YMT Sustainability Plan

At YMT Vacations, we are driven by travel’s potential for good. We believe in making a positive impact on the places we see and the people we interact with, through inspiring travel experiences.

We are conscious of the climate crisis, and we acknowledge that some aspects of tourism can be carbon intensive. Together with our valued suppliers and partners, we are committed to playing our part in reducing our footprint in line with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) global goals. We are also working on our decarbonizing strategy, and we aim to cut down emissions and add more value to our tours by empowering local communities.

Meaningful partnerships

YMT Vacations is a proud member of Tourism Cares, a non-profit organization dedicated to making a positive difference through travel and tourism.

Taking climate action by supporting healthy oceans

As part of our commitment to climate and nature action, we’ve joined our sister companies across the Travelopia Group* to partner with Blue Marine Foundation. 

Our objective is to help conserve the stunning coastlines and marine life that enrich your vacations and restore ocean ecosystems that are vital in tackling climate change.

Together with our sister travel companies, we intend to donate at least $1 million over the next 3 years, with an aim to support the conservation and restoration of 7,000 hectares of vital marine ecosystems through seven global projects.

From the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, Kenya to Indonesia, these protected “blue carbon ecosystems” have the potential to remove and store thousands of tonnes of carbon every year. They will also help protect a rich diversity of coastal and underwater wildlife, including endangered species. 

Our support will also enable the training and employment of local communities in marine conservation, helping ensure these beautiful places are preserved for generations.

Through a combination of conservation, ecosystem restoration, research and community engagement, each project seeks to address the climate and biodiversity crisis in different ways, empowering and engaging local communities. Here’s a quick overview of the impact our projects have had so far:

Greece – A blue carbon approach to saving Greek seas: we’ve identified 167 marine species off Corfu, and 15 of them are protected. Plus, we’ve mapped five distinct marine habitats and over 621,000 square meters of seagrass meadows.
Formentera – Safeguarding the future of ancient seagrass meadows: a seagrass restoration plan has been developed and a pioneering trial is currently underway to plant 300 seagrass seedlings on rocky surfaces.
Kenya – Restoring Mida-Creek’s mangrove forests: we’ve planted about 12,000 mangroves in Mida Creek.
The Caribbean – Restoring blue carbon habitats and protecting unique marine ecosystems: work on mangrove channel restoration is in progress, and we’re also propagating a ‘native plant nursery’ of mangrove species and they’ll be ready for planting later in 2024.
Indonesia – Community-led restoration of Indonesia’s extraordinary blue forests: about 27 hectares have been earmarked for habitat restoration, and 45 community leaders have been trained in mangrove restoration.
Philippines – Restoring abandoned aquaculture ponds to productive mangrove forests: 8,000 mangrove saplings have been planted this spring.
The Maldives – Restoring mangroves and seagrass for climate mitigation and resilience: research on critical mangrove loss is underway, and we will be assisting development of national restoration projects.

Sustainability Tips for Travelers

As a responsible traveler, here are a few simple tips that you could follow to help preserve the amazing destinations you visit, either with us or independently.

Remember you are a guest in the destination, so be mindful of the environment and the local culture. Small steps such as reducing single-use plastics and carrying your own water bottle, go a long way towards creating a better future for our planet.

Reduce

Minimize single-use items, disposable wipes, paper, and plastic waste when you can. 

Respect

Sustainable travel is about treating the planet and its residents with respect. Whether you want to support a local business or donate to a cause close to your heart, here are a few tips.