Home > A closer look at Ethical Holidays

by Nikki Bond of Go Differently

UK government forecasts indicate that by 2035, air travel will account for nearly a third of all CO2 emissions, making the UK the worlds 7th largest producer of CO2.

All over the world, irresponsible tour operators put profits before people and the environment. Not to mention individual travellers whose careless actions can cause long-lasting cultural problems in the communities they visit.

No one wants their dream trip to become a guilt trip. Wouldn’t the most ethical solution be to simply stay at home?

In fact, the answer from an increasing number of ethical travel organisations is that it is not only possible for tourism to be sustainable, there is also enormous potential for it to have a key role in helping to reduce poverty in developing countries around the world.

For example, according to the World Trade Organisation, in 2002, international tourist receipts in Africa were $11.8 bn – the US aid budget to Africa is just $674 million. Unfortunately, in order for tourism revenue to make a real difference to the local communities, as much of it as possible needs to stay in the places the tourists visit which means that there needs to be a fundamental change in the way many tour companies currently operate.

At present, it is fairly typical for just 10 – 13% of the total tourist spend to remain in the host country. By owning the airlines, hotels and flying in their own staff, many larger tour operators seek to maximise their own profits to the detriment of the local populations who suffer the intrusion of hordes of foreign holidaymakers but receive very little in the way of benefits.

Fortunately, a new breed of tour operator is now emerging … Typically these are small, owner-operated and ethically motivated companies who are seeking to redress the balance and help to ensure that tourism really can help to make a difference to the lives of the people in the places they visit. Go Differently is one such example. Specialising in small group adventures and tailor-made travel to South East Asia, they operate in such a way that around 75 – 80% of the holiday price paid stays in the destination.

Ways in which Go Differently and other tour operators like them seek to maximise the benefit to the communities visited include:

• Using local guides, local transport and local accommodation and paying fair wages, ensuring that not only do clients gain a unique insight into the culture they are visiting but also that as much of their money as possible stays in the local economy.
  
• Wherever possible they contribute to community projects (helping to preserve traditional ways of life, providing education and supporting environmental initiatives) and, if practical, encouraging clients to visit or even lend a helping hand.
  
• Working in co-operation with local individuals and companies, particularly in less-developed regions, they advise on any potential impacts of their visits and strive to minimise these wherever possible. In this way, those who travel are not greeted as unwanted intruders but rather as welcome guests.
  
• Before they travel, clients are issued with guidelines that typically include advice about responsible travel policy and encourage them to follow these guidelines. These include stressing the need to avoid wastage of local resources, minimising the pollution caused by leaving litter, and emphasising the need to respect local customs and cultural beliefs. As locals themselves, guides also advise and help client to fit in with social expectations.
  
• In order to ensure a minimal impact on the places visited, group sizes are deliberately kept small – normally between 8 to 12 people. This allows clients to become actively involved in the lives of the local communities without imposing "foreign" morals and values.

Perhaps not surprisingly, people who choose to make the effort to travel this way, very quickly find that ethical travel is mutually beneficial. Not only does it support and enhance the economy of the local communities but by travelling responsibly and respectfully, travellers are often warmly accepted by the local people offering them a much deeper insight into the culture they are visiting.

Ethical holidays really do make better holidays.

What can you do? How to be a responsible traveller...

• Learn about the cultures and places you are visiting before you go - welcome will always be warmer if you take an interest, even speak a few words of the language.
  
• Know and respect the local traditions and behavioural expectations - always ask before photographing people and do not enter buildings, private homes or holy sites without permission.
  
• Support local businesses by using locally owned accommodation, restaurants, tour guides and shops. Buy local produce in preference to imported goods. Pay fairly for goods and services.
  
• Do not buy products made from endangered species, hard woods, shells from beach traders or ancient artefacts.
  
• Use public transport wherever possible - one of the very best ways to get to know the local people!
  
• Share your culture freely (postcards of your home town make excellent small gifts and can provide an interesting talking point with the locals) but don't impose it, and don't assume that people who do things differently are inferior - they're just different!
  
• Discover where the locals eat, where they go on their days off and whether there are any local festivals or events taking place during your visit.
  
• Respect the environment. Take litter home with you and use water sparingly - in many countries, sufficient clean water is a valuable resource.
  
• If possible, support organisations working for the preservation and conservation of natural and cultural resources and the rights of workers in tourism fields.

Current examples of holidays offered by Go Differently:

If you're interested in elephants and can travel in November this year, Go Differently are offering an itinerary which will combine visiting the annual Elephant Festival in Surin, seeking out wild elephants in the jungle AND a week volunteering at the elephant mahout project in Pattaya.
Cost of this trip is GBP 750 per person on a twin sharing basis and excluding
international flights.
For more details see http://www.godifferently.com/surin_elephant_festival.asp

Escape winter in the UK and help to make a real difference - Go Differently are currently running a monthly small group trip which spends 2 weeks exploring Bangkok and southern Thailand as well as 5 days assisting with the tsunami relief efforts. Forthcoming scheduled departure dates are 15th October, 12th November and 27th December 2005.
The cost of this itinerary is GBP 600 per person on a twin sharing basis, excluding international flights.
For more details see http://www.godifferently.com/tsunami_volunteering.asp

 

© Ethical Earth Limited and Go Differently 30 September 2005

 

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