This allows the traveling public to participate. When planning their trip to the Galapagos, responsible tourists will ask their travel agent to make sure the tour boat has the SmartVoyager seal of approval. Travelers on certified boats can be confident that the captain and crew are well trained, concerned about the protecting the islands, and that every precaution has been taken to ensure that the boat leaves no mark on the islands, no trace in the clean blue sea. The SmartVoyager assures travelers that they will get the maximum adventure and educational experience while having the absolute minimum impact on the delicate Galapagos environment and wildlife. We know this will work, because we're using the same concept to change farm practices for bananas, coffee, oranges and cocoa.
Consumers call the tune, and they are increasingly demanding that companies act responsibly.
But it's entirely different in the Galapagos. Most of the tour boat operators want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. They will be willing to make the changes, especially if they are rewarded by their clients, the tourists. That's the power of an ecolabel. This program will not solve all the problems on the Galapagos Islands, of course, but it is a way for the nature-loving public and the tourism industry to team up and work toward conservation by first making sure that their own actions are responsible.