Responsible Travel Stories

Learn more about responsible travel from the experts
 

Read tales of responsible travel from all over the world. The articles are written by some of the world’s most acclaimed travel writers, sharing their unique insights.

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Sustainable Fishing in the Maldives
Sustainable Fishing in the Maldives

With fish stocks under threat around the world, responsible fishing and sustainability within the seafood industries are critical to many local communities. International Pole & Line Foundation explain their work in the Maldives and their Responsible Tourism Initiative.

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A Checklist for Travelling Sustainably in Africa
A Checklist for Travelling Sustainably in Africa

The tourism industry is uniquely placed to help with many of the issues afflicting local communities in Africa. Travel, at times, much maligned for its impact upon local cultures, can play an invaluable role in preserving both ecosystems and traditional ways of life.

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Sustainable Tourism and a Remote Island
Sustainable Tourism and a Remote Island

St Helena is one of the world’s remotest islands, but with the opening of its new airport, tourism is set to become a major economic boost for the island. Can it become a sustainable source of income while protecting the island’s natural habitats?

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Eco-Tourism in Kenya
Eco-Tourism in Kenya

The term ‘eco-tourism’ has fast become a travel industry buzz word but what exactly does it mean? There’s a common misconception that eco-tourism is about nothing more than wildlife-watching tourism in conservation areas. Stuart Butler explores some of Kenya’s best eco-tourism options.

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Overtourism and the Solutions
Overtourism and the Solutions

They say: ‘Travel is supposed to be about the journey not the destination.’ Nothing could be more true, but somehow I feel that this culture of travel is dying fast. It seems like travel has instead become about bucket lists and ticking off highlights…

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Caribbean Leatherback Turtles
Caribbean Leatherback Turtles

The presence of the leatherback turtles has helped Grande Riviere tremendously, transforming it from a poor, rural village into a vibrant, self-sustaining community, creating a rare balance in a place where people and nature live side-by-side and eco-tourism is used to benefit both.

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South Africa Walking Adventure
South Africa Walking Adventure

The Cederberg Heritage Trails were founded in 2007. A community-based initiative aimed at providing employment opportunities to the local communities who have farmed this harsh landscape for generations, it has a variety of routes and durations.

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Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park
Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park

The mighty Zambezi River is famous for its frenetic coursing of Victoria Falls, but there is a quieter, calmer side to Africa’s fourth-longest waterway. It is found in the Lower Zambezi National Park – it is utterly beautiful but it is also increasingly vulnerable.

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Responsible Travel: Sri Lanka
Responsible Travel: Sri Lanka

There is still plenty of jungle in Sri Lanka, but also increasing amounts of concrete; indeed, overdevelopment is perhaps the biggest tourism-related challenge facing Sri Lanka today. The effects on the island’s once pristine coastline have been particularly devastating.

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Zakouma – raw, wild Africa!
Zakouma – raw, wild Africa!

Situated just south of the Sahara Desert and above the fertile rainforest regions, Zakouma National Park is the last intact central African savannah ecosystem. Visitors are essential for ongoing conservation efforts and the park has admirable responsible tourism ambitions.

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Myanmar’s Allure
Myanmar’s Allure

Myanmar (formerly Burma) is currently in the midst of abrupt and very significant change, and tourism is going to be one of the things that probably changes Myanmar the most in the coming years. Whether those changes are for good or are for ill will depend on how responsibly tourism is managed.

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Cultural Tourism in Tanzania
Cultural Tourism in Tanzania

Safaris and beaches are the top attractions in Tanzania. The main aspect of cultural tourism – meeting local people – tends to be an afterthought for many tourists. So how do you best arrange a valuable, responsible, cultural interchange as part of a tourist itinerary?

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Making Good Choices In Samoa
Making Good Choices In Samoa

Responsible travel, it seems to me, is about making the best choices. This means opening up your experiences on the road and giving everyone involved a richer experience: So you engage with local people instead of just racing past them clutching your luggage and an itinerary.

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Telling Africa’s Stories
Telling Africa’s Stories

Increasingly, over the years, the stories that matter to me focus on Africa’s forgotten peoples – indigenous peoples, traditional peoples – whose fraught relationship with the modern world threatens their very existence. I have stumbled upon many wonderful projects that help such people.

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Rethinking Wildlife Experiences
Rethinking Wildlife Experiences

Sometimes it’s not obvious when bad practices have crept into mainstream tourism. When visiting Asia, you’ll likely be offered an elephant ride or the chance to feed tiger cubs. But before you say yes, you really ought to think twice before taking part in wild animal experiences.

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Life Beyond Safaris – Zim & Zam
Life Beyond Safaris – Zim & Zam

If wildlife conservation brings in tourism, creating long-term, sustainable jobs and incomes, and if tourist-funded community projects bring in better education and healthcare, then wild animals will be far more valuable to local people, giving them reason to protect them.

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Africa: Gorilla Conservation
Africa: Gorilla Conservation

The survival of mountain gorillas is one of Africa’s greatest conservation success stories. They live in the verdant rainforests of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and tourism has been a major factor in this success – sustainable tourism.

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Orphanage Tourism In Asia
Orphanage Tourism In Asia

Friends International (www.friends-international.org) is one of a growing number of organisations working to raise awareness of, and minimise the harm caused by, orphanage tourism in Cambodia, Orphanage visits by travellers impact the children’s safety, privacy and stability.

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Why Responsible Tourism Matters in Africa
Why Responsible Tourism Matters in Africa

Being aware of issues around conservation and local communities is critical for a well-rounded African adventure. It helps you connect with locals. And if you really want to complete your journey to Africa, you should always give back.

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Responsible Travel – Taking the Lead
Responsible Travel – Taking the Lead

Wondered how to help save endangered rhino? Want to know how to find safari lodges operating on accredited eco principles? Is it okay to take photos of local people? How do I give back to local communities? Does responsible travel really matter?

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