(L-R Koytip Siricharoenwong, HR & Platform Supervisor of Vio Travel; Mega Yuliani, Travel Specialist of Vio Travel; Tracy Adikarta, Travel Specialist of Vio Travel; Anna Gakou of PBN; Dominik Schaufler, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Vio Travel; Novita Rosiana Dewi, Sustainability Coordinator at Vio Travel; Michael Lyndel-Bell, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Vio Travel; Saúl Blanco Sosa of PBN; Nisa Khusnul Nafia, Supervisor of Indonesia Sales & Reservations of Vio Travel; Rara Yogantari, Destination Expert of Vio Travel and Nur Hayati, Travel Specialist of Vio Travel.)
Bali, Indonesia, May 7, 2026 – Vio Travel, Asia Pacific’s leading online DMC has
become the first in Asia to be certified under the Preferred by Nature Standard for
Sustainable Travel Activities V1.1, a Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) recognised standard.
The certification follows a rigorous independent audit confirming full compliance across the standard’s four core pillars: responsible management, people, nature and climate.
The audit also validated Vio Travel’s own sustainability framework across three key dimensions across the company’s entire Indonesia operations:
- Environmental: A fully paperless operation, significantly reducing reliance on single-use plastics, and strict environmental criteria embedded into supplier
selection.
- Social: Zero tolerance for child or forced labour, a strong commitment to gender equity, and the protection of cultural heritage as a core operating principle.
- Economic: A strong focus on locally owned suppliers, with a deliberate, ground- up approach to sourcing, partnering almost exclusively with locally owned tour
operator suppliers, ensuring that tourism revenue directly benefits the communities that travellers engage with.
Indonesia is the first destination to achieve certification, with the same standards set to be progressively extended across Vio Travel’s network of 15 destinations. Importantly, this milestone reflects validation rather than transformation, formal recognition of practices already embedded within the business.
The official award ceremony took place in Bali on 30 April 2026, after working with local suppliers on sustainable practices. This marked a significant milestone not only for the company, but also for the advancement of responsible tourism across the Asia-Pacific region. Vio Travel’s Sustainability Coordinator, Novita Rosiana Dewi, led the certification process from the ground up, translating the company’s long-held values into the documented frameworks required.
Dominik Schaufler, Co-CEO and Co-Founder, Vio Travel commented, “We act as an
extension of our partners’ businesses on the ground. The standards we uphold – and the suppliers we work with – directly shape the experiences their clients have. Our roadmap is clear: to progressively extend this sustainability framework across our network, applying the same rigorous standards that earned certification in Indonesia.”
Founded on principles of quality, accountability, and local expertise, Vio Travel operates across 15 countries in Asia-Pacific. The company partners with travel agents and tour operators globally, managing ground operations, supplier networks, and itinerary delivery in markets where trusted local execution is critical.
“We’re incredibly proud to receive this certification. More importantly, it gives our
partners something tangible – independent, third-party validation that the way we
operate meets a globally recognised standard for responsible tourism and we’re just
getting started,” added Michael Lynden-Bell, Co-CEO and Co-Founder, Vio Travel.
For travel agents and tour operators, this certification provides independent assurance that the ground partner they are working with meets globally recognised sustainability standards, reducing risk while strengthening the credibility of the itineraries they sell. For end travellers, it translates into more responsible travel experiences, where environmental impact is minimised, local communities benefit directly, and ethical practices are embedded throughout the journey.
“Vio Travel represents exactly the kind of partner we look to work with as we expand our certification efforts in Asia. Their commitment to embedding sustainability into the way they operate, and their willingness to engage with independent verification, sends a strong signal to the market. This milestone is not only significant for Vio Travel, but also
for us as an organisation, as it marks an important step in bringing credible, independently verified sustainability practices into the region and supporting a more responsible and transparent tourism sector.” said Saúl Blanco Sosa, Director, Sustainable Travel Programme at Preferred by Nature.
Preferred by Nature is one of the world’s leading sustainability certification bodies. Its Standard for Sustainable Travel Activities V1.1 is a Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Recognised Standard – the global benchmark for credible and transparent sustainability standards in tourism.
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About Vio Travel
Vio Travel is Asia Pacific’s leading online Destination Management Company (DMC), helping travel agents, tour operators, and travel wholesalers sell and deliver exceptional trips with speed, confidence, and ease. Operating across over 15 diverse destinations, Vio Travel combines deep in-market expertise with curated, high-quality travel products to simplify itinerary planning and booking from end-to-end. Designed to remove complexity, risk, and friction from selling Asia Pacific, Vio Travel provides instant access to digital itineraries, reliable partner support, and a one-stop platform experience that prioritizes operational excellence, value, and convenience. With a modern, tech-forward approach and a strong focus on responsible travel partnerships, Vio Travel empowers travel professionals to create breathtaking itineraries while delivering consistently trusted experiences for their customers.
Discover more: www.vio.travel
About Preferred by Nature
Preferred by Nature is an international non-profit organisation supporting better land management and business practices that benefit people, nature and climate. For 30 years, the non-profit organisation has developed sustainable solutions for land management related supply chains in 100+ countries, focusing on forestry, agriculture and travel. Collaborating with key landscapes, supply chains and markets, they target positive change for a healthier environment, climate and sustainable livelihoods. https://www.preferredbynature.org/
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Vio Travel Marketing Team