As a Nova Scotia tour operator and experiential tourism coach, we have adopted the 2002 charter on Responsible Tourism as part of Earth Rhythms’ business approach. “Responsible Tourism minimizes negative economic, environmental and social impacts, generates greater economic benefits for local people, and enhances the well being of host communities.” - 2002 Cape Town Declaration on Responsible Tourism.
All of our programs are designed with safety from Covid-19 top of mind. Small groups, customized outings for families or experiences for groups who are in bubbles are ways in which we can make your visit safe and enjoyable. These Provincial guidelines for Covid safety when travelling can help you plan your trip.
The following are some examples of how we live, practice, and can offer suggestions regarding responsible tourism throughout our various experiences, events, and community development services:
We designed and now live in an energy efficient Passive House which is our headquarters for the Earth Rhythms office and Sue Davar Pottery. It has a Canadian EnerGuide rating of 90, which is an extremely high rating. This translates into little energy used, and even better, a very low monthly electricity bill.
All experiences that we create feature local food producers, chefs, and often involve organic products.
We try to manage our events and experiences in as close to zero waste as possible. This means leaving out packaging, single use plastics, and using washable items. Learn more about Zero Waste: https://zerowastecanada.ca and how to manage zero waste events.
We think that you will find this Guide to Responsible Travel helpful as a traveller. There are many companies around the world practicing responsible tourism.
Our supply relationships feature local businesses, storytellers, artists, and experience partners. We pay them well for their experiences. They represent the wisdom of our community, and we value that.
When creating community tourism events, workshops, or providing consultant expertise to tourism projects, we offer advice and techniques for reducing the waste stream, building in renewable energy, and using infrastructure as opportunities for community programming.
1% of our net sales is dedicated to supporting a variety of community projects, biodiversity protection, and ecological research. Throughout the year, we support Black Lives Matter projects, donate to the Nature Trust, assist homeless families, provide food to families in need, and support multiple community projects in and around the Annapolis Valley.
We have joined thousands of companies worldwide who incorporate triple bottom line accounting into our annual operations. We are currently