The Long Run 2023 Impact Report by TheLongRun.com

ImpactReport2023 IN IT FOR THE

LONG RUN

6 15 Years of The Long Run

About this Report

TheLongRunbelievesthattravel,whendonewell,canbeaforceforgood.Wehope thisImpactReportdemonstratesthat—bothwhatisbeingdonealready,andthe potentialforevengreaterpositiveimpact.Theaccomplishmentsofmembers showcasedspanfrom2021-2023.

Thestatisticsandgraphicsinthisreportarebasedondatacollectedthroughtwo surveys,oneforpropertymembersandoneforTravelPartners.Thesurveysconsist of38and32questions,coveringanorganisations’impactsinConservation, Community,Culture,andCommercein2023.77%ofTheLongRunmembers submitteddata.

8 Our Global Community 14 The 4C Framework 17 Member Services 24 Spotlight on Conservation 30 Spotlight on Community 36 Spotlight on Culture 42 Spotlight on Commerce 48 Looking Forward

TableofContents

Photo: EcoCamp Patagonia, Chile (FellowMember) Cover Photo: Caiman Pantanel, Brazil(GER®)

“TheLongRunisnotforthosewhowanttogreenwash theircredentials.Itisnotforthosewhothinkthatthis isaone-offexercise.FrombeingaLongRunMember tobeingwithinreachofGlobalEcosphereRetreat®to goingbeyondtheGlobalEcosphereRetreat®standard –thisprocessisajourneyofcontinuousimprovement onthepathofexcellenceinsustainabilityanditisa process…thatCottar’s1920sCamphasfound incrediblyconstructiveandbeneficialinourjourney andourapproachtowardlong-termsustainability.”

LouiseCottar,Co-Owner,Cottar’s1920sCamp,Kenya

Celebrating15YearsofTheLongRun

“Sinceitsinceptionin2009,TheLongRunhascontinuallyexpandedandenhancedits servicestomeettheevolvingneedsofourmembers,creatinganecosystemwhereour collectiveaspirationforpositiveimpactthrives.

Whatstartedasagroupofninecommittednature-basedbusinesseshasturnedintoa provenframework(the4Cs)forembeddingholisticsustainabilityintobusinessdecisions andoperations.Wenowhaveover60membersworldwide.

Wetakeimmenseprideinourcollectiveprogressandwillcontinuetoenablepurposedriventourismbusinessestobebold,innovative,andbalanced,ensuringprosperityforall onamoreresilientplanet.

Ourteamhasexpandedtoincreasethesupportprovidedtomembersandtointegrate theinspiringthoughtleadershipprovidedbyourglobalcommunity.

Asweenter2024,joinusinourcontinuedeffortstochampionpositive impacttourismworldwide! “

Dr.Anne-KathrinZschiegner, Executive Director

Photo: TheLongRunAnnualMeeting2023at Nikoi Island

2012

2009

JochenZeitz, togetherwith eightfounding members, launches

TheLongRun

Firstannual members’meeting hosted,bringing togetherthought leadersfrom aroundtheworld

Continuousjourney ofimprovement coined&Fellow membership categorycreated

2011

2017

Registeredinthe UKasanon-profit charitywithitsown boardofdirectors.

GlobalEcosphere Retreat(GER®) Standard recognisedby theGlobal Sustainable TourismCouncil

2015

2024

Launchfirst ImpactShowto showcaseindestination impactacross the4Cs.

2019 Expandingthe ecosystem:Start workingwithDMCs &touroperators— nowTravelPartners

Partofa tourism industry contributing toglobal sustainable development targets

2030

Photo: Niarra Travel, UnitedKingdom(TravelPartner)

Our Mission

is to connect, support, and promote our members to achieve and showcase leadership in positive impact tourism.

Our Vision

is a world where business, nature, and people work together for a more properous and resilient future.

Our Members

are united by a commitment to drive positive impact for people and planet.

Fellow Members are nature-based properties and destinations, and Travel Partners are tour operators, DMCs, and agents that curate and sell trips that do good.

Our Standard

is not an end goal but a marker of excellence across the 4Cs. Becoming a Global Ecosphere Retreat® involves onsite and offsite external assessment and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Photo: Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve, Chile (Fellow Member)

GlobalMembership

north america

Journey‘s Intent,USA

Kualoa Ranch,USA

CENTRAL america

Cayuga Collection,CostaRica

Lapa Rios,CostaRica

Pacuare Lodge,CostaRica

south america

Amazon Yarapa River Lodge,Peru

Caiman Pantanal,Brazil

Condor Valley,Argentina

EcoCamp Patagonia,Chile

Enigma,Peru

Estancia Pampa Grande,Argentina

Glove Travel,Chile&Argentina

Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve,Chile Ibiti,Brazil

Nomad Lodges,Colombia

Pousada Trijunção,Brazil

Sinal do Vale,Brazil

africa

Arijiju,Kenya

Bellingham Safaris,SouthAfrica

Borana,Kenya

Chumbe Island,Tanzania

Cottar’s 1920's Camp,Kenya

Cottar’s Safari Services,Kenya

Saruni Eagle View,Kenya

Fireblade Aviation,SouthAfrica

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, SouthAfrica

HBD Príncipe,SãoTomé&Príncipe

House in the Wild,Kenya

Kicheche Mara Camp,Kenya

11 Global Ecosphere Retreats®

33 Fellow Members

EUROPE

All For Nature Travel, Netherlands

AMADI,Switzerland

Blind Experiences,Italy

Castle Leslie Estate,Ireland

Dolomite Mountains,Italy

Earth Changers,UK

Fisher Private Travel,UK

23 Travel Partners

5 Regional Hubs

Lengishu,Kenya

Sasaab,Kenya

Saruni Leopard Hill,Kenya

Sala’s Camp,Kenya

Samara Karoo Reserve,SouthAfrica

Segera,Kenya

Sirikoi,Kenya

The Hide Safari Camp,Zimbabwe

Thornybush,SouthAfrica

Tswalu Kalahari,SouthAfrica

Wilderness,Botswana

Wolwedans,Namibia

Journeys With Purpose,UK

Niarra Travel,UK

Senderos,UK

Singular Places,Germany

Steppes Travel,UK

We Travel,Denmark

asia

Ayu in the Wild,SriLanka

Batu Batu,Malaysia

Cempedak Private Island,Indonesia

Nay Palad Hideaway,Philippines

Nikoi Island,Indonesia

Postcard Travel,India

Six Senses Laamu, Maldives

Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge,Nepal

Alchemist Travel,Singapore

OCEANIA

Arkaba,Australia

Tahi,NewZealand

Photo: Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, South Africa (GER)

StrategicPartners

TheLongRuniscommittedtoacceleratingtherolethetravelindustrycanandshouldplay increatingafairer,healthier,andmoreresilientworld.Todothat,weworkwithagrowing groupofstrategicpartners:

NewestPartners:

In 2021, a group of sustainability experts, including The Long Run, sat down to work out how the travel industrycanbemoreresilient.Theresult is Weeva, a sustainability management platformthathelpspropertiestrackand measure impact using The Long Run’s 4Cs of Conservation, Community, Culture,andCommerce.

In 2022, LATA approached us to help deliver sustainability training to its members. Since then, we have delivered training to over 88 LATA members. We are delighted that 85% of members that have completed the training are changing their sustainability strategy or intheprocessofdevelopinganewone.

“IreachedouttoTheLongRuncommunitywitha requestforsomeperspectivesandinput.Almost immediately,severalothertouroperatorscontacted me,sharingtheirexperiencesandinsights.Thisis whatitmeanstobeinTheLongRun!Thekindness andtheknowledgesharing-youalwayscomeout moreenergizedandmoreaware.”

ChaminthaJayasinghe,Co-founder,AyuintheWild,SriLanka

The4Cs&AlignmentwithGlobal Frameworks

The4Cframework(Conservation,Community,CultureandCommerce)helpsbusinessesto embedsustainableandregenerativepracticesintooperationsanddecision-making.The frameworkrecognisestheimportanceoffinancialsustainabilitytosecurenatureand communitywell-beinginthelongterm.Reciprocally,itemphasisestheimportanceof thrivingecosystemsandprosperouscommunitiesinsustainingbusiness.Justlikeinnature, abalanceisessentialtokeepeachcomponenthealthy.Ratherthanoperateinisolation,the 4Csconnectwithotherkeyframeworksdrivingpositiveimpact. Biodiversity ClimateActionEnvironmentalManagement

UnitedNationsSustainableDevelopmentGoals

Engagement

UNWTOGlasgow DeclarationPathways

CulturalSupporting Heritage CulturalCelebrating Diversity CulturalPromotingEthical Exchange Fundingthe3Cs ProgressionPlanningResponsible Business

Community

Sustainable DevelopmentEmploymentEthical Well-BeingEmployee

Practice Long-termResilience andViability

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)

The17SDGs areasharedblueprintforpeace andprosperityforpeopleandtheplanet,now andintothefuture.TheLongRun’s4C frameworkconsiderseachgoalandhow tourismcaneffectivelycontribute.

UNWTO Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism

Acommitmenttotransformtheglobaltourism industrybydeliveringeffectiveclimateactionby developingclimateactionplansalignedwithfive sharedpathways:Measure,Decarbonise, Regenerate,Collaborate,Finance.

Conservation meanssafeguardingbiodiversity,naturalresources,and theintegrityofecosystemservicesthatsupportglobalneeds.

Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework

23action-orientedtargetsforthedecadeto2030inordertohaltand reversebiodiversityloss,putnatureonapathtorecoveryforthebenefit ofpeopleandplanet,andensurethefairandequitablesharingof benefitsfromtheuseofgeneticresources.

Community meansenhancingthewellbeingofcommunitiesandtheir righttofairworkingconditions,socialinfrastructure,andmeetingtheir basicneeds.

Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GTSC)

TheGSTCCriteriaareglobalstandardsforsustainabletraveland tourism,arrangedtosupportfourpillarsofsustainability:Managingfor sustainability,Social,CultureandCommunity,andEnvironment.

Culture meansstrengtheninginterculturalrelationships,safeguarding culturalheritage,andsupportingculturaldiversity.

UNESCO World Heritage Sustainable Tourism Programme

Aprogrammeforcooperationandcoordinationacrosssectorsto developappropriatetourismaroundWorldHeritageproperties,inorder tosafeguardnaturalandculturalassets,whilecontributingtolocal economicdevelopmentandlong-termsustainability.

Commerce meanslinkingprofit,natural,andsocialassetstoensure sustainabilityofcommercialoperationsandlong-terminvestmentinthe 4Cs.

Doughnut Economics

Socialandplanetaryboundariesthatensurenoindividualfallsshorton life’sessentials,whilecollectivelynotovershootingourpressureon Earth’slife-supportingsystems,onwhichwefundamentallydepend.

HowWeSupportOurMembers

TheLongRuninvitesbusinessesusingtourismtofundnatureconservationand regeneration,andimprovingthelivesofpeopletojoinitsuniquecommunity.Applicants arescreenedagainstTheLongRun’smembershipcriteria,includingownershiporinfluence overanecologicallysignificantareaofanysize(FellowMembers&GER®sonly)and demonstratedcommitmenttothe4Cs(TravelPartnersandFellowMembers).Once approved,businessesreceiveaccesstoacommunitycollaborativetothecorealongside technicalsupport.Herearesomeofthekeywayswesupportedmembersin2023:

New Global Ecosphere Retreat®s

Nikoi,Indonesia(2022)

Sasaab,Kenya(2022)

New Fellow Members

CastleLeslieEstate,Ireland

Sirikoi,Kenya

Thornybush,SouthAfrica Ibiti,Brazil

10 Leaders gathered atinpersonevents centeredaround the4Cs.

Onsite Visits (50days)tosupport acontinuous journeyof improvement.

New Travel Partners

AlchemistTravel,Singapore Enigma,Peru

Journey’sIntent,Denmark SingularPlaces,Germany

300

200 Hours of support tomembersaround theworld,bothonline andonsite.

Expert-led webinars oncurrenttopics intheindustry.

1,598,664

Guests experienced the4Csinactionby stayingatmember properties.

People received communications aboutsustainability orthe4Cs.

64,253 Awards won bymembersfor theirworkinthe 4Cs.

313

Partnerships formedorcontinued withcommunity organisations,NGOs, andcharities.

2023Events

Mar |SouthernAfricaRegionalHubMeetingatWolwedans,Namibia

May |EastAfricaRegionalHubMeetingatSasaab,Kenya

Jun |4CMasterclassattheSustainableTourismAfricaSummitinMombasa,Kenya Jun |4CMasterclassforSmallLuxuryHotels,UK

Jun |OnePlanetNetworkwebinar,‘InConversationwithTheLongRun:apractical, joinedupapproachtoclimateactiontraining’

Jun |LATAExpopanel,‘ThePowerofTourism:positiveimpactoftourismona destination’

Sep |TheLongRunleadsnatureandsustainabilitycontentatPure,Morocco

Sep |GreenFinanceforBiodiversityeventattheMandalaClub,Singapore

Oct |TheLongRun’sAnnualMeetingatNikoiIsland,Indonesia

Dec |4CMasterclass,“HowToEmbedSustainabilityThroughthe4Cs”inMalaysia, co-hostedbyTheHabitatFoundation,SustainableTourismMalaysia,&UNDP

Photo: Wolvedans, Namibia(GER®)

LaunchofImpactStatements

Webelievethattransparencyleadstogreaterpositiveimpact,soin2022launched verifiedmemberImpactStatements.Therisingurgencyoftheclimatecrisisandthe proliferationofsustainabilitymarketingclaimscallforgreateraccountabilitytohelp peopleunderstandwheretheirmoneygoeswhenbookingaholiday.

TheLongRun’s4CImpactStatementisa‘bill’thatbreaksdownhowagueststaywith aLongRunmembercontributestothelocaleconomyanddirectlysupportsthe destination’sworkinConservation,Community,Culture,andCommerce.

AnImpactStatementfeaturestangiblefactsandfiguresthatmemberscansharewith gueststodemonstratetheircommitmenttosupportingthelocaleconomy,protecting nature,caringforlocalcommunities,andpreservingculturalheritage.

“Globally, today’s guests and future guests will be traveling more consciously and their generosity will become progressively more important. Travelers are becoming aware of the impacts good and bad of travel and our guests are conscious of the positive impact of their visit both environmentally and socially. The Impact Statement gives guests reassurance that significant portions of the cost of their stay are delivering resilience and contributing to our ability to protect wilderness along with the positive impact on communities.

The Long Run adds the layer of credibility and verification showing transparently how these economic benefits flow and should influence guests' decisions about where to stay, how long to stay, and enable them both to return and to promote the property as a trusted contributor to a local and worldwide conservation philosophy.”

MichaelDyer,BoranaRanch,Kenya Photo: Borana Ranch, Kenya (GER®)

Photo: Sirikoi, Kenya (Fellow Member)

“The4Ccallsareveryinteractiveand informativevirtualsessionsthatallowmeto connectwithlike-mindedpeopleworldwide.It’s anefficient,productive,andfunwaytotackle commonchallengesandtoworktogether towardsoursharedgoal:actingtodayforabetter tomorrow!”

SibylleRiedmiller,Owner,ChumbeIslandCoralPark,Tanzania

TheStateofConservation intheGlobalTourismIndustry

Conservation means safeguarding biodiversityandecosystemsthatmakeup all life on Earth to meet global needs. WhileConservationisacornerstoneofthe global tourism industry, the very activities that celebrate and depend on this nature also threaten to destroy it. Overtourism and unsustainable use of natural resources is causing biodiversity loss, relentless greenhouse gas emissions, and unchecked pollution that stretch the capacity of destinations to handle the influx of people, demand for resources, and outpouring of waste. Travelers and businesses alike have a responsibility to usetheirrelativepositioninthemarketto promoteactivitieswithlowenvironmental impactandhighregenerationvalue.

The World Travel & Tourism Council calls for a Nature Positive approach to travel, where businesses play an active role in not only halting biodiversity loss, butinvestinginecosystemrestorationand speciesprotection,sothatthelivingworld can recover while ensuring a resilient and sustainable future for the tourism sector. The growing community of Long Run members, as well as the increasing number of other certifications and standards, speaks to the urgency of collectiveefforts.

At COP28, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation led the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, a push for the industry to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero as soon as possible before 2050. Signatories - from accommodationstotouroperators,NGOs

to national tourism authorities - commit to delivering and reporting on a climate action plan, aligned with five pathways: Measure, Decarbonise, Regenerate, Collaborate,andFinance.Thesealignwith The Long Run’s 4Cs, and place emphasis onmeasuringandtrackingprogressasan importantthroughlinebetweenthemall.

The Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework was adopted at the 15th Biodiversity Conference of the Parties (COP15) and aims to catalyze urgent and transformative action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. The framework consists of 23 targets, including restoring 30% of all degraded ecosystems and conserving 30% of all land, waters, and seas by 2030. The framework contributes to the Convention of Biological Diversity’s main objectives of sustainably using and equitably sharing genetic resources, an important nod to environmental justice andtheunevendistributionofbiodiversity around the world. Long Run members exist to preserve this invaluable biodiversityineachuniquedestination,for visitors experiencing it for a short time, but more importantly, for local communities who depend on it year round.

In the face of the interconnected climate andbiodiversitycrises,tourismbusinesses should not decrease the resilience of a placebyusingpublicresourcesmeantfor communities on tourists. We have a responsibility to increase the resilience of ourcommunitiesbybringinginresources to supplement government action and fightthesecrisestogether.

Photo: Batu Batu, Malaysia (Fellow Member)

TheLongRun’sCollectiveImpact inConservation

Biodiversity

acresoflanddirectly ownedormanaged bymembers 1,254,230

21,796,584

acresoflandinfluencedor supportedbymembers

animalspecies fromthe IUCNRedList protected 455 439

plantspecies fromthe IUCNRedList protected

Climate Action

ofmembersare registeredwith Weeva 53%

Environmental Management

haveeliminated single-useplastics orwillinthenext 5years 87%

average percentageof energyfrom renewable sources 41%

average percentageof wastediverted fromlandfill 54%

havecalculated theircarbon footprint 63% haveaclimate actionplan 57% arecarbonneutral orwillbeinthe next5years 46%

Photo: Dolomite Mountains, Italy (Travel Partner)

MemberStoriesinConservation

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve (GER®), South Africa

Carbon Neutral Destination

GER®, Grootbos, surpassed its goal of becoming a verified Carbon Neutral Destination when two independent auditors found that Grootbos is in fact a carbon sink. They commissioned Credible Carbon to quantify the carbon credits generated through Grootbos Foundation’s conservation and community projects, as well as the restoredlandscapeoftheWalkerBayFynbos Conservancy in South Africa. The findings of bothCredibleCarbonand external auditor, C4 EcoSolutions, confirmed that Grootbos is carbon negative, sequesteringmorecarbonthatitemits.Grootbospracticeseffectivefiremanagementand controlled burns to minimise the loss of biodiversity and soil carbon stocks from wildfires. The property also has three solar systems that produce 500kW of renewable energy and replaceprocurementofcoal-basedgridelectricity.

Six Senses Laamu (Fellow Member), Maldives Sea Hub for Environmental Learning Fellow Member, Six Senses Laamu, unveiled its Sea Hub for Environmental Learning in Laamu (SHELL), a multi-use space designed for immersive marine conservation experiences parallel to the research, education, and community work of its conservation coalition, Maldives Underwater Initiative. The SHELL is equipped with scientific laboratories, educational exhibits, and a theater room where guests, staff, and community members can access hands-on learning from world-class researchers about Laamu Atoll’s network of marine protected areas and the species it contains.

Nomad Lodges (Fellow Member), Colombia

Low Impact Building

Fellow Member, Nomad Lodges Amazonas, a 237-acre private reserve in the heart of the Colombian Amazon, is home to an ecotourism project created in the spirit of South America’s nomadic tribes. It is ninety percent autonomous in terms of energy thanks to a vast network of solar panels, rainwater collection, and threesourcesofdrinkingwaterlocatedon the96hectaresofthereserve.Duringthe construction, ninety percent of the materialsandthefurniture weremadeon site by the local community. Seventy-five percent of employees are from local communities and 90 percent of the food anddrinkareproducedlocally.

Sinal do Vale (GER®), Brazil Native Tree Regeneration

Brazil’s lush Atlantic Rainforest (Mata Atlântica),isoneoftheworld’s36hotspotsof biodiversity and is the source of drinking water for 70% of the country’s population, but has been reduced by over 80% due to deforestation. In order to restore the Mata Atlântica, GER®, Sinal do Vale, has implemented regenerative landscape management and cost-effective soil regeneration techniques to regenerate 17 acres of degraded land with about 11,000 nativetreestocreateagroforests.

Additionally, in partnership with the Florestas do Amanhã program of the State Environmental Agency Rio de Janeiro, Sinal has planted 40,000 native trees covering 74 acres of the property using 4 restoration techniques, including direct planting, densification,controllingunwantedspecies,andagroforestry.Sinalhasavisionofbringing the local and international community together to develop nature-based solutions and regenerativebusinessmodelstoadvanceasustainableeconomyinitsbioregion.

TheStateofCommunity intheGlobalTourismIndustry

The Tourism Panel on Climate Change conducted a stocktake in 2023 and found that unsustainable tourism development, climatehazards,andhighlevelsofpoverty are undermining the prospects of achieving the United Nations 2030 Agenda in low- and medium-income countries. How can the tourism industry counteract these injustices? By including communities in planning and decisionmaking, and sharing the benefits of economic activities, the industry can help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Tourism, while only explicitly mentioned under three of the 17 goals, will play an integral role in contributing across the agenda, whether directly or indirectly, up and downthevaluechain.

TravelbusinessescancontributetoSDG1: NoPoverty,SDG2:NoHunger,andSDG8: Decent Work and Economic Growth by creating jobs and sourcing goods and services, including sustainably produced food, beverages, and other agricultural products,fromlocally-ownedbusinesses.

Hospitality activities depend on a large, strong workforce, so investing in SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 4: Quality Education, and SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure can bring needed employment and resources to remote locations to create a resilient, healthy,andskilledlocalworkforce.

According to the World Tourism Organisation, tourism has one of the highest shares of female employees or entrepreneurs. More women, and other marginalisedgroups,inskilled,formal

work will help to achieve SDG 5: Gender Equality and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

The shift towards circular economies and moreefficientsocietiesisalsoessentialfor citizensandtouristsalike,andthetourism industry can drive the advancement of green transportation, energy production, water treatment, waste processing, and supply chains in a destination. By providing access to or improving these publicservices,tourismbusinessesensure that not only their guests, but the local communities from whom they are borrowing the destination can benefit from SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption andProduction.

As discussed in the Conservation section, tourismhasanincentiveandobligationto help solve the interconnected climate and biodiversity crises, by reducing its carbon footprinttotackleSDG13:ClimateAction, by preserving marine resources to addressSDG14:LifeBelowWater,andby restoring biodiversity to achieve SDG 15: LifeonLand.

Finally, travel inherently brings people of different backgrounds together through shared experiences in destinations from around the corner to around the world. Theseinteractionscanpromoteincreased respect for diversity and capacity for cooperation, laying the foundation for SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, as well as SDG 17: PartnershipsfortheGoals.

Photo: HBD Príncipe, São Tomé and Príncipe (Fellow Member)

Photo: Wolwedans, Namibia (GER®)

TheLongRun’sCollectiveImpact inCommunity

The Long Run employed an all-female team of 5 who supported 65 members and partners that employ 4,384 people,

= 1,000 people directly impacting 31,989 people, and improving the lives of 139,708 people!

ofall employeesare female 34%

54%

havean employee dedicated to the 4Cs 97%

consult community members todevelop experiencesthatare genuineandrespectful

40%

64%

ofemployeesare from nearest communities

havea diversity, equality, and inclusion policy inwhich allemployeesaretrained

MemberStoriesinCommunity

Enigma

(Travel Partner), Peru Respect for the Occupation of Porter

Saruni

Basecamp (Group Member), Kenya Child Care Facility

Saruni Samburu, which operates under Group Affiliate Member Basecamp Explorer, recently opened a first of its kind 'Family Facility'inKenya,whereemployeescanleave their young children while they work. Saruni Basecamp hires female guides and a good number of female employees in various camp departments, prioritizing women from the indigenous host communities. 60% of management teams across all camps are female. Working mothers can develop professionally and earn an income, while their children receive dedicated care by a pooled‘ayah’(nanny)onproperty.

Travel Partner, Enigma Peru, offers one of the best-recognized treatments to its team of porters, who work through all types of weather at high altitudes carrying the supplies guests need for an unforgettable experience in the Andes Mountains. All Enigma porters have undergone training courses in first aid and rescue, and have a formal work contract with Enigma which guarantees both their job and their income. They are provided special equipment, such as orthopaedic backpacks and waterproof clothing, and they are protected by life and accident insurance paid for by Enigma. Their wages surpass those established by the nationalPorterLawandEnigma’sreputationfor its treatment of porters is one of the main reasons it is sought out by the porter communityandsociallyconsciousguestsalike.

Segera (GER®), Kenya

Ancestral Beading for Peace and Prosperity

SATUBOreferstotheSamburu,Turkanaand Borana communities in Northern Kenya, and is an initiative formed by GER®, Segera Retreat, and the Zeitz Foundation to fight poverty and hunger through community enterprise. SATUBO empowers local women to use their ancestral beading skills to not only supplement income from small-scale farming, but also access development funds through table banking, a way for groups to poolsavingstotakeoutaffordableloans.This practice preserves cultural heritage, helps families achieve financial independence, and builds inter-tribal peace, all of which align withtheintersectionofTheLongRun’s4Cs.

Batu Batu (Fellow Member), Malaysia

Strategic Participatory Planning

Batu Batu, is a founding member of Sustainable Travel Mersing. In 2019, it established Tengah Island Conservation, an independent non-profit organisation which co-founded the Sustainable Tourism Network Malaysia (STN Malaysia)withTheHabitatFoundationin 2023 to support and advocate for the regenerative power of tourism to improve livelihoods, build meaningful connections, and promote care for local, culturalandnaturalheritageinMalaysia. STN Malaysia organised its first Masterclass, in partnership with The Long Run, giving Malaysian tourism stakeholders the opportunity to learn, discuss their operations, and chart their ownsustainabilityjourneys.

TheStateofCulture intheGlobalTourismIndustry

Indigenous peoples and local communities possess critically important traditional knowledge about the management of their unique local ecosystems, native and endemic species, and uses of biodiversity for food and medicine. However, globalisation and mass tourism can erode this traditional knowledge,andsustainablepracticesthat have been passed down for centuries are threatened or lost. Not only does this drastically alter the way of life for the people who live in an area, but it also leads to inauthentic experiences for visitorstoadestination.

The UNESCO World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Programme is an approach to tourism development that places shared responsibility on the value and protection of natural and cultural assets. Stakeholders are encouraged to invest in community-led tourism products thatlean-intoadestination’scomparative advantages and unique heritage, thus facilitating an increased sense of place, while putting ownership and therefore benefits of cultural assets into the hands oflocalcommunities.

Long Run members promote this approach by collaborating with partners to ethically incorporate local culture into product offerings and support culture through an embedded commitment to the4Cs.

Methods of doing so include participatory planning to account for cultural sensitivities and to ensure respect of tangible and intangible heritage. This means also supporting community-led activities that provide income opportunitiestotheprimarycaretakersof thatheritage.Afundamentalpartofthisis celebrating and facilitating the creation and enhancement of contemporary culture — culture and heritage is living anddynamic,ratherthanstuckinabox.

Education,awareness,andappreciationof indigenous knowledge for tourism workers is also important to craft authentictourismexperiencesthatdonot present cultural heritage in objectified or superficial ways. By celebrating ancient wisdom and elevating its importance, tourismbusinessescanbeempoweredto use it to tackle other challenges. Many of the solutions to address the interconnected climate and biodiversity crises come from nature-based, indigenous wisdom. It is often the simplestnature-basedsolutions,practices, and traditions that can solve our biggest challenges while creating memorable experiencesfortourists.

Photo: Sasaab, Kenya (GER®)

Photo: Steppes Travel, United Kingdom (Travel Partner)

TheLongRun’sCollectiveImpact inCulture

109 culturesandethic groupsactivelyand ethicallycelebrated

66% ofmembersand partnersactively protectcultural activitiesor knowledge

66% involve owners of cultural practices in the creation, curation, and benefit of these experiences

68% integrate cultural practices and expressions into client experience and product offering

52% activelyprotect culturalheritage sites

68% promote cultural exchange activities between clients and custodians of cultural practices

54% consult community members to co-develop exchange activities

60% ensure local communities have control over when and how exchanges happen

MemberStoriesinCulture

We Travel (Travel Partner), Denmark

Human Rights Through Cultural Evolution

Kualoa Ranch (Fellow Member), Hawaii, USA

Mālama ‘Care for the Land’ Experience Fellow Member, Kualoa Ranch, promotes an understanding of traditional Hawaiian values by employing an Education & Hawaiian CultureManager.Thispositionisadedicated staff member who assists in interpreting Hawaiian cultural history, legends, sacred lands,culturalsensitivities,andprotocols.The Mālama Experience offers a unique, handson experience to teach guests how to care (mālama) for the land, learn about native plants, and utilize traditional agricultural techniques, such as harvesting taro (a starch similartopotato)fromlo’ikalo(wetlands).

Travel Partner, We Travel, donates 10% of its profits to Sumba Hospitality Foundation in Indonesia, but the investment in this island hotel school doesn’t stop there. We Travel’s aims are twofold: first, to present the foundationaccuratelyandeffectivelythrough its media channels to garner direct financial support via donations, and second, to create a group of ambassadors in Denmark to facilitate intelligent intercultural exchange andengagewithpotentialdonors.WeTravel facilitatesaunique opportunity for its guests to learn about Sumba’s thousand-year-long warrior traditions engaging with students and community of the hotel school, where youth are empowered through education, environmental awareness, and responsible tourism practices. The students become the true guardians of Sumbanese cultural heritage, while helping the islandevolvefromculturalelementsinconflictwithhumanrights.

Pacuare Lodge (Fellow Member), Costa Rica

Cultural Rescue Committee

TheCulturalRescueCommitteeisfocused on keeping the Cabécar cultural values alivethroughpracticessuchastraditional palm leaf weaving. Working with two headsoffamilyintheNairiAwariReserve and the son of a local shaman, the committee facilitates sharing of Cabécar indigenous culture and customs with guests.Pacuarealsosponsoredtheethnomusicologist, Rodrigo Salvatierra, who capturedtheonlyrecordingsoftheirritual songs that exist to date, immortalizing Cabécarintangibleculture.

Nikoi Island (GER®), Indonesia

Studio for Visiting Artists

Nikoi Island welcomes creatives and researchers for residencies in its new ‘Ubah Rumah’ studio. The name means ‘Home of Change’, inspired by the maritime history of the region and the nomadic culture of the Indigenous Orang Laut community. Artists, such as Indonesian woodcut printer Djuwadi Ahwal, and scientists, such as Singaporean entomologist Wendy Zhang, explore Bintan’s history and culture through workshops, performances, and research, all while adding

Ayu in the Wild (Travel Partner), Sri Lanka Diplomacy Through Cultural Understanding

In collaboration with the National Cultural Centre of Portugal, Travel Partner, Ayu in the Wild, organized and hosted a Portuguese Heritage trip to Sri Lanka. The team spent 8 months researching the influence of Portuguese colonial heritage on Sri Lankan culture, cuisine, architecture, and livelihoods, in order to develop an itinerary that showcased local artisans, service providers, andevents.Thistripwasthefirstofitskindin Sri Lanka and aimed to create new forms of dialogueandrelationshipsbasedoncommon histories.

TheStateofCommerce intheGlobalTourismIndustry

Accordingtothe World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the tourism industry makes up 7.6% of global GDP, slowly climbing back to the 10.4% it held prepandemic. While tourism growth inevitably contributes to economic development, unsustainable growth leads to overconsumption of local resources, while profit leakages don’t leave any financial or social benefits for the destination.

The Long Run’s strategic planning tools, training, and tailored support help businesses to embed purpose and positive impact into commercial success. This requires taking a long-term view, understanding and placing equal importance on all internal and external stakeholders, and challenging short-term thinkingbusinessmodels.

Once a business looks beyond its internal needs and community, questions arise aroundtheenvironmentalandsocialcosts of travel given that emissions of high income tourists are borne by people in lower-income,highlyvulnerablecountries. Understanding and acting on this social andenvironmentalinjusticeisanessential component of any responsible travel business.

The Tourism and Climate Change Stocktake 2023 discussedpropositionsof levies on international air travel that have been estimated will generate $40-300 billion for climate action, losses, damage, and adaptation, if all countries participated.

Fees like these from the private sector would supplement funds that national governmentsandinternationalbodiesare abletoraise,illustratingtheimportanceof businessesinprovidingcapitalforclimate action, biodiversity conservation, and sustainabledevelopment.

Butshouldweasindividualscarrytheguilt of air travel on our shoulders? This is something The Long Run community debates extensively, in light of a constantlyshiftingglobalsituation.

Whilewedon’tshyawayfromthenuances ofthisdebate,onefactringstruetimeand time again: If flying to a far flung destinationandemittingtonnesofcarbon into the atmosphere, one must be sure that enough money, knowledge, or other useful resources are invested back into local communities and ecosystems to maketheenvironmentalcostworthwhile.

Sustainable tourism can be the channel through which those resources are transferredfromthehandsofpeoplewho have them, to those who need them. The Long Run’s Impact Statements portray this commitment to reinvest profits back intodestinationcommunities,andprovide a return on the carbon travelers emitted gettingthere.

Photo: Arijiju, Kenya (Fellow Member)

Photo: Caiman Pantanal, Brazil (GER®)

TheLongRun’sCollectiveImpact inCommerce

Cultural Activities/Knowledge

Cultural Heritage Sites

USD 503,789

Community Enterprise

USD 116,184

USD 243,173

Cultural Exchange

USD 200,378

Community Development

USD 1,194,194

Environmental Management

USD 3,222,215

The Long Run members invested US$13,300,000 in Conservation, Community, and Culture in 2023.

67%

of members and partners collect a sustainability contribution from clients

Nature Conservation/ Regeneration

USD 9,442,709

average percentage of a room night that stays in a destination 51%

68%

of members have a succession/ progression plan to maintain 4C activity in the long-term (50-100 years).

MemberStoriesinCommerce

Steppes Travel (Travel Partner), United

Fund for Female Guides

Travel Partner, Steppes Travel, believes that socioeconomic development is more likely where women are empowered to fully participate in the workforce. That’s why SteppeslaunchedtheSteppesTravelFundfor FemaleGuides,whichgiveswomenaccessto educationandtrainingrequiredtopursuea fulfilling and prosperous career as a guide. Thefundsupportsabursaryorscholarshipto cover the expenses of a course as a recognized wildlife conservation program or place of learning that prepares students for careers in tourism as a guide. In 2023, Steppes donated £14,320 to female guides, some at the very beginning of their careers whileothersalreadyestablishedbutinneed offurthertraining.

Tahi (GER®), New Zealand

Skin as Smooth as Sustainable Honey Bees that pollinate native Manuka trees on GER, Tahi’s, nature sanctuary in the NorthlandofNewZealandproduceManuka honey, which is world-renowned for its powerful healing and regenerative properties. These qualities are optimal for useinskincare,andhaveledTahitolaunch Kaea, a high-performance skincare line rooted in traditional plant wisdom and blended with home-grown Tahi Mānuka honey. The honey is raw, sustainably produced,andhasaUMF™15+rating,which is an internationally-verified trademark indicating high antibacterial qualities. Tahi’s eco-luxeproductsaresoldallovertheworld and all profits are directed towards 4C projects in Aotearoa, New Zealand, demonstrating their commitment to diversifyingincomestreams.

HBD Príncipe (Fellow Member), São Tomé & Príncipe Diversifying Income Streams

HBDPríncipe(HBD)isacollectionnotonlyof boutique eco-hotels but also of organic agricultural production in the rainforest island of Príncipe, which diversifies its revenue streams. Moreover, HBD recently achieved a milestone and became the first Bird-Friendly®-certified cacao plantation in Africa.BirdFriendly®cocoagrowsunderand alongside the shade of native trees that providefoodandshelterforbirdsandother wildlife. All Bird Friendly®-certified cocoa meetsstrictenvironmentalcriteriadeveloped bySmithsonianInstitutescientists,assessing for qualities including canopy cover, tree height, and organic certification, resulting in some of the most biodiversity-friendly cacao onthemarket.

Wolwedans (GER®), Namibia

Small Businesses Blooming in the Desert Wolwedans is cultivating a Desert-Based Economy(DBE)calledRuralRevive,aconcept thatdrivessmallbusinessdevelopment,both within the Wolwedans team and in the surrounding area. AridEden delivers a training scheme called ‘EconoMix’ to build financial and economic literacy in entrepreneurssothattheycanconverttheir business ideas into financially viable livelihoods. Wolwedans welcomes economic activities in the “primary” DBE, which are those core to the property’s hospitality offering,andthoseinthe“secondary”DBE,or the supply chain that feeds into the primary economy.

The Long Run’s Financials

2023 Income

2023 Expenditures

LookingForwardto2024

Lotsof new members in the pipeline,somerealtrailblazers!

A revision of our Global Ecosphere Retreat® certification —oneofthetravel industry’smostrigorous,involvingonsite,externalassessmentandalignedwith GSTC.

Thelaunchofour new Travel Partner journey,provingthevitalroleagents, operators,andDMCsplayinmakingtourismaforceforgood.

Regional events inBrazil,Ireland,Kenya,andPhilippines.

The Long Run Annual Meeting 2024 willbeheldat Tswalu Kalahari Reserve in SouthAfrica.

Launchofthetravelindustry’sfirst Impact-focused Trade Show.

Wewillwelcome new employees toTheLongRunteam,includingaLatin AmericaRegionalHubRepresentative,AsiaRegionalHubRepresentative, CommunicationsandMarketingSupport,andMemberRecruitmentLead.

MemberServices 36% Management&Ops 24% TechnicalAssistance 22% Comms&Marketing 18%

Membershipfees&contributions 75% Onsitevisits 14% Donations 11%