Group Travel: ATR Launches Tool to Evaluate Responsible Offers




ATR launched in September a scoring system for analyzing offers aimed at organizers of group travel.

This tool complements the practical guide published in April 2026 following a survey conducted between June and December 2025 among 148 organizations, mainly CSE and COS.

It is designed to provide a common base for evaluating the proposals received and progressively integrate responsible criteria into tenders.

The scoring rests on five pillars: environmental impact, human impact, carbon footprint, responsible communication, as well as inclusivity and accessibility.


A Tool to Aid Comparison


ATR complète son guide dédié aux voyages de groupe avec un outil de scoring pour comparer les offres selon différents critères responsables - Photo : ATR

The criteria notably take into account respect for ecosystems, the program’s local anchoring, transport choices, the quality of experiences, carbon transparency, the fight against greenwashing, and accessibility.

ATR specifies that the objective is not to achieve a perfect score, but to provide a benchmark to identify strengths and areas for improvement of the various proposals.

The tool should also enable organizers to question tour operators and service providers about their practices and commitments.

The guide furthermore recommends integrating social and environmental criteria from the bids and terms of reference, notably by prioritizing, when possible, trains and public transport, accommodations that are committed and locally rooted, or activities that respect the environment and local communities.


Amara Nambinga

Amara Nambinga

I write about tourism, culture, and emerging destinations with a Namibian perspective. Through my articles, I try to highlight the places, people, and travel stories that show how Africa and the wider world are changing.