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Southbound Sustainability

Southbound Sustainability

Leading the Way in Sustainable Travel: Southbound DMC's Impact in Chile and Antarctica

Our Commitment

At Southbound DMC Sustainability, we truly believe that nature must be preserved and local communities must be sheltered. For us, tourism strictly means being conscious of protecting and respecting the environment, hence we have gone into a partnership with Travelife who constantly audits us and assists in advancing our practices to provide increased experiences. This helps us to take correct actions to save the beautiful landscapes of Antarctica and of the provinces of Chile and improve the lives of those that live there.

It is our philosophy that we coordinate every single direction of our activities around the “Preserve and Enrich” approach and include its sustainable parallels in them. Such as waste minimization (through recycling or waste less), using local guides and suppliers to purchase their goods and thereby raise the local economy, and using green products and transportation. And we also teach travelers what they should and should not do in order to reduce negative effects of tourism and encourage responsible tourism.

In line with the above, our commitment covers the following focus areas:

Implementing energysaving techniques, waste systems, and wildlife protection mechanisms to achieve lower levels of adverse impact on the environment.
Investing into the local economies through better pay, emphasis on local products, and engagement of local businesses.
Raising awareness and appreciation of local cultures through interaction with the culture and nature of Chile while respectfully integrating with the people of that region.
Assist rural communities by funding projects such as educational programs, infrastructure, and cultural projects that guarantee long term returns.

In addition to all that, we have established sustainability goals which are communicated to our clients, suppliers, and partners in a bid to encourage them to be responsible. Our goal is to motivate other people by creating great travel experiences with the most precious locations on our planet and for the future of Chile, Antarctica and more.

Activities by Southbound Sustainability

Wildlife Conservation Tours in Antarctica

The animal habitats and the wilderness that surround the lands of Antarctica are something extraordinary to experience in a lifetime. However, it is important to note that human endeavors and climate change pose a serious threat to the ecosystems of the region. Southbound DMC, an organization that promotes ecotourism, arranges wildlife conservation tours in Antarctica for tourists to learn how to conserve this area while taking part in its exploration and preservation. These excursions are all guided and focus mainly on wildlife, with two primary goals: to minimize human footprints on the natural world and to reduce the number of animals disturbed by tourists. Participants in the tours are requested to follow specific rules: maintaining a safe distance from animals and avoiding any interference with their living spaces. Through these measures, guests can enjoy close encounters with penguins, seals, and whales while leaving the ecosystems intact. The educational aspect of the trips is one of the highlights of these excursions. Professional guides elaborate on the specific challenges Antarctic wildlife face and emphasize the importance of limiting human occupation of this fragile ecosystem. Tour groups are intentionally kept small to reduce environmental stress, and strict waste management systems ensure that no remnants are left behind. Antarctica’s environment (see: Weather in Antarctica) has always been a central focus for Southbound DMC. The company’s tourism activities adhere to international standards for responsible business practices. By combining incredible personal experiences with environmentally conscious elements, Southbound DMC’s tours exemplify sustainable tourism. Wildlife conservation tours are not only about passion for travel but also about activ...

Responsible Tourism Education for Travelers by Southbound DMC

Traveling is a means through which one gets to see different places and appreciate different cultures. However, with the advantage that comes with tourism also comes the downside of the effect it has on the environment as well as the locals. Responsible Tourism Education for Travelers is crucial in equipping individuals with the knowledge to mitigate all adverse outcomes associated with travel and tourism. It is important for travel enthusiasts to learn how to be respectful of nature and wildlife. Responsible tourism education adds value by helping travelers comprehend how to stay on marked paths, avoid feeding or bothering animals, and exemplify good behavior on wildlife tours that does not harm animal welfare. The local culture should also be appreciated when tourists engage in cultural exchanges, such as consuming local products, which assist in enhancing the economy and retaining the culture of an area. To this end, Southbound DMC has attempted to educate tourists of such principles through its Responsible Tourism Education for Travelers programs. Southbound DMC ensures that travelers not only experience sights but also appreciate their destination by embedding practical tips and activities in their itineraries. Such programs teach how to address the impact of waste management and energy conservation while strengthening relations with host communities and the environment. That way, Southbound DMC's initiatives allow travelers to take on responsibility, fostering tourism development that uses but does not exhaust the countries we all cherish. A directed approach towards education ensures that our travels become never-ending processes of appreciation and care for the surroundings. For more insights into the environmental context of Chile, one of our main destina...

Projects by Southbound Sustainability

Reforestation of the Andes Initiative

Reforestation of the Andes Led by Southbound DMC, the “Reforestation of the Andes” program is an initiative to help protect the biodiversity and natural beauty of Chile’s famous mountain range. This program assists in restoring damaged and deforested regions by rehabilitating key areas and encouraging the use of sustainable land management practices to prevent further damage caused by climate change and deforestation. An important aspect of the program is the organization of planting trees events where travelers and residents plant trees to preserve native forests together. Such events not only restore the land but also allow the participants to take an active part in the conservation of the environment. As a result of this effort, several hundreds of native trees, such as chil- ean cedar and lenga, are planted creating shelters for animals and improving the ecological equilibrium of the Andes every year. Attaining longevity in their usage of resources is important and aiming this goal, the initiative works with local farmers to discourage land over-use. Southbound aids these farmers with much need education and resourced to help them implement measures which prevent soil erosion, deforestation and safeguard the remaining vegetation. All these sustainable practices assure that re-establishment of forests is an activity which will be maintained and done in a safe manner in the years to come. Also, Southbound helps conservationists with monitoring the areas after restoration and with bringing back the native animals that depend on these areas. This kind of partnership is very important for re-establishing the complete biodiversity of the Andes, so the region can sustain its ecosystem for the future. The project “Reforestation of the Andes” does not only confront e...

Chile Heritage Preservation Program

Chile Heritage Preservation Program The Chile Heritage Preservation Program is an initiative by Southbound DMC aimed at protecting and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Chile’s indigenous communities.. The program aims at promoting tourism through sustainable means while protecting the local customs, traditions, and religious shrines for posterity. With this, Southbound works with local artists and cultural representatives in offering workshops and experiences to tourists. These workshops delve into music, crafts, and storytelling, and allow visitors to interact with the culture of the indigenous people of Chile. Participating in these workshops doesn’t only allow travelers to appreciate the ancient culture but also helps in its preservation. One important aspect of the Chile Heritage Preservation Program is protecting the sacred sites. Southbound works with Indigenous tribes in recognizing and preserving important cultural and religious sites. Appropriate funding is made available so that these sites are always treated with respect and are not abused and only used as locals want them to be used. There are also guidelines that look after the proper relations and exchanges that tourists have with the sites. The program also highlights economic empowerment as one of the key features. Southbound seeks to promote indigenous businesses by prioritizing the purchase of goods and services from artisans and small vendors. This assists both in the promotion of local economies and fair wages for their work. In addition, the program encourages travelers to buy local handmade crafts which empowers the people and preserves the ways of life that would otherwise be lost. The Chile Heritage Preservation Program challenges the conventional feeling that tourism has to...

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For current weather conditions: Weather in Antarctica and Weather in Chile