The Fund is one of a number of initiatives introduced by the company, aimed at alleviating the impact of its business activities on the environment.
The first two projects to receive funding from the Sustainability Action Fund are ReFarm and Belvedere Youth Club.
Each organization will receive support for a three-year period, allowing each organization to plan longer-term projects with the financial certainty provided by CIÉ Tours support.
Stephen Cotter, Managing Director, CIÉ Tours said this partnership approach reflects the ethos of CIÉ Tours which builds long-term relationships with its tourism partners and suppliers, pointing out that the 30,000 people who visit Ireland every year with CIÉ Tours enjoy both urban and rural experiences.
“As the largest inbound tour operator of North American visitors to Ireland, we have a unique opportunity to positively impact Irish people, places and culture and help set the standards of environmental responsibility in our sector.
“Our responsible tourism policy is centered on respecting the places, people and environments we serve.
“Our new Sustainability Action Fund is supporting the people and places who deliver excellent experiences to our guests and acknowledges the contribution our rural and urban communities make to the success of our business”.
“Our first two projects are quite different and reflect the potential reach of the fund.
“ReFarm supports the implementation of nature-positive actions on Irish farms in the Burren and elsewhere.
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“Belvedere Youth Club in Dublin City Centre supports young people in achieving their full potential. Thriving rural and urban communities make for great places to visit”, he said.
CIÉ Tours has signed the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism joining a global coalition of industry leaders dedicated to taking meaningful action against climate change and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the tourism sector.
The company has pledged to deliver an aligned plan to cut its carbon emissions in half by 2030 and aims to reach net-zero emissions as soon as possible before 2050.
It was recently awarded the Sustainable Tourism Network’s Foundation Award.
“We know that our business activities impact the environment and that a large part of that impact, such as aviation, is outside our control.
But where we can work with our suppliers and partners to find ways to make a positive impact on our environment and on sustainability, we will do so”, Cotter added.
The company has also appointed Ken Lyons as Sustainability Manager to advance the company’s sustainability agenda.
Lyons is focused on industry relations and forging strong partnerships to advance CIÉ Tours' sustainability agenda; the implementation of initiatives that support the organization’s recently developed decarbonization strategy; and the adoption of best practices that support both CIÉ Tours' parent company, CIÉ Group, and the global tourism community.
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* This article was originally published on BusinessPlus.ie.
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