TRAVEL
Consciously
Travel for Social Good Moving past traditional travel companies and making a difference
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BY TANNER CATERINA-KNORR
Many readers may be aware of corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a term used in business that elevates the purpose of the organization. Rather than a business’ sole goal of producing a profit, corporations with a CSR component look to the communities around them to understand how they can make an impact. This assistance comes in many different forms, such as grants, scholarships, healthy living programs, and basic needs assistance. Typically, CSR goals are meant to positively impact communities that are within the supply chain of the corporations. These communities are either potential customers of the business, or part of the manufacturing or production line. For example, retailers may support communities where their factories for clothing production are located. Or, broadband providers may support communities where their corporate office is located. The goal is to promote these communities while also raising the brand awareness and encouraging potential or existing customers to see these corporations in a more positive light. Individuals working for CSR initiatives must therefore manage this tricky balance by asking “who really benefits”?
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GREEN LIVING
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greenlivingmag.com
Some organizations, built primarily with social benefits in mind, prefer to use the term social good to project their motivations. These organizations operate so that they can drive profits to social causes such as food security, access to water, climate change, health and human services, or any other larger-scale issue that positively impacts the target community as a whole. When it comes to travel and tourism, social good impacts can be immense if profits are channeled appropriately. If only a slice of the nearly $9 trillion industry—about 10% of the global GDP in 2019—shifted towards social benefits, then organizations and communities could work together to solve
