Effective date: 1 September 2026

Eco-Safar is the community-based eco-tourism brand of the sub-project “Promoting Community-Based Tourism in the Northern Part of Bangladesh”, implemented by Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO) as a Partner Organization under the Sustainable Microenterprise and Resilient Transformation (SMART) Project of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF).

We respect your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, why, how we use and protect it, and the choices you have.

1. WHO WE ARE

1.1 Eco-Safar is operated by Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO), head office: Collegepara (Gobindanagar), Thakurgaon-5100, Bangladesh (www.esdo.net.bd).

1.2 Our services include homestays, cottage tea experiences, tea garden and flower valley walks, guided tours by trained tourist guides, hotel and restaurant experiences, street food, handicraft and souvenir shopping, and transport by the project's E-vehicle service, in the northern districts of Panchagarh and Thakurgaon, mainly around Tetulia, Panchagarh.

1.3 For any privacy question, use the Contact page of this website or write to the addresses in section 13.

2. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

2.1 Information you give us. When you enquire or book through this website, the contact page, the eco-tourism information and booking centre, or the digital homestay cluster booking platform, we may collect:

• your name;
• contact details (phone number, email address, and messaging/social accounts you use);
• number of travelers and their ages (including children, so we can plan safely);
• preferred dates and the homestay, package or tour you are interested in;
• dietary, medical or accessibility information you voluntarily share so we can make suitable arrangements;
• any other information you choose to send us.

2.2 Visitor registers. In line with the sub-project's visitor management and over-tourism controls, you may be asked to provide your name and contact details in a visitor register at certain sites (for example tea gardens, homestays and viewpoints). This information is used for safety, site management and project monitoring.

2.3 Information collected automatically. Our web server and standard analytics tools may record basic technical information such as your IP address, browser type, device type and pages visited, in aggregated form, to understand and improve the use of the website.

3. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We use the information we collect to:

• respond to enquiries and confirm bookings;
• prepare and deliver your trip (homestay placement, meals, transport, guiding);
• make reasonable arrangements based on dietary, medical or accessibility needs you have shared;
• keep visitor records and monitor site usage as part of the sub-project's environmental and social management measures;
• improve our services, packages and website;
• send information you have asked to receive (you can opt out at any time);
• keep records required for the operation of the sub-project and reporting to PKSF under the SMART project agreements;
• comply with legal obligations and protect our legal rights.

4. LEGAL BASIS

We process personal information to provide the services you request, with your consent, and to comply with our obligations as a PKSF partner organization implementing a public development sub-project. We rely on performance of our agreement with you (the booking), your consent, and our legitimate interests in operating and improving our services and meeting project requirements.

5. SHARING YOUR INFORMATION

5.1 We do not sell, rent or trade your personal information.

5.2 We share information only where necessary, for example:

• with homestay host families, guides and community MEs involved in your experience (only the details needed for your stay or visit);
• with transport providers (for example, the E-vehicle driver, who needs your phone number and pickup location);
• with service providers who help operate the website and communications, who must keep your information confidential;
• with PKSF and project reviewers, only in aggregated or anonymized form for monitoring and reporting;
• where we are required to do so by law, regulation, or a competent authority.

5.3 The sub-project reports visitor numbers, booking summaries and other statistics to PKSF in aggregated form. These reports do not include your personal information unless you have agreed otherwise.

6. SAFEGUARDING

6.1 ESDO has safeguarding and PSEAH (Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment) policies, and the sub-project maintains a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) and complaint-handling mechanism (CRM). Personal information you share through a complaint or safeguarding concern is handled confidentially and only by authorized staff (see section 13 for the focal person).

7. COOKIES AND WEB ANALYTICS

7.1 Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to improve performance and remember basic preferences. Analytics tools may be used to understand site traffic in a way that does not identify you personally.

7.2 You can disable cookies in your browser settings, although some site functions may then work less well.

8. DATA RETENTION

8.1 We keep booking and visitor records for as long as needed to deliver and follow up services, to maintain project records required by PKSF and the sub-project agreements, and to meet legal or audit requirements. Enquiry messages are kept for a reasonable period to respond to follow-up questions.

8.2 When information is no longer needed, it is deleted or made anonymous.

9. SECURITY

9.1 We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information from loss, misuse, unauthorized access, alteration or disclosure.

9.2 No method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure, and while we work hard to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. YOUR RIGHTS AND CHOICES

10.1 You may ask us at any time to:

• confirm what personal information we hold about you;
• correct inaccurate or incomplete information;
• delete your personal information, subject to records we are legally or contractually required to keep;
• stop any optional promotional communications.

10.2 To exercise these rights, contact us through the Contact page or the details in section 13. We will respond within a reasonable time.

11. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY

11.1 We collect the names and ages of children only as part of a family or group booking, to plan and run the visit safely and appropriately. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children independently and do not market directly to children.

12. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

12.1 We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date, and significant changes will, where practical, be drawn to your attention.

13. CONTACT US

13.1 For questions about these Terms, or about bookings, write to us through the Contact page of this website, or at:

ESDO Head Office:
Collegepara (Gobindanagar),
Thakurgaon-5100, Bangladesh

Safeguarding / Grievance / CRM:
esdo.safeguarding2021@gmail.com
(Ayrin Akter)

ESDO website: www.esdo.net.bd

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© 2026 SMART ESDO Eco-Tourism. All rights reserved.