthen our collaboration with community service projects and local social enterprises, while continuing to support communities through corporate donations, staff volunteering, community initiatives, and opportunities for travellers to contribute.
Want to learn more? Download our full Sustainability Policy here.
Future Projects and Community Collaboration
For further questions, you may contact our Lead Sustainability Coordinator, Phyoe Wai Yar Zar, phyoe@mm.dth.travel.