THE ETHIC REPORT : Travel Matters in Europe

By: Karen Leiva

From supporting local businesses to helping weavers preserve ancient arts, there are opportunities to travel with a purpose when it comes to your next holiday.

UNDISCOVERED GEMS

Globus recently unveiled a new roster of Undiscovered tours introducing travellers to hidden gems in Wales, Scotland and England. Travelling to off-the-beaten-path locations takes the pressure off more popular sites (many of which are experiencing the impact of over-tourism) and provides more opportunities for local businesses. Plus, it gives visitors the chance to experience some of the country’s most charming villages and rural routes. Look for itineraries that include a six-day Hidden Treasures of Southern England featuring visits to the mystical New Forest and the Isle of Wight (a personal favourite of Queen Victoria); or the Scottish Highlands and Islands tour to wild and remote corners of that country.

HOLDING HERITAGE

The Laboratorio Giuditta Brozzetti, a weaving workshop in Italy supported by the TreadRight Foundation, uses antique looms to create cushions, table runners and scarves on looms that date back to the 18th century. “Perugia, in medieval times, was the most important town in Italy for materials. The techniques (used at the workshop) survived only in a convent,” said Marta Cucchia, the workshop’s weaving master. “So many studios like this have closed and we are one of the last. If I stop my work, we cut the long thread of the tradition.” See the workshop on Insight Vacations’ 16-day itinerary, Country Roads of Italy, and Trafalgar’s 11-day Italy Bellissimo tour.

SHARING THE NEWCOMER EXPERIENCE IN ITALY

In Rome, which sees high numbers of tourists flocking to the Vatican and Colosseum, G Adventures has introduced a new way to experience the city: Migrantours. These tours offered in larger itineraries, such as the 14-day Ultimate Italy or seven-day Local Living Italy Coastal Tuscany, take aim at recent challenges the country is facing with an influx of more than 50,000 migrants (mostly North African) in recent years. Led by a newcomer to Rome, the tours introduce travellers to local businesses, associations and places of worship important to migrants. The idea behind the tours is to share knowledge of migrant issues, but also to generate much-needed revenue.