About Us

Responsible Tourism

With the increasing media attention on aviation surrounding climate change there has never been a more important time for us to understand it and do our bit to help.

At Voyages Ilena we have always had a strong commitment to responsible tourism and supported local communities for many years now.

We decided to set up our own carbon offset scheme - Opt In and Offset. Not only does this reduce carbon emissions but also benefits the local communities.

Tourism can bring a wealth of benefits to destinations but we mustn't forget that at the same time tourism can adversely affect the nature and environment of a destination if it is not looked after.

We at Voyages Ilena want to focus on what we can do to support the island and encourage our clients to do the same.

To ensure tourism benefits the people of Corsica we strive to work positively towards protecting the natural beauty, wildlife and culture of Corsica so that future generations can continue to enjoy residing in and visiting the country.

We do this by:

• Ensuring all staff are committed to the development of long-term responsible tourism and to be regularly informed on our progress
• Working with local businesses to ensure local communities receive a fair share of the benefits of tourism
• Working positively towards protecting the natural beauty wildlife and culture of Corsica so that future generations can continue to enjoy residing in and visiting the country
• Keeping our clients informed of our commitment to Responsible Tourism
• Providing our clients with excellent background information on all aspects of Corsica and for responsible tourism to continue to be a serious consideration in our pre-departure advice
• Promoting the respect and understanding for Corsica and its people
• Running our UK and resort office in the most energy efficient manner as possible

What you can do

By taking the time to read our information on Corsica before your visit and by considering the following guidelines when you are there, you can gain so much more from your holiday and make a positive contribution to the people and the economy. We suggest you also refer to the information in our our pre-departure information, which contains comprehensive information on the island.

Respect others

Familiarise yourself with the background of Corsica and its culture, customs and standards. Respect other guests and locals by keeping the noise levels to a minimum at night.

Endangered & rare species

Corsica is home to several endangered species including the green-bodied Corsican snail, the bearded vulture and the Mediterranean monk seal. Some of the land these species inhabit is now protected and species are monitored. Guided nature walks and information centres in the natural parks are there to educate visitors.

Poseidonian Oceanic is an underwater green plant that is endemic to the Mediterranean and often mistaken for seaweed. It does in fact form grassy meadows on the sand creating a home for numerous species of fish seeking shelter so please be aware of this when in the ocean.

Natural parks

Please respect the following rules when walking in one of Corsica's natural parks:

• Fires are not permitted
• Please dispose of litter carefully
• No trampling

Bush Fires

Fire is one of Corsica's biggest threats and the Corsican maquis burns in seconds. Thousands of fires are reported each year and many of those are caused by careless tourists so please abide by these guidelines:

• No camp fires, barbecues and other outdoor fires, island-wide are permitted during the summer until 30th September in forests and the maquis, as enforced by the local government. This applies to smoking too.

Dining out

Corsica has a great range of good quality restaurants. By eating in local restaurants you are ensuring your visit to Corsica benefits the wider community.

Souvenirs

Buying locally made goods ensures your money benefits the people of Corsica as well as making great souvenirs.

Dispose of litter carefully

Please discard of rubbish in the bins provided. Litter not only looks untidy but can attract vermin.

Conserve energy and water

Save energy and the environment - please turn off lights, air-conditioning and electrical items when not needed. Please help preserve supplies by:

• Only leaving dirty towels and laundry on the floor for washing
• Turn off dripping taps and report any leaks
• Use a basin of water with a plug rather than running the tap
• Use a shower instead of bathing in a full tub

AITO's Responsible Tourism Guide

As members of AITO we recognise that in carrying out our work as Tour Operators, we have a responsibility to respect other people's places and ways of life. We acknowledge that wherever a Tour Operator does business or sends clients it has the potential to do both good and harm. All tourism potentially has an environmental, social and economic impact on the destination involved. We accept, therefore, that we as Tour Operators should aim to be responsible in all our dealings on each of these three levels. To help us to do so AITO have proposed a set of guidelines intended to help companies, customers and local suppliers recognise their common responsibilities to:

• Protect the environment - its flora, fauna and landscapes
• Respect local cultures - traditions, religions and heritage
• Benefit local communities - both economically and socially
• Conserve natural resources - from office to destination
• Minimise pollution - through noise, waste disposal and congestion

AITO is an Association of individual, independent companies, each with their own distinctive style and field of operation. As such, we each have our own ways of fulfilling the details of these responsibilities by:

• Establishing our own policies and involving our staff
• Informing our clients about responsible tourism and, where appropriate, encouraging them to participate
• Working with our suppliers and partners to achieve responsible goals and practices
• Publicising good practice to encourage and spread responsible tourism

Your suggestions

Please let us know your thoughts and observations of any environmental, cultural or economic impacts of your holiday that you encountered that you think we should know about.

Contact Voyages Ilena with your suggestions »