Responsible Tourism, Environmental and Community Policy

1.1 This Policy establishes VMT's approach to responsible tourism, environmental protection, local economic participation, cultural heritage and community benefit.

1.2 VMT provides travel services exclusively in Morocco and recognises its responsibilities toward the destinations, communities, workers, suppliers, travellers and natural environments involved in those services.

1.3 This Policy applies to VMT's operations and, where contractually applicable, to suppliers and third parties providing services for VMT.

1.4 VMT will apply these principles proportionately to its size, activities, available resources and the environmental and social risks associated with particular services.

1.5 This Policy does not create a guarantee that a travel service has no environmental or social impact.

2.1 VMT seeks to reduce avoidable environmental impacts associated with its operations and tourism services.

2.2 VMT expects suppliers to comply with applicable environmental laws.

2.3 Depending on the service, VMT and its suppliers should consider:

a. water consumption;

b. energy use;

c. waste;

d. plastic consumption;

e. transport emissions;

f. damage to natural environments;

g. wildlife disturbance;

h. cultural heritage protection.

2.4 VMT will prioritise practical measures which are proportionate to the scale and nature of its operations.

3.1 Water is a significant resource in Morocco, including in areas affected by water scarcity.

3.2 VMT encourages responsible water use by suppliers and travellers.

3.3 Accommodation suppliers should, where reasonably practicable:

a. address water leaks promptly;

b. avoid unnecessary water consumption;

c. maintain plumbing and water systems appropriately;

d. use reasonable water-saving measures where suitable.

3.4 Travellers are encouraged to avoid unnecessary water consumption.

3.5 VMT does not guarantee that every supplier uses a particular water-saving technology.

3.6 Water-saving claims must not be made without reasonable supporting evidence.

4.1 VMT encourages suppliers to reduce unnecessary waste.

4.2 Appropriate measures might include:

a. waste separation where facilities exist;

b. responsible disposal;

c. reuse of suitable materials;

d. reduction of unnecessary packaging;

e. avoidance of unnecessary single-use items.

4.3 Suppliers must comply with applicable waste-management requirements.

4.4 VMT encourages travellers to dispose of waste responsibly.

4.5 Travellers must not deliberately leave waste in natural, archaeological or culturally significant locations.

5.1 VMT supports reasonable reduction of unnecessary single-use plastics.

5.2 Depending on circumstances, VMT and suppliers might encourage:

a. reusable water bottles;

b. refill systems;

c. reduced disposable packaging;

d. reusable service items.

5.3 Plastic reduction measures must not compromise hygiene, food safety or traveller safety.

5.4 VMT will not describe a service as “plastic-free” unless the claim has an adequate factual basis.

6.1 VMT recognises that road transportation forms an important part of many Moroccan travel services.

6.2 Where operationally suitable, VMT encourages:

a. efficient route planning;

b. appropriate vehicle selection;

c. avoiding unnecessary journeys;

d. appropriate vehicle maintenance;

e. reasonable group transport arrangements.

6.3 Safety, legal requirements and traveller needs take priority over environmental considerations.

6.4 VMT does not guarantee a particular carbon-emissions level for individual journeys unless expressly stated in the relevant service description.

7.1 VMT supports legitimate local employment in Morocco.

7.2 Where commercially and operationally appropriate, VMT seeks to work with local:

a. guides;

b. drivers;

c. accommodation providers;

d. activity operators;

e. restaurants;

f. artisans;

g. other tourism businesses.

7.3 Local employment must comply with applicable law.

7.4 VMT does not require suppliers to employ a person solely because the person is local.

7.5 Competence, safety, legality and service quality remain important considerations.

8.1 VMT supports responsible participation by Moroccan businesses in the tourism supply chain.

8.2 Supplier selection might consider:

a. service quality;

b. legal compliance;

c. safety;

d. ethical standards;

e. local economic participation;

f. environmental practices;

g. customer experience.

8.3 Local status does not exempt a supplier from VMT's legal, safety or ethical standards.

9.1 VMT expects fair dealing with local suppliers.

9.2 VMT will seek to maintain clear commercial arrangements concerning:

a. prices;

b. commissions;

c. booking terms;

d. payment terms;

e. cancellation arrangements;

f. service specifications.

9.3 VMT prohibits bribery and improper commercial influence in accordance with its Ethical Business, Anti-Bribery and Modern Slavery Policy.

9.4 Suppliers must not offer undisclosed personal benefits to VMT personnel to obtain preferential treatment.

10.1 VMT recognises Morocco's cultural and historical heritage as an important part of its tourism offering.

10.2 VMT encourages travellers and suppliers to respect:

a. historical sites;

b. archaeological locations;

c. religious sites;

d. traditional communities;

e. monuments;

f. museums;

g. cultural practices;

h. protected heritage.

10.3 Travellers must follow reasonable site rules and instructions.

10.4 Travellers must not deliberately damage, remove or deface cultural property.

10.5 Suppliers must not knowingly encourage unlawful removal, sale or damage of cultural artefacts.

11.1 VMT expects suppliers and travellers to follow applicable site regulations.

11.2 Activities must not intentionally involve:

a. vandalism;

b. unauthorised removal of objects;

c. damage to structures;

d. unauthorised excavation;

e. deliberate destruction of heritage.

11.3 Where a site imposes visitor restrictions, those restrictions take priority over traveller preferences.

12.1 VMT seeks to encourage respectful interaction between travellers and local communities.

12.2 Tourism activities should avoid unnecessary disruption to residents.

12.3 Travellers should respect:

a. local customs;

b. privacy;

c. religious practices;

d. property;

e. community spaces;

f. local rules.

13.1 VMT supports tourism that creates legitimate economic opportunities for local communities.

13.2 Community benefit might arise through:

a. local employment;

b. locally owned accommodation;

c. local guides;

d. local transport providers;

e. local restaurants;

f. locally produced goods;

g. community-based experiences.

13.3 VMT does not guarantee that every service directly benefits a particular community.

13.4 VMT will avoid making specific community-benefit claims unless the underlying facts support those claims.

14.1 Responsible tourism means conducting tourism activities with reasonable consideration for:

a. travellers;

b. workers;

c. local communities;

d. cultural heritage;

e. animals;

f. natural environments.

14.2 VMT seeks to balance traveller experience with responsible operation.

14.3 Responsible tourism does not mean that every service has zero environmental or social impact.

15.1 VMT opposes unlawful wildlife exploitation.

15.2 VMT expects suppliers to comply with applicable wildlife-protection laws.

15.3 VMT discourages activities involving:

a. deliberate wildlife harassment;

b. unnecessary injury;

c. illegal capture;

d. unlawful trade;

e. deliberate disturbance of protected species.

15.4 Travellers must not intentionally harm or harass wildlife during VMT services.

15.5 Wildlife encounters remain subject to natural conditions and cannot be guaranteed.

16.1 VMT recognises that animals form part of some traditional and tourism activities in Morocco.

16.2 VMT expects suppliers involved in animal-related services to comply with applicable requirements.

16.3 Suppliers should take reasonable steps concerning:

a. appropriate food and water;

b. reasonable rest;

c. appropriate handling;

d. avoidance of unnecessary cruelty;

e. suitable working conditions.

16.4 VMT might suspend or remove an animal-based activity where credible information indicates serious welfare concerns.

16.5 VMT will not represent an animal-related experience as “animal welfare certified” unless an appropriate certification exists and supports the claim.

17.1 VMT recognises the ecological sensitivity of desert environments.

17.2 VMT encourages responsible behaviour in areas including the Sahara and other desert landscapes.

17.3 Travellers should:

a. take waste with them where disposal facilities are unavailable;

b. avoid damaging vegetation;

c. avoid disturbing wildlife;

d. respect local communities;

e. follow guide instructions;

f. avoid unnecessary damage to dunes and natural features.

17.4 4x4 and other vehicle activities should follow appropriate routes and applicable local restrictions.

17.5 Suppliers should avoid unnecessary driving outside appropriate routes where this creates avoidable environmental damage.

17.6 Safety remains the priority when route selection involves emergency or hazardous conditions.

18.1 Desert accommodation providers should manage waste responsibly.

18.2 Where reasonably practicable, camps should avoid unnecessary environmental damage.

18.3 Suppliers should maintain reasonable arrangements for:

a. waste;

b. sanitation;

c. water;

d. energy;

e. fire safety.

18.4 VMT does not guarantee that a desert camp operates with zero environmental impact.

19.1 Suppliers must comply with applicable fire and safety requirements.

19.2 Open fires must be managed responsibly.

19.3 Travellers must follow reasonable instructions concerning fires and camp facilities.

19.4 Travellers must not create unauthorised fires in sensitive environments.

20.1 VMT expects travellers to behave responsibly.

20.2 Travellers should:

a. respect local people;

b. respect cultural and religious sites;

c. follow environmental instructions;

d. dispose of waste responsibly;

e. avoid damaging property;

f. respect wildlife;

g. follow supplier and guide instructions;

h. comply with applicable laws.

20.3 Travellers remain responsible for damage they intentionally or negligently cause to:

a. accommodation;

b. vehicles;

c. equipment;

d. activities;

e. cultural sites;

f. other property.

20.4 VMT is not responsible for a traveller's personal acts of vandalism, deliberate damage, unlawful conduct or negligent misuse of property.

20.5 Where VMT or a supplier incurs a legitimate charge because of traveller-caused damage, VMT might seek recovery from the responsible traveller where legally and contractually permitted.

20.6 Nothing in this section permits VMT to recover an amount exceeding a lawful and properly evidenced loss or charge.

21.1 Suppliers should comply with applicable environmental law.

21.2 Suppliers should take reasonable measures appropriate to their operations.

21.3 Depending on the service, VMT might request information concerning:

a. waste management;

b. water management;

c. energy use;

d. environmental permits;

e. wildlife practices;

f. animal welfare;

g. local community participation.

21.4 Supplier requirements are applied proportionately to the nature and scale of the service.

22.1 VMT might assess environmental and social risks when selecting suppliers.

22.2 Higher-risk services might receive additional scrutiny.

22.3 Factors might include:

a. environmental sensitivity;

b. animal involvement;

c. community impact;

d. activity risk;

e. supplier history;

f. legal compliance;

g. customer complaints.

23.1 VMT might take action where a supplier seriously breaches this Policy.

23.2 Depending on the circumstances, VMT might:

a. request corrective action;

b. require additional information;

c. suspend a service;

d. suspend bookings;

e. remove a supplier from approved status;

f. terminate a supplier relationship where contractually and legally permitted.

23.3 Serious environmental or ethical misconduct might result in immediate review.

24.1 VMT will seek to ensure environmental claims are accurate, clear and capable of reasonable substantiation.

24.2 VMT will not knowingly make false or misleading environmental claims.

24.3 Claims such as:

a. “eco-friendly”;

b. “green”;

c. “sustainable”;

d. “zero impact”;

e. “carbon neutral”;

f. “environmentally friendly”;

g. “plastic-free”;

h. “responsible tourism”

should only be used where VMT has an adequate factual basis appropriate to the wording and context.

24.4 Broad environmental claims require particular care because consumers might interpret them as applying to the entire travel experience rather than one limited feature.

24.5 Where an environmental claim concerns a specific measure, VMT should identify the relevant measure clearly.

24.6 VMT will avoid presenting a minor environmental feature as proof that an entire tour has no environmental impact.

25.1 VMT will not describe a tour as “carbon neutral” solely because a supplier makes an unsupported statement.

25.2 Where VMT makes a carbon-related claim, VMT should retain appropriate evidence supporting the calculation or basis of the claim.

25.3 Carbon-offset claims must not imply that emissions have been eliminated where the underlying activity only compensates for emissions.

25.4 Where appropriate, VMT will distinguish between:

a. emissions reduction;

b. emissions measurement;

c. carbon offsetting;

d. other environmental initiatives.

26.1 VMT will identify environmental certifications accurately.

26.2 VMT will not imply that VMT, a supplier or a service holds a certification where no valid certification exists.

26.3 Certification claims should identify the relevant certification or standard where necessary to avoid misleading consumers.

27.1 VMT should maintain reasonable evidence supporting material environmental claims.

27.2 Evidence might include:

a. supplier records;

b. certification;

c. independent verification;

d. operational data;

e. photographs;

f. contractual documentation;

g. other reliable evidence.

27.3 Marketing wording should match the evidence available.

27.4 Where evidence supports a limited claim, VMT should make a limited claim rather than a broader one.

28.1 Environmental claims made by VMT must comply with applicable consumer-protection and advertising requirements.

28.2 VMT will consider relevant UK requirements where its marketing is directed at UK consumers.

28.3 Where marketing is directed toward consumers in another jurisdiction, VMT will consider applicable local requirements.

28.4 VMT will avoid:

a. vague environmental claims;

b. unsupported superiority claims;

c. misleading imagery;

d. exaggerated environmental benefits;

e. omission of material qualifications.

28.5 A supplier's environmental claim does not automatically provide sufficient evidence for VMT's consumer-facing claim.

29.1 VMT recognises the risk of environmental claims misleading consumers.

29.2 VMT will seek to ensure environmental messaging provides a fair representation of the relevant service.

29.3 Where a claim requires qualification, VMT should provide the qualification clearly enough for the consumer to understand the claim.

30.1 Environmental or community imagery used by VMT should reasonably represent the experience being marketed.

30.2 VMT should avoid using imagery which creates a materially misleading impression of the environmental characteristics of a service.

30.3 Stock imagery should not be presented as evidence of a specific environmental practice unless the claim is independently supported.

31.1 Tourism involves environmental and social impacts.

31.2 VMT does not guarantee that any tour, transfer, accommodation, activity or other service has zero environmental impact.

31.3 Responsible-tourism measures reduce or manage certain impacts. They do not eliminate all impacts.

32.1 Travellers must follow applicable access restrictions.

32.2 Suppliers should respect protected areas and other legally restricted locations.

32.3 VMT might modify an itinerary where access restrictions, environmental conditions or safety concerns require a change.

33.1 VMT encourages suppliers to source products and services responsibly.

33.2 Relevant considerations might include:

a. legality;

b. worker treatment;

c. environmental impact;

d. local economic participation;

e. product origin.

33.3 VMT does not guarantee that every item supplied during a tour has a particular country of origin or environmental certification.

34.1 VMT recognises the risk of tourism presenting communities or cultural practices inaccurately.

34.2 VMT expects suppliers to avoid deliberately misleading cultural representations.

34.3 Cultural experiences should be presented respectfully and accurately based on available information.

35.1 Environmental and community responsibility forms part of VMT's wider ethical-business framework.

35.2 VMT prohibits bribery and corruption in accordance with its Ethical Business, Anti-Bribery and Modern Slavery Policy.

35.3 Suppliers are expected to comply with VMT's Supplier Code of Conduct where incorporated into their contractual relationship.

36.1 Responsible tourism includes respect for workers.

36.2 VMT expects suppliers to prevent:

a. forced labour;

b. human trafficking;

c. unlawful child labour;

d. serious worker exploitation.

36.3 Detailed requirements appear in VMT's Ethical Business, Anti-Bribery and Modern Slavery Policy and Supplier Code of Conduct.

37.1 Suppliers should notify VMT of serious environmental incidents connected with VMT services.

37.2 Examples include:

a. serious pollution;

b. significant damage to a protected area;

c. serious wildlife incidents;

d. major waste incidents;

e. serious community conflict.

37.3 VMT will assess the incident and determine appropriate action.

38.1 VMT will seek practical improvements to its responsible-tourism practices.

38.2 Improvements might involve:

a. supplier selection;

b. itinerary design;

c. traveller information;

d. waste reduction;

e. local sourcing;

f. community participation;

g. environmental communication.

38.3 VMT does not promise that every environmental or social objective will be achieved immediately.

39.1 VMT might provide travellers with practical responsible-tourism guidance.

39.2 Guidance might cover:

a. water;

b. waste;

c. dress and cultural respect;

d. wildlife;

e. photography;

f. heritage sites;

g. local communities;

h. desert environments.

39.3 Traveller guidance does not replace applicable law or instructions from competent authorities.

40.1 This Policy describes VMT's standards and objectives.

40.2 It does not create a guarantee of a particular environmental outcome unless VMT expressly states otherwise in a contractual document.

40.3 Nothing in this Policy limits mandatory consumer rights or other statutory rights.

40.4 Nothing in this Policy permits VMT or a supplier to disregard applicable law.

41.1 This Policy is governed by the law applicable to VMT's relevant activities, subject to mandatory legal requirements applicable in Morocco, the United Kingdom or another relevant jurisdiction.

41.2 Consumer-facing environmental claims will be subject to applicable consumer-protection and advertising requirements in the relevant market.

42.1 VMT will review this Policy periodically.

42.2 VMT might update the Policy following:

a. changes in law;

b. regulatory guidance;

c. supplier assessments;

d. environmental incidents;

e. customer feedback;

f. operational changes.

VISIT MOROCCO TOURS LTD

82a James Carter Road

Mildenhall

Bury St. Edmunds

England

IP28 7DE

Email: hello@visitmorocco.tours

WhatsApp: +212 660 813 231

44.1 This Policy takes effect on 12 August 2026.

44.2 VMT will seek to keep environmental and responsible-tourism claims consistent with the evidence available at the time of publication.