Responsible Travel recently reviewed and removed all holidays that visited zoos. The overriding feeling is that ‘animals should not be held in captivity unless there are good reasons‘. With evidence of abnormal and stereotypic behaviours being shown by many animals in captivity Responsible Travel has decided that it is inhumane to keep animals in unnatural environments. Some of the worrying behaviours exhibited by captive animals can be seen here. Continue reading
Author: conservetourism
Responsible Tourism; The New Luxury
According to Skift ‘the new luxury is defined by small brands with big stories’ and I couldn’t agree more! Skift’s mega trends of 2017 has touched on something amazing for responsible tourism. Stories are essential to selling responsible tourism and the industry is full to the brim of them just waiting to be told. Continue reading
8 steps to selling responsible tourism
So the UN has declared 2017 the year of sustainable tourism for development. Tourism is responsible for 10% of the world’s GDP and has huge developmental potential for countries with limited exports but are rich in cultural and environmental experiences. 2015 saw 1.2 billion international travellers, it is time to take this growth seriously, ensuring it has positive rather than negative impacts.
Sustainability’s Competitive Advantage
Peoples ethical spending has always been of great interest. After meeting a particular customer I wondered if sustainability was finally becoming part of consumerism… Could it be possible that people are beginning to think of ethics first? This was being considered because the customers very first question was;
‘I am looking for a responsible holiday where I can make a positive impact on Namibia, how does Responsible Travel’s holidays provide this?‘.
Sustainability and social consciousness has suddenly been given a competitive advantage. So perhaps it is time for businesses to move fluffy, tokenism charity work into real business practices?
Fossil Fuels, ‘We Don’t Need You!’
Building a society without fossil fuels is possible. We need to shake of the myth that it cannot be done. The belief that a country needs to choose between nature and development is complete rubbish. This TED Talk explains all.
Costa Rica, although relatively special due to its volcanic activity, produces nearly 100% of its energy from renewable’s. However, Austria and Germany have taken huge leaps without a volcano insight.
The Responsible Tourist; What Do They Look For?
Many may say ethics, social consciousness or perhaps supporting the local population economically. But really the bottom line is EXPERIENCE. Working in responsible tourism I do occasionally get asked about the political, social and economic benefits of the holiday but this always comes second. So what does a responsible tourist look for when making their final decisions? What are the most common questions? Here’s a few of my regulars…
Last Chance Tourism; Go Before it’s too late!
93% of corals have been impacted by abnormally warm waters. Coral bleaching has spread around the globe devastating reef mortality resulting in a sense of urgency amongst some tourists. A feeling of ‘I have to get there before its too late!’ is sweeping across many tourists. This has created a form of tourism that I have come to loath the most, ‘last-chance Tourism’. It suggests a feeling of hopelessness, that we are too late and nothing can be done. Conservation soon gets replaced by an acceptance of demise and we extract as much as we can before it disappears. This needs to change and fast!
