Responsible Travel

Responsible Travel, EcoTourism and Sustainable Tourism are terms that have become very fashionable, and it seems many companies are branding themselves Responsible Operators when they do not not even understand the base concept of what it is all about. There is even a new term I heard recently - 'ekistop' ie a place that promotes fair trade, solidarity, cultural, ecological or responsible travelling, which is either visited abroad or located nearby. Good (and responsible) operators understand the issues and incorporate responsible tourism practices. They do not just advertise empty slogans.

But, it really does take very little hard work to be responsible. 

Travel is an important part of our lives, and the number of travellers continues to increase each year, and as they do, we learn more and more about the devastating effect travel and tourism can have on the environment and local cultures. Responsible Tourism is an attempt at minimising in the destructive side of the tourism industry, conserving not only the environment, but the people and cultures within it. And yes, this responsibility lies with both you as the tourist / traveller and us as the agent / operator. 

There are companies that have been long time advocates of 'Responsible Tourism' years before it became 'green'  to do so, or became a phenomena. There are also companies that have never been responsible, and unfortunately never will be. Travel should be a positive and learning experience for both the traveller and the communities and countries visited. As they say - 'leave nothing behind bar your footsteps'. There can be a very fine line between the need for tourism and the revenue this brings to areas, to the needs of the local environments, wildlife and peoples that inhabit them and of course, the burden that the 'tourist trail' in turn has on these areas. Tourism Concern reckons there will be in the vicinity of 1.6 billion international tourists by 2020. Considering Global Tourism is worth over US$733 billion and employs approximately 8% of the global workforce, it is something that we all need to start thinking about quite seriously.  We all need to take responsibility for our actions and behaviour to ensure that a visit to an area is mutually beneficial both for travellers and local people.

Travellers: 

We can all be Responsible Travellers. We just need to follow some simple guidelines (below are just some examples):
1] Think about what sort of clothing is appropriate for both men and women. You are a guest of the country you are visiting and should respect social and religious customs. It is important to dress and behave appropriately in cultural or religious areas and to respect local sensibilities.
2] Ask before taking pictures of people, even children, and respect their wishes.
3] Giving to children encourages begging. Many responsible tourism experts believe giving money to beggars simply encourages a begging culture and reliance on hand-outs. A donation to a project, health centre or school is more constructive.
4] Buy local products and Fair Trade products. If you haggle for the lowest price, your bargain may be at the seller's expense. Even if you pay a little over the odds, does it really matter? Choose locally made handicrafts that benefit the local community. Beaded jewelry, wood carvings, paintings: items not made from animals. Never buy products made from coral or endangered plants and animals. Perhaps spend your money on donating to, or visiting, projects that work to conserve habitat and protect endangered species, such as animal sanctuaries. If there are no buyers, then there is not market.
5] The more and further you fly, the more you contribute to global warming and environmental destruction. Consider flying long-haul less often but staying longer when you're there. Offset carbon emissions.  Although not flying is obviously a solution to reducing carbon emissions, the impact on poor destinations that are reliant on tourism is increased poverty.
6] Don't throw rubbish or leave rubbish. You would not do this at home would you? So don't do it abroad. If you cannot dispose of non-biodegradable products appropriately, then take them with you.
7] Turn off all the lights when you leave a hotel/hostel/lodge room. Someone is paying for the electricity.
8] Eat in locally owned and operated restaurants / cafes when you can. If you are in Rome - eat Roman! 
9] Try and learn as much as possible about the culture, language and wildlife of the country you are visiting. Be respectful of local cultures and traditions.
10] Learn some key words and phrases in the local language (and not simply assume that locals should speak English to you).
11] Preserve the areas you visit. Do not drive off-road on undesignated pistes or tracks as you will be damaging delicate Eco-systems that have taken many years to mature and in some cases are irreparable. It also gives the impression to others that if one person is doing it then they can as well, whereas in fact it will lead to future generations not being able to enjoy it at all. Unregulated tourism  can devastate environments, degrade cultures and destroy traditional livelihoods.
12] Be resourceful with water, from drinking it through to washing with or in it. Remember you are just passing through, but the local people and wildlife live there - and in many cases they use the same water source and have to walk long distances to collect it, (often very few houses have running water). Therefore if the local supply runs dry they will have even further to travel to collect it. This applies in campsites, hostels and hotels. Environmentally friendly detergents and shampoos are widely available please try and take these with you and use sparingly. This will help to keep local fresh water supplies free from pollution.
13] Purchase and use rechargeable batteries for your cameras, ipods, phones etc, we 12V cigarette sockets on our vehicles, so all you need is a charger! The UK alone produces 20 - 30,000 tonnes of waste batteries EVERY year! Why not invest in a wind-up or solar-powered torch or media player before you travel.

And last but not least, embrace the experience! Do not return home with regrets as you may never get the chance to visit again.

Tour Operators: 

Tour Operators also have a responsibility. Overwhelming communities and the environment with irresponsible operators depletes both natural and cultural resources that cannot sustain the deluge. Some guidelines are:
1] Ensure their businesses cause as little damage as possible to the area in which they operate.
2] Actively seek to provide benefits to the environment and people. For example, as well as reducing and recycling waste, the company should buy produce and recruit staff locally in order to ensure that the local economy also gains from tourist revenue, just as travellers are also encouraged to use local services.
3] Respect local cultures and support local development. One way is to introduce guests to traditional ceremonies as well as teach them how to behave and dress appropriately.
4] Protect natural areas and the efficient use of resources. Minimise the impact of the company’s activities and educate passengers about the local environment and its issues. Also considered here are energy saving measures and the source of water used, as well as how the waste is disposed of.
5] Manage their business in such a way that they preserve natural habitats, wildlife and communities so that they can continue to deliver benefits for years to come.
6] Interaction with communities and local people ensuring that they are not insensitive to the concerns of the local population.
7] Get their staff on board. Effective practices are the result of a team effort.
8] Searching for savings in energy and waste efficiency plays a major role in environmental improvements. Changing to energy saving light bulbs significantly reduces electricity bills.
9] All company staff are ambassadors to inform and instruct others to be aware of responsible practices.
10]  Supports community development projects such as education, health and infrastructure.

In all, there is a lot to do in regards to acting responsibly when we travel in another country. If you travel with a company who you believe disregards any or all of the above, tell someone! If you travel with a company who follows any or all of the above, tell someone!