Responsible Tourism Policy
The social and environmental welfare of Ireland and planet Earth is fundamentally important to all of us at Ireland Chauffeur Travel – not just as a business, but as citizens too. We value our community and our environment and are committed to sustainable, responsible tourism.
We take the potential negative effects on the environment that our business activities can cause very seriously.
In line with this, we will continually strive to improve our environmental practices in a range of areas including carbon offset, energy use and water usage. We support local tourism and ecotourism experiences and our community through a number of diverse projects and we enhance the experiences of our clients through meaningful connections with the real people of Ireland.
We are working towards being a carbon-neutral company and becoming B Corp certified. Current measures include the following:
Responsible Tourism
Sustainable Tourism: We support local tourism and hospitality enterprises, ensuring money from tourists supports local communities around the country. This is a key tourism sustainability approach of our company. We ensure clients are introduced to Ireland’s tourism entrepreneurs, food producers and local experience providers, ensuring they experience and support “real” Ireland.
Support Local: We are committed to supporting local communities by collaborating with regional businesses through both valued partnerships and trusted recommendations. Wherever possible, we employ local personnel and source high-quality local products and services to ensure our tours positively impact the communities we visit. We also proudly support local fundraising initiatives, charities, and community organisations, including local sporting clubs and events.
Vehicle Efficiency
We continually invest in our fleet to ensure our vehicles are as environmentally efficient and comfortable as possible. Our vehicles feature modern low-emission engine technology designed to reduce overall carbon output while maintaining the high standards expected for touring throughout Ireland.
As the touring and infrastructure landscape continues to evolve, we are actively monitoring developments within the electric vehicle sector and look forward to integrating electric and alternative energy vehicles into our fleet as they become more suitable for long-distance touring across Ireland.
We also promote eco-driving practices across our Driver Guide team. Eco-driving is a fuel-efficient driving style that helps reduce fuel consumption, lower emissions, and improve overall vehicle efficiency. Studies have shown that drivers trained in eco-driving techniques can reduce fuel consumption by up to 20%, while also supporting vehicle longevity and smoother, more sustainable travel experiences for our guests.
The Environment
Natural Area Focus: We promote experiences that encourage interaction with the natural environment through walking, wildlife watching, botany and education.
Interpretation & Education: We believe education and local insight play an important role in responsible travel. All clients are provided with local information and guidance to help them respect, protect, and better understand the landscapes, communities, and cultural heritage they experience throughout their journey.
Our team and Driver Guides are always happy to share additional recommendations, stories, and local knowledge, encouraging meaningful connections with the places visited while promoting sustainable and respectful tourism practices.
Respecting Cultures
Cultural Respect & Awareness: At Ireland Chauffeur Travel, we encourage all staff to be respectful, welcoming, and mindful of the diverse cultures and backgrounds of our guests. In turn, we encourage our clients to engage with local communities in a respectful and meaningful way, fostering genuine cultural exchange throughout their journey. Guests are encouraged to experience Ireland’s rich traditions and local way of life through authentic interactions.
Inclusive policies: Ireland Chauffeur Travel is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, fair, and inclusive environment for both our clients and team. We proudly uphold these values across all aspects of our business, ensuring every guest is treated with respect, professionalism, and care.
Responsible Marketing
Paperless approach: We operate as a largely paperless office and have invested in digital itinerary software that allows clients to access personalised travel itineraries directly on their smart devices through an app. These itineraries are updated in real-time, reducing the need for printed materials and duplicate copies. Where itineraries are provided on behalf of third parties, we supply digital versions unless printed copies are specifically requested.
Visitor feedback is also an important part of helping us improve our services and environmental practices. All clients receive an electronic feedback survey and are encouraged to share their experiences and suggestions.
Responsible marketing: We prioritise digital and web-based marketing activities wherever possible to reduce unnecessary paper usage. We stay connected with clients and partners through electronic newsletters and digital communications.
Contributing to Conservation
Our conservation measures include actions in the office and further afield:
- We use water from the sustainable water management company in Tipperary. All bottles are recycled.
- We are part of an organised planting of Irish forestry.
- We have an office green policy in place.
- We organise quarterly litter clean-ups of popular tourist viewing spots, such as the Rock of Cashel.
Future objectives
We are always working to improve our conservation efforts and our Sustainable Tourism approach. Our future objectives include:
- To further reduce our energy usage.
- To plant more trees.
- Provide opportunities for guests to carbon-neutralize their visit.
