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Responsible Travel |
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By choosing responsible travel, you can have the fabulous vacation that you´ve dreamed of, while ensuring that your dollar are benefiting the environment and the local people at your destination.
Our Responsible Tourism Policy
What is responsible travel?
Responsible travel is travel with a purpose.
When choosing destinations, accommodations and tour operators, consider which ones work to protect the environment and benefit local cultures and communities.
Who travels responsibly?
Anyone can be a responsible traveler!
You can get back to nature, or bathe in luxury hike into the rainforest, or explore the city stay close to home, or travel to the exotic location of your dreams. Responsible travel provides many options, and is often very affordable.
Myth: I have to sacrifice quality and luxury of accommodations.
Reality: Many lodges, hotels and B&Bs have very high standards for quality and luxury. They bring nature and culture within your reach, while still assuring your level of comfort.
Myth: It´s expensive!
Reality: responsible tours and accommodations come in a range of prices, depending on the level of comfort and convenience you desire.
Myth: It´s too difficult to be a responsible traveler.
Reality: The internet maker it easy to plan and book responsible travel. When you arrive at your destination, there are simples steps you can take to make your trip environmentally and socially responsible (see “ While Traveling” on tear – off card).
Myth: It means traveling to tropical jungles.
Reality: responsible travel often brings to mind images of exotic tropical locations, but the reality is that destinations, accommodations, and tour packages exist on very continent.
Traveler´s Philanthropy is a growing movement of travel businesses that are helping to support community projects in host countries. Increasingly, hotels and tour companies are providing financial and material assistance to projects such as schools, health clinics, and orphanages.
Many are also giving tourists an opportunity to contribute to and even visit these projects. Like others, you´ll find you enrich your travel experience when you help contribute to the well – being of the places that you´re visiting.
For more information please visit:
www.travelersphilanthropy.org
Making informed choices before and during your trip is the single most important thing you can do to become a responsible traveler.
With a little planning, you can improve the quality of your trip, while making a real difference to the people and places you visit.
Search the web: Look for websites specializing in responsible travel, ecotourism, or sustainable tourism.
Consult guidebooks: Choose guidebooks with information on your destination´s environmental, social and political issues, and read before booking. Guidebooks vary in quality, even within a series, but Lonely Planet, Rough guides, and Moon are among the best.
Make contact: Call or email tour operators that have firsthand knowledge of the place you are considering visiting. Check the websites of all accommodations.
Ask questions: Let tour operators/hotels know that you are a responsible consumer. Before you book, ask about their social and environmental policies. For instance. What is your environmental policy? What percentage of your employees are local citizens? Do you support any projects to benefit the local community?
Choose wisely: Are the businesses you're considering certified? Do thay have aco-label ratings, or have they won eco-awards?
What is Certification?
Have you heard of the AAA or 5 – star rating systems? These long – standing labels judge hotel quality and services. Over the last decade, many ´green´ certification programs have been created. These use independent auditors to rate the environmental and social impacts of hotel ( or other tourism businesses). They help travelers to make responsible choices. A growing number of companies have earned eco – labels. We encourage you to patronize those that have.
By exploring alternative travel choice, you can have a unique trip and avoid leaving negative marks on cultures, economies, and the environment.
At the hotel: Ask about environmental policies and practices. Talk with staff about working conditions. Does the hotel support community projects?
Language: Learn a few words of the local language and use them.
Dress: Read up on local conventions and dress appropriately. In many countries, modest dress is important.
Behavior: Be respectful of local citizens´ privacy. Ask permission before entering sacred places, homes, or private land.
Photos: Be sensitive to when and where you take photos/video of people
Always ask first.
Environment: respect the natural environment. Never touch or harass animals. Always follow designated trails. Support conservation by paying entrance fees to parks and protected sites.
Animal products: Never buy crafts or products made from protected or endangered animals.
Pay the fair price: Don´t engage in overly aggressive bargaining for souvenirs.
Don´t short-change on tips for services.
Buy local: Choose locally-owned lodges, hotels, and B&Bs. Use local buses, car rental agencies, and airlines. Eat in local restaurants, shop in local markets, and attend local festivals/events.
Hire local guides: Enrich your experience and support the local economy. Ask guides if they are licensed and live locally. Are they recommended by tuor operators?
TIES Travel Choice Directory: www.ecotourism.org
Rainforest Alliance – Sustainable Tourism: www.rainforest-alliance.org
Planeta: www.planeta.com/travel
Tourism Concern: www.tourismconcern.org.uk
Tour Operators Initiative: www.toinitiative.org
By choosing responsible travel, you can have the fabulous vacation that you´ve dreamed of, while......