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Industry-wide training on human rights due diligence in tourism

A total of nine large, medium and small tourism companies as well as five associations and civil society organizations came together to jointly develop an online training course on human rights due diligence in the tourism value chain. The e-learning is available for free for direct partners and suppliers of all tourism players and does not only raise awareness on human rights but also strengthens the knowledge of users.

Project activities

The following activities have been implemented:

  • Basic research and compilation of available training materials on human rights due diligence in the supply chain (tourism industry / other industries).
  • Development of web-based training modules in 3 languages (English, Spanish and French).
  • Development of indicators and questionnaires to monitor usage and success of training courses.
  • Conduction of a test phase for the developed training formats with local partners.
  • Development of communication materials for the developed training offerings for use in the industry.

Project goals

  1. Joint development of needs-oriented online training for direct partners in the destinations.
  2. Carrying out a test phase with local partners in order to obtain concrete recommendations for improving and further developing the training.
  3. Broad application of the developed training to relevant stakeholders in tourism destinations.

Result: Free e-learning on “Human Rights in Tourism”

The developed training

  • includes 5 modules (4 basic modules + 1 in-depth module) with a total of 12 units and a total learning time of approx. 2.5 hours
  • is available in English, Spanish and French
  • is aimed at direct partners in destinations such as employees of local organizers, transport companies or accommodations
  • is focused on mobile use and designed taking accessibility criteria into account
  • includes avatars as learning companions, interactive elements and practical and relevant examples
  • contains a mandatory final quiz after each module

 

After successfully completing each module, learners receive a so-called “Open Badge”, which contains detailed information about the knowledge and skills achieved. In addition, after successfully completing all four basic modules and the in-depth module, a digital certificate is issued, which is recognized by all participating project companies.

Content of the training

  • Importance of human rights due diligence in tourism
  • Contents of relevant regulations such as the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) and the European Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)
  • Risk analysis of your own business activities for human rights and the environment
  • Steps towards practical application in your own company
  • In-depth module
    • Background information on human rights
    • Stakeholder engagement
    • Complaints mechanism

Background

According to the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), millions of people worldwide live in hardship because minimum social standards such as the prohibition of forced and child labor or environmental protection aspects are disregarded. The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) are the authoritative global framework for preventing and addressing negative impacts of business on human rights and are a fundamental tool for addressing these major collective challenges.

Human rights due diligence in tourism

Tourism is a key factor in many developing and emerging countries and can create jobs and strengthen local economic cycles. It can also contribute to the preservation of nature and culture and reduce inequalities. Tourism touches on many aspects of human rights, e.g. protection against discrimination or the right to be involved in decision-making processes.

 

As a service industry, tourism must assume responsibility for good working conditions and fair living wages as part of its human rights due diligence. Furthermore, as part of a social transformation of the industry, concepts must be developed to ensure basic protection for workers in tourism, even in times of crisis.

 

There are many potentially vulnerable groups working in the tourism industry whose human rights require special protection (e.g., women, migrant workers or indigenous peoples). For example, the percentage of female workers in tourism is 54% (on average almost twice as high as in other sectors). Including the informal sector in countries of the global south, up to 75% of the workers are female – with a rising trend. In this respect, improved working conditions and living wages for women in particular must be prioritized as part of tourism companies’ human rights due diligence.

Travel and tourism companies and organisations join forces

The aim of the tourism companies DERTOUR Group, TUI Group, TUI Cruises, Booking.com, Gebeco, Chamäleon, Studiosus Reisen, Hauser Exkursionen and FairAway Travel involved in the project was to ensure broad acceptance and use of these training courses. For this reason, the training courses developed was tested in advance for practical applicability and further developed together with the partners in the destinations.

The private sector was supported by the Association for Sustainable Tourism forum anders reisen, the German Travel Association (DRV) and ECPAT Germany, the working group for the protection of children from sexual exploitation.

 

The training is available to the industry free of charge on atingi.org, the digital learning platform of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and will enable local partners of travel companies to gain an introduction to the topic of human rights due diligence.

 

The project was led by Futouris and the Roundtable Human Rights in Tourism, a multi-stakeholder initiative that promotes the implementation of human rights due diligence by tourism companies.

This joint project was being implemented under the umbrella of the Sector Dialogue on Tourism for Sustainable Development. Half of the initiative was financed by the project partners’ own funds and the other half by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Overview

News from this project

30/01/2025

New Digital Training Strengthens Human Rights in Tourism

Futouris e.V. and the Roundtable Human Rights in Tourism have developed a digital training course on human rights due diligence in tourism in cooperation with well-known tourism companies, associations and organizations. The training is the result of a project funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the private sector. The training aims to raise awareness of human rights and sustainable business practices in tourism.

25/04/2024

Joint Efforts, Joint Benefits: Advancing human rights due diligence in tourism together

A special highlight was the panel discussion “Joint Effort, Joint Benefits” that we organized together with the Roundtable Human Rights in Tourism on the topic of human rights due diligence in tourism. The discussion was well attended and a complete success.

Curious to know more about our other projects?

Together with our members, we at Futouris develop innovative projects and implement them in practice. Our projects are as diverse as our members. Our common goal: to preserve travel destinations and make the industry fit for the future.