What Is Responsible Travel ?
Responsible travel is about minimizing your impact and maximizing your connection with people and the environment. It's about making a positive contribution and having the most rewarding and inspiring travel experiences of your life.
Responsible tourism can be more-or-less defined as travel that takes into consideration the 'triple bottom line' issues of:
Environment: travel that minimizes negative environmental impacts and, where possible, makes positive contributions to the conservation of biodiversity, wilderness, natural and human heritage.
Social/Cultural: travel that respects culture and traditions and fosters authentic interaction and greater understanding between travelers and hosts.
Economic: travel that has financial benefits for the host community and operates on the principles of fair trade.
Travelling by the responsible travel ethos is one of the most direct and personal ways you can make a difference to some of the biggest issues affecting our world: poverty and peace. Be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem - and have the time of your life doing it.
DEFINITION AND ECO-TOURISM PRINCIPLES:
TIE* defines ecotourism as “responsive travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people” This means that those who implement and participate in ecotourism activities should follow the following principles;
- Minimize Impact
- Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect
- Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts
- Provide direct financial benefits for conservation
- Raise sensitivity to host country’s political, environmental and social climate
- Support international human rights and labor agreements
* TIE=Tourism involving travel to areas of natural or ecological interest, typically under guidance of a naturalist for the purpose of observing wildlife and learning about environment.
