Terra Nicaragua Supplier Charter

Purpose of the Supplier Charter

The Supplier Charter guarantees the quality of the services provided by Terra Nicaragua. The Supplier Charter provides details of our selection criteria and evaluation processes, which enable us to offer our customers top-of-the-range travel, thanks to a catalog of preferred suppliers with whom we have a relationship of trust and maintain up-to-date knowledge. This document is one of the witnesses to our commitment. It is also a testimony of our practices made available to our partners (tour operators, travel agencies, service providers, teams, etc.), but also to our customers, enabling us to demonstrate our exemplarity as well as the conditions required to work with us. It is a document that is available in French, English and Spanish, to be accessible to as many stakeholders as possible. The Terra Nicaragua Supplier Charter is regularly revised to adapt to changes in our sector and guarantee a high level of standards

Scope and application:

Its mode of application is adapted to Nicaragua’s geopolitical, social and economic context

a. General criteria applicable to all service providers:

Respect for legality and labor standardsCompliance with all local laws, including legal working age, rest periods, minimum wages, and licenses and registrations required to carry out the activity.
Prevention of exploitation and cultural abusesFormal commitment against child labor, sex tourism, and folkloric or caricatured exploitation of local cultures. Promotion of authentic representation that respects traditions.
Transparency and professional ethicsEthical conduct in business relations, rejection of corruption and promotion of fair and transparent contractual practices with partners, employees and customers.
Decent working conditionsEmphasis on the physical and mental well-being of employees: safety, respect for working hours, training, insurance, healthy working environment, etc.
Local commitment and economic equityActive integration into the local economy by recruiting locally, sourcing from local producers, and contributing to community projects.
Responsible supply chainSelection of its own suppliers according to coherent CSR criteria (environment, labor, ethics), ensuring overall consistency of its value chain.
Good environmental managementLimitation of negative impacts on the environment through waste reduction and sorting practices, control of energy consumption, and use of sustainable materials and energies.
Raising customer awarenessInforming and raising customer awareness of responsible practices to be adopted during their trip, and promoting more conscious tourism.
Possession or pursuit of labels and certificationsPossession, or ongoing process of obtaining, certifications or initiatives demonstrating a commitment to sustainable tourism or responsible management.
Ongoing training in sustainable developmentThe team is trained in, or receives regular training in, the social, cultural and environmental challenges of tourism.

b. Criteria specific to accommodation

Sustainable water and energy managementImplementation of water-saving devices (showers, reuse), energy-saving devices (LEDs, presence detectors, renewable energies), and monitoring of energy use.
Preservation of cultural and architectural heritageRespect and valorization of local heritage in its architecture, decoration, services or personnel, avoiding tourist standardization.
Biodiversity and ecotourism policyCommitment to protecting the environment and promoting gentle natural activities, avoiding any degradation of ecosystems.
Accessibility and inclusionAccessibility of infrastructure and services to people with reduced mobility or disabilities, as part of an inclusive hospitality approach.
Monitoring and assessment of social and ecological impactRegular assessment of the impact of activities and adjustment of practices accordingly (customer survey, internal diagnosis, indicators).

c. Criteria specific to transport

Safety and legal complianceScrupulous observance of safety rules, prohibition of driving under the influence, compliance with driver rest periods and vehicle maintenance standards.
Reduction of carbon footprintPreference for less polluting vehicles, optimization of routes, openness to alternative modes (bicycle, boat, walking, train, etc.), implementation of carbon compensation systems,
Innovation and energy efficiencyExploration of new technologies (electric vehicles, hybrids, energy recovery) to reduce transport-related emissions.

d. Activity-specific criteria

Respect for fauna, flora and natural environmentsGuaranteed absence of harm to the animal and plant species concerned, or interaction with captive or sensitive animals, and care taken not to damage natural sites.
Environmental and cultural educationIntegration of an educational and awareness-raising dimension into its activities, promoting understanding of ecosystems, local knowledge and the history of the area.
Eco-responsible equipment and safetyEquipment that respects the environment, is adapted to the activity, and guarantees the safety of participants.
Inclusion and diversityActivities that promote cultural and social diversity, and involve participants from local or under-represented communities.
Continuous impact assessmentMonitoring the evolution of practices, taking feedback into account, and adjusting offers to minimize negative impacts.

List of international labels to recommend:

Note on sustainable certifications: our tourism business is focused on small-scale, local offerings, favoring small, local partners, often in remote areas away from sites with highly-developed tourist infrastructures. As a result, a large proportion of our service providers are not certified; not because they don’t meet the necessary criteria, but rather because they are isolated, or lack the means, or because the approach is not widespread locally. While we do pay attention to sustainable certifications, they remain a welcome bonus for us, and not a strict selection criterion.