Responsible travel
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he world of tourism is so full of confusing buzz-words – responsible travel, eco-lodges, green tours, sustainable tourism – that sometimes it’s hard to know what to focus on to be a better traveller, and easy to be duped into believing something is better than it really is. Earth Changers is a company committed to helping consumers to navigate this confusing world and make informed decisions. Its founder, Vicky Smith, has worked in the travel industry for over 20 years as a ski guide, a resort manager and a game ranger, amongst other roles, but now focuses on tourism that has a positive impact. She thinks that the most important thing for travellers to remember is that
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responsible tourism is a decision-making process rather than a type of tourism. “You can go on a theme park holiday which is responsible or a glamping break which is not, she explains. “Being a responsible traveller is about taking responsibility for the choices you make and the impacts that they have, and also measuring and monitoring them.” Embarking on this decision-making process can be tricky but there are a number of goals that it helps to have in mind when you’re planning a holiday: • Mitigate climate change • Protect natural environments • Ensure your money goes to locals, not multinational corporations, and helps to level up poorer communities. • Avoid contributing to over-tourism
BOOKINGS@CHARITABLE.TRAVEL / RESERVATIONS: 020 3092 1288
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021
CHARITABLE.TRAVEL
