| In fashioning this year's
Responsible Travel guide and updating the work pioneered by
Deborah McLaren, we were overwhelmed at the growing number of
resources of interest to travelers seeking practical tips on
where to go and (just as importantly) how. Perhaps 'responsible
tourism' has reached a tipping point.
In the 2006-2007 update of the Responsible Travel Directory,
Planeta.com and Transitions Abroad asked how well leaders walk
their talk.
We were impressed by the exemplary practices of dozens of organizations
and companies - from their commitment to operating with alternative
energies, to employees bicycling to work and volunteering and
donating for good causes, to stringent recycling and paperless
policy practices. Many of these organizations have also won
awards for their notable practices.
YOUR TURN
These resources educate and empower you to travel in a purposeful
and rewarding way, while helping you to not only minimize your
impact on destinations - but in the best examples make a positive
difference for them and their communities. As we wrote in the
RT Handbook (available as a PDF),
"Whether you are traveling on your own or arranging travels
for others - the Earth is your homeland. Give it the care and
respect it deserves; learn about its environment and geography;
spend time getting to know its people and their art, culture,
history, and livelihoods. While you derive pleasure, knowledge,
and understanding from your encounters, hold close the importance
of preserving these treasures for those who may follow in your
footsteps."
EDITORIAL NOTES
Organizations that responded included WWF International Arctic
Programme, Ethicaltraveler.org, Association Française
d'Ecotourisme, The Travel Foundation, International Centre for
Responsible Tourism, The Nature Conservancy, Fair Trade in Tourism
South Africa, South American Explorer, Conde Nast Traveler,
Aboriginal Tourism Australia, Sustainable Travel International,
Eldis and ECOCLUB.
The complete diretory was published in the November-December
2006 issue of Transitions
Abroad.
INITIAL FINDINGS
Does your organization have a responsible travel policy
or guidelines (e.g. minimizing impact on local communities,
respecting the rights of indigenous people, honoring fair trade
principles, preserving and protecting the environment, volunteers,
etc.)?
Yes - 86.7% 39
No - 13.3% 6
If your organization has a responsible travel policy
or guidelines, who is the target audience? Choose all that are
applicable:
Travelers - 97.4%
Media - 51.3%
Policy Makers - 46.2%
Suppliers/Destinations - 64.1%
Tour Operators - 76.9%
Other - 17.9%
Does your organization have resources for ...
Travelers - 86.4%
Media - 45.5%
Policy-makers - 43.2%
Community groups - 50%
Volunteering - 52.3%
Tour Operators - 75%
Other- 20.5%
Does your organization actively support responsible
tourism through cash contributions, human resources, or volunteering?
Yes - 88.9%
No - 11.1%
If you have responsible tourism guidelines, do you
apply them to in-house operations? If so, please list a few
of your exemplary practices.
- Recycling ... using Bio diesel instead of diesel
... using local tour operators with environmental profile ...
printing materials on recycled paper ... supplying low energy
light bulbs to hotels ... composting in-house ... documenting
local natural product markets and hosting public fairs and roundtable
discussion ... validating local culture.
ABOUT THE DIRECTORY
The purpose of Transitions Abroad's Responsible Travel Directory
is to provide the traveler with contact information, specific
leads, and recommended resources for planning the most people-
and eco-friendly trips possible.
Transitions Abroad's primary focus is on the traveler,
so the information we are collecting is aimed at this group.
That said, we are confident that this information will also
be useful to destinations and suppliers, planners and tour providers,
policy makers, and academics working in the field.
The Responsible Travel Directory will be featured in the November-December
issue of Transitions
Abroad.
TRANSITIONS ABROAD
Transitions Abroad has been in publication since 1977 and
is one of the most respected educational travel magazines in
the United States. Its readership of 27,000 is interested in
making a difference in the world and learning more about organizations
with responsible tourism information.
CONTACTS
Ron Mader, Planeta.com
Sherry Schwarz, Transitions
Abroad
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