Travel connects people, cultures and destinations. It creates opportunities for local communities, supports businesses and helps people experience and better understand the world around them.
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Travelife has two recognition levels: Travelife Partner and Travelife Certified. Both levels are based on publicly available sustainability criteria, defined assessment procedures and independent assessment. The two levels reflect different stages in the implementation and assessment of sustainability. Developing and applying a comprehensive sustainability approach and related measures takes time. Companies also differ in size, experience, destinations and the complexity of their supply chains.
Travelife Partner recognises tourism companies that have established a structured approach to sustainability management and implemented important sustainability criteria within their organisation.
Travelife Certified is the highest certification level for tour operators and travel agents. It recognises companies that meet the full standard and pass an extensive independent on-site audit.
The Travelife logo does not mean that a company, destination or holiday is free of environmental or social effects. It shows that the company has implemented a recognised and independently assessed approach to identify and address sustainability issues, take concrete measures to reduce negative effects where possible, strengthen positive contributions, and continuously improve its sustainability performance.
Sustainability in tourism goes beyond protecting the environment. It is also about people, local communities, responsible business practices and creating positive experiences for travellers. The following sustainability themes form the basis of the Travelife assessment.
The examples show the types of topics addressed within Travelife. The specific criteria and measures that apply depend on the recognition level achieved:
Travelife Partner or Travelife Certified.
Travelife assesses tourism companies based on the publicly available Travelife criteria. The assessment examines whether companies have implemented a structured sustainability approach and have integrated sustainability into their organisation and daily business operations.
The assessment process is designed to be objective, transparent and consistent. It evaluates whether companies have the required policies, management systems, procedures and supporting evidence and whether the related measures and practices are applied in practice.
The assessment also evaluates whether companies have established a process to regularly review their approach and continue improving.
A company joins the Travelife programme and receives access to the online Travelife platform, practical tools, guidance materials and the applicable sustainability criteria. These resources support the company in implementing the requirements and preparing for the assessment.
The company completes a detailed self-assessment based on the Travelife criteria. For each criterion, the company explains which measures and practices have been implemented and provides information and evidence to support this.
This may include policies, procedures, action plans, monitoring information, supplier communication, training records and other relevant documentation.
The submitted information and supporting evidence are assessed by an independent assessor or auditor. During this assessment it is determined whether the sustainability policy, management systems, procedures and implemented measures meet the applicable Travelife criteria.
Where information is missing or further clarification is needed, additional information or improvement measures may be requested before a decision is made.
For Travelife Partner, this consists of an independent assessment of the sustainability management system, implemented measures and supporting evidence.
For Travelife Certified, an extensive independent on-site audit is also carried out. This assesses whether the full Travelife Certified Standard is applied within the organisation’s daily operations.
Companies that demonstrate compliance with the applicable Travelife criteria receive one of the following recognitions:
The recognition level depends on the applicable criteria and the scope of the independent assessment process.
Working on sustainability is an ongoing process. Companies with a Travelife recognition are expected to regularly review their approach, set objectives, monitor progress, implement planned actions and further improve their policies, measures and practices.
Companies must continue to meet the applicable Travelife criteria. Companies with a Travelife recognition are therefore reassessed every two years to verify that they continue to meet the criteria and work towards further improvement.
For topics where companies have direct control, such as the office environment, internal operations and staff policies, they must demonstrate compliance with the applicable Travelife criteria.
When working with suppliers and partners, where companies often have influence but not always full control, Travelife applies a step-by-step approach focused on cooperation, awareness raising and continuous improvement.
Consumers should be able to trust that information about sustainability is clear, reliable and verifiable. New European rules on sustainability communication, such as the Empowering Consumers Directive (EMPCO), therefore introduce stricter requirements for sustainability claims and the use of sustainability labels. Companies cannot simply make general or specific statements about sustainability without clear and verifiable evidence. Independent sustainability labels play an important role by helping consumers understand which companies have been assessed according to established sustainability criteria. To be reliable, sustainability labels must be based on transparent criteria, objective assessment procedures and verification by an independent third party. Travelife has been developed according to these principles. The programme provides an independently assessed framework through which tourism companies can demonstrate the steps they take to integrate sustainability into their business operations and cooperation with partners. The following sections explain how Travelife applies these principles.
Check whether a tour operator or travel agency currently holds a valid Travelife recognition. The public Travelife Register allows consumers, business partners and other stakeholders to verify a company's current recognition status, recognition level and, where applicable, the validity period of its certificate. It includes companies that have successfully completed the applicable Travelife assessment or certification process.
Up-to-date information: The Travelife register is regularly updated with new recognitions, renewals, suspensions and withdrawals. If you believe that information in the register is incorrect, or if you have questions about the use of the Travelife logo or communication about a Travelife recognition by a company, you can contact Travelife using the contact details provided on this website.
Air travel makes an important contribution to the climate impact of tourism. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport is therefore one of the major challenges for the travel sector.
A Travelife recognition does not mean that every individual trip offered by a company has no environmental impact. Travelife assesses whether travel companies have introduced systems and practices to understand, manage and, where possible, reduce sustainability effects within the areas where they have control or influence.
The decision to travel, including the choice of destination and means of transport, is ultimately made by Travelers. As long as there is demand for international travel, the role of responsible tour operators is to organise these activities as well as possible and use their influence to stimulate improvements throughout the tourism supply chain.
If individual companies completely stopped offering destinations that require air travel, this would not automatically result in less travel or lower emissions. It could also lead Travelers to choose providers with less developed sustainability practices. Travelife therefore focuses on supporting companies that take responsibility for their operations and use their influence to achieve improvements.
This includes, among other things, measuring and reducing emissions where possible, using resources more efficiently, supporting local communities, protecting biodiversity, working with suppliers, providing transparent information to Travelers and encouraging more conscious choices.
Companies with a Travelife recognition are also expected to contribute to the broader transition towards a more sustainable travel sector. This includes, among other things, improvements in aviation efficiency, the development of lower-emission technologies and the further development and availability of more sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
At the same time, Travelife recognises that aviation remains an important sustainability challenge and that reducing its climate impact requires ongoing efforts from governments, airlines, companies and Travelers.
No. Tour operators with a Travelife recognition work worldwide with many different accommodations and other tourism suppliers. Not all of these suppliers have a sustainability certification.
Where suitable certified accommodations are available, Travelife expects companies to give preference to suppliers with a recognised sustainability certification. However, certified suppliers are not yet available in all destinations and for all types of travel services.
Travelife therefore requires tour operators to apply a due diligence approach within their supply chain. This means that sustainability is considered in supplier selection, contractual agreements, communication, monitoring and cooperation.
Tour operators inform suppliers about sustainability expectations, assess relevant sustainability risks and encourage improvements where needed. They are also encouraged to promote the use of recognised sustainability standards and certification among their suppliers.
Through this approach, companies with a Travelife recognition use their influence to support better sustainability practices within their supply chain, while recognising that change within global tourism networks requires cooperation between tour operators, suppliers, destinations and travelers.
A significant proportion of the environmental and social effects of tourism occur within the tourism supply chain, for example at accommodation providers, transport companies, excursion providers and other businesses at destinations.
Tour operators can therefore play an important role by working together with their suppliers and encouraging and supporting improvements in sustainability. Addressing sustainability within the supply chain can make a much broader contribution than measures taken only within a company’s own offices and operations.
Travelife requires tour operators to apply a due diligence approach throughout their supply chain. This means systematically identifying relevant sustainability risks and opportunities for improvement, communicating expectations to suppliers, promoting cooperation and encouraging the use of recognised sustainability practices and certification.
The degree of influence a tour operator has may vary depending on the supplier and destination. A company that works regularly with a supplier or brings many travellers to a particular destination will generally have greater opportunities to encourage improvements than a company that uses a supplier only occasionally.
Travelife therefore expects every company with a Travelife recognition to develop an approach to supplier cooperation that reflects its business model, destinations and supply chain. This includes identifying key suppliers and sustainability risks, setting priorities, raising awareness, strengthening knowledge and skills, and gradually increasing sustainability expectations in cooperation with suppliers.
In this way, tour operators can use their position to support positive change at destinations. At the same time, Travelife recognises that the further development of more sustainable international tourism supply chains requires ongoing cooperation between tour operators, suppliers, local communities, destinations and travellers.
Together, companies with a Travelife recognition represent many millions of travellers each year. By working with common sustainability criteria, they can increase their influence and encourage improvements throughout the tourism supply chain.
Many accommodation providers, transport companies, excursion providers and other local businesses work with multiple tour operators. When different Travelife companies communicate similar sustainability expectations, suppliers receive a clearer and stronger signal about the importance of good sustainability practices and continuous improvement.
Travelife supports this collective approach by providing common tools, guidance and supplier checklists. This creates greater consistency in expectations and reduces duplication of effort, as suppliers can submit sustainability information through the online Travelife platform in a more efficient and standardised way, rather than having to respond to different requests from each individual tour operator.
Travelife companies can also work together within destinations, for example by organising joint supplier training, awareness-raising activities and capacity-building initiatives. This cooperation can help local businesses better understand sustainability requirements and take practical steps towards improvement.
The combined influence of multiple tour operators is often greater than the influence of individual companies acting alone. By aligning their efforts, Travelife companies can encourage the adoption of more sustainable practices within destinations and support the gradual improvement of sustainability practices throughout the tourism sector.
A Travelife recognition does not mean that a trip has no environmental or social impact. Every form of tourism has effects, for example through transport, energy and water use, waste generation, the use of natural resources, and interaction with local communities and the environment.
Working towards more sustainable tourism therefore does not mean that these effects do not exist. It means that tourism companies take responsibility, understand their sustainability effects, implement concrete measures, and continuously work towards further development and improvement.
A Travelife recognition confirms that a company has been independently assessed against the Travelife criteria. These criteria cover both management systems and practical measures relating to the environment, human rights, working conditions, cooperation with suppliers, the protection of nature and culture, animal welfare, and information provided to travellers.
This means that companies with a Travelife recognition are expected to:
For activities over which they have direct control, companies must demonstrate compliance with the applicable Travelife criteria. For suppliers and activities at destinations, where companies often have influence but not full operational control, Travelife requires a due diligence approach based on risk assessment, clear expectations, cooperation with suppliers and encouraging continuous improvement.
A Travelife recognition therefore demonstrates that a tourism company is taking verifiable steps to reduce negative effects where possible, strengthen positive contributions, and further integrate sustainability into its own operations and cooperation with partners.
Sustainability is not a fixed end point. Environmental challenges, societal expectations, technologies and recognised good practices continue to evolve.
Travelife therefore expects companies to regularly review their sustainability approach and performance, monitor progress, set objectives and further strengthen their policies and practices.
Companies with a Travelife recognition are periodically reassessed to verify that they continue to meet the applicable Travelife criteria. This also includes reviewing the implementation of sustainability action plans and progress against objectives and planned improvements.
Continuous improvement is particularly important in cooperation with suppliers and destinations. Tourism supply chains are complex, and meaningful change often requires collaboration, awareness and long-term commitment.
Travelife therefore expects companies to progressively strengthen their cooperation with suppliers by engaging more suppliers, improving communication, further developing sustainability expectations and encouraging the adoption of recognised sustainability practices and certification.
This step-by-step approach helps companies identify and implement improvements within their own operations and sphere of influence. At the same time, Travelife recognises that working towards sustainability is an ongoing process that requires commitment and cooperation from many different parties across the tourism sector.
The Travelife website includes a public register where companies with a valid Travelife recognition can be verified.
Consumers, business partners and other stakeholders can consult the register to check a company’s current status, recognition level and, where applicable, the validity period of its certificate.
The register provides transparency by showing whether a company has successfully completed the applicable assessment process and whether its Travelife recognition is valid at that time.
Only companies listed in the Travelife register with a valid status may communicate their Travelife recognition and use the corresponding Travelife logo.
Not necessarily. Integrating sustainability into the operations of tourism companies does not automatically make holidays more expensive.
Many sustainability measures, such as reducing energy and water consumption, preventing waste and improving efficiency, can also help reduce operating costs. Sustainability can also be part of good business management by improving processes, managing risks more effectively and encouraging innovation.
Other measures, such as investing in employee training, improving working conditions, cooperating with local communities or supporting suppliers in improving their sustainability performance, may require additional investment. At the same time, these measures can contribute to the quality of the travel experience, stronger partnerships and a more future-oriented business.
Many tourism companies have integrated sustainability into their business strategy. They see responsible business practices as a way to further develop their organisation, engage employees and strengthen relationships with customers, suppliers and destinations.
The price of a holiday depends on many factors, including the destination, transport, type of accommodation, season and level of service. Sustainability is only one of these factors.
More responsible tourism should therefore not be seen as a luxury product, but as an approach in which tourism activities are organised in a way that takes into account their effects on destinations, businesses, local communities and travellers.
Yes. When tourism is carefully developed and responsibly managed, it can make a positive contribution to destinations, nature and local communities.
Tourism can create employment, support local businesses, provide markets for locally produced goods and services, contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage and create economic incentives for the protection of natural areas and wildlife.
Many destinations and communities depend to a significant extent on tourism as a source of income. Tourism companies operating responsibly can play an important role by working with local suppliers, respecting local cultures, supporting fair working conditions, encouraging local engagement and paying attention to the natural and cultural values on which tourism depends.
At the same time, tourism can also place pressure on communities and the environment if it is not carefully managed. Travelife therefore requires companies to identify relevant sustainability risks and opportunities for improvement and to take measures to prevent or reduce negative effects where possible.
Through responsible business practices and cooperation with local partners, companies with a Travelife recognition aim to support tourism that takes into account the interests of travellers, destinations, local communities and the natural environment.
Travelife takes the view that sustainability in tourism is best promoted by improving the way tourism activities are organised and managed, rather than relying solely on general lists of permitted or prohibited destinations.
The sustainability effects of tourism depend on many factors, including how tourism companies operate, how local communities are involved, how natural and cultural values are protected, how visitors behave, and how environmental and social considerations are integrated into the organisation of travel.
Travelife therefore applies a risk-based approach. Companies are expected to identify relevant environmental, social and ethical risks related to their activities and supply chain, apply due diligence and take appropriate measures to prevent, reduce or address negative effects.
In some cases, this may mean adapting working practices, introducing additional requirements, working with suppliers to achieve improvements or deciding not to offer certain activities where risks cannot be adequately managed.
By working together with destinations and suppliers, companies with a Travelife recognition can use their influence to encourage more responsible practices throughout the tourism supply chain.
The aim is to reduce negative effects where possible and to support companies in progressively improving sustainability practices within their own operations and sphere of influence.
Respect for human rights is an essential part of sustainable tourism.
The Travelife criteria cover a wide range of topics related to human rights, including fair working conditions, safe and healthy workplaces, equal opportunities, non-discrimination, accessibility, child protection, responsible employment practices, impacts on local communities, and respect for local cultures and Indigenous Peoples.
Travelife requires companies to respect human rights within their own operations and to apply a due diligence approach throughout their supply chain. This means that companies identify potential risks, develop policies and procedures, communicate expectations to suppliers, and take appropriate measures to prevent, reduce or address negative effects.
Practical measures may include employee training, supplier assessments, contractual agreements, cooperation with local partners, awareness-raising activities and specific measures to protect vulnerable groups.
Tourism involves many different organisations and destinations around the world, and tourism companies do not always have direct control over every situation within their supply chain. Companies with a Travelife recognition are therefore expected to use their influence responsibly, monitor relevant risks and take action when potential human rights issues are identified.
By integrating respect for human rights into their daily operations and cooperation with suppliers, tourism companies can contribute to stronger protection of human rights and more responsible practices throughout the tourism sector.
An important part of responsible tourism is taking into account the people who live and work in the destinations where tourism takes place.
Travelife expects companies to consider the interests, rights and wellbeing of local communities connected to their activities. This includes respecting local cultures, traditions and cultural heritage, supporting fair economic opportunities, and preventing or reducing potential negative effects of tourism where possible.
Companies with a Travelife recognition are encouraged to work with local businesses, purchase locally produced goods and services where possible, support local employment and develop tourism experiences that respect the culture, nature and communities of the destinations they visit.
Companies are also expected to take into account the views and needs of local stakeholders where relevant, particularly when developing tourism activities that may affect communities, cultural sites or environmentally or culturally sensitive areas.
By working together and building long-term relationships with local partners, tourism companies can help ensure that tourism activities are better aligned with the interests of local communities, destinations and visitors.
Wildlife experiences can help travellers better understand and appreciate nature. When they are carefully designed and responsibly managed, they can also contribute to awareness and support for nature conservation.
Travelife expects companies that offer or promote wildlife activities to take animal welfare, nature conservation and the protection of natural habitats into account.
Activities should respect the welfare of animals and aim to prevent harm, unnecessary stress and disruption of natural behaviour.
Companies are expected to apply a due diligence approach when selecting and working with providers of wildlife activities. This includes assessing potential risks, applying recognised animal welfare principles, communicating expectations to suppliers and taking appropriate measures when concerns are identified.
Where possible, responsible wildlife tourism gives priority to observing and appreciating animals in their natural habitats and encourages activities that take biodiversity, nature conservation and the interests of local communities into account.
Where activities involve animals in captivity or under human care, Travelife expects companies to work only with providers that ensure appropriate animal care and living conditions and operate in accordance with applicable legislation and recognised animal welfare principles.
Through these criteria, Travelife promotes tourism experiences in which respect for wildlife, animal welfare and the responsible stewardship of the natural environment are central.
Working towards sustainability involves more than implementing individual measures. It requires organisations to integrate sustainability into the way they organise their daily activities and make business decisions.
A sustainability management system helps companies identify relevant environmental, social and economic aspects and risks, set objectives, assign responsibilities, implement actions, monitor progress and evaluate the results of those actions.
For this reason, the Travelife programme places strong emphasis on management systems as the foundation for a structured approach and continuous improvement. Companies are encouraged to go beyond individual initiatives by integrating sustainability into their policies, procedures, employee responsibilities, cooperation with suppliers and decision-making processes.
A well-functioning management system helps companies keep pace with new developments, address risks and opportunities for improvement, and progressively strengthen their sustainability approach.
Yes. Every tourism company influences people and organisations through the choices it makes, including its employees, suppliers, destinations and travellers.
An individual company can make a difference by improving its own operations, working together with partners and encouraging more responsible practices. Its influence can become even greater when multiple companies work according to similar sustainability expectations.
Together, companies with a Travelife recognition reach millions of travellers each year and work with thousands of suppliers worldwide. By applying the same sustainability criteria, they can send a clearer message to accommodation providers, transport companies, excursion providers and other tourism businesses about the importance of sustainability and continuous improvement.
Companies with a Travelife recognition can play a leading role by developing practical approaches and demonstrating how sustainability can be integrated into day-to-day business operations.
In many destinations, suppliers are paying increasing attention to sustainability, partly because it is more frequently expected by business partners and customers. By communicating clear expectations and working together on improvements, Travelife companies can support the wider adoption of more responsible tourism practices.
Through this collective approach, individual actions can contribute to the gradual development of more sustainable practices across the tourism sector.
All forms of tourism have environmental, social and economic effects. Travel involves transport, accommodation, food, water, energy and natural resources, and influences destinations and local communities. These effects can be both positive and negative, depending on how tourism is developed and managed.
For this reason, Travelife does not claim that tourism, a company or an individual trip is without effects. Sustainability is not a fixed state in which all challenges have been resolved, but an ongoing process of taking responsibility, implementing concrete measures, reducing negative effects where possible, and maintaining and strengthening positive contributions.
A Travelife recognition means that a tourism company has been independently assessed against the Travelife criteria. These criteria require not only policies and management systems, but also concrete actions within the company’s operations and cooperation with suppliers. This includes, among other things, measures to reduce environmental impacts, support fair working conditions and human rights, strengthen local engagement, protect animal welfare and provide better information to travellers.
In addition, Travelife encourages companies to use their influence within the tourism supply chain by working together with accommodation providers, transport companies, excursion providers and other partners to achieve further improvements.
Responsible tourism is therefore not about claiming that a trip is completely “green” or without effects. It is about taking demonstrable steps to reduce negative effects, strengthen positive contributions and continuously work towards further improvement.
Tourism is a complex global sector involving many different organisations, countries and communities. The development of more sustainable tourism therefore cannot be achieved by a single organisation or sector alone.
Tourism depends on many other sectors, including transport, energy production, agriculture, food systems, construction and technology. Further progress therefore also depends on innovation and improvements across the wider economy, such as the transition to cleaner energy, lower-impact transport solutions, and more responsible production and consumption.
The sustainability of tourism is also strongly influenced by the policies of destinations and the extent to which these policies are implemented and enforced. Good spatial planning, the protection of natural and cultural values, social protection, fair working conditions, appropriate infrastructure and policies that support responsibly operating businesses all play an important role.
Tourism companies have an important responsibility to take concrete measures within their own operations, cooperate with suppliers, engage local partners and provide travellers with clear information. Travellers also play an important role through the choices they make, such as where and how they travel and which companies they choose to support.
The transition towards more sustainable tourism cannot happen overnight. It requires ongoing cooperation between businesses, governments, destinations, local communities, travellers and many other sectors.
Travelife supports this development by helping tourism companies structurally integrate sustainability into their organisations while implementing concrete improvements. This includes reducing environmental impacts, strengthening social responsibility, cooperating with suppliers, applying recognised sustainability practices, and continuously improving within their own operations and sphere of influence.