DER Touristik consists of tour operators, several hotel brands, travel specialists, and travel agencies in 16 countries across Europe. Package tours are our speciality. Together we ensure daily that travel dreams come true. But our work goes well beyond planning and booking holidays, and distinguishes us from many of our competitors, especially those providing individual services. Working together with holiday destinations, we are committed to greater sustainability in every respect. In the event of a medical emergency or a natural disaster, our specially trained teams are available to assist travellers. If there is an airport strike, we will take care of the rebooking and ensure the best possible alternative for our customers without additional costs. In short, we stand by our responsibility to our guests as well as to the local population and environment in the target destinations. At the same time, the conditions in the tourism industry must be structured in a way that ensures competition.
Tourism is an important component of the German domestic and foreign economy. In some regions it is often the most decisive economic factor and provides employment. But not only that; what I personally appreciate most about the travel industry is its ability to connect people and cultures. After all, a sound environment is the most vital asset some holiday destinations can have. That is why we, as a cooperative company part of the REWE Group, are forging ahead the path to greater sustainability together with the target destinations by addressing a range of topics: child protection, animal protection, energy efficiency, and climate protection. The challenges are manifold. Thanks to the close relationships with our holiday resorts, we were already able to implement guidelines for safety and sustainability standards in several countries. I would particularly like to highlight our most recent child protection guidelines, which provide for on-site trainings on children’s rights and ensure that children who participate in one of our homestay offers are never left alone with strangers. We address these challenges in close collaboration with our holiday destination partners.