If a change is as good as a holiday, travel itself is a tonic for many “illnesses” we suffer from. Maybe “going somewhere” can relieve us from the pressure of work or loneliness or boredom itself.
If we are treating ourselves to a long-awaited holiday, it is satisfying to know that we can also bring pleasure, and not pain, to others.
That’s what responsible travel is all about. Some call it “regenerative tourism”, as it shows us how we can give back more than we take from the communities and places we visit on our travels
Helloworld Travel provides a good example of this. Australia’s largest group of independent travel agents not only cares about its customers and its people, but also its impact on the environment around us and the wellbeing of the community in a larger sense.
This paper published a story about this a few months ago, prompted by our Travellers’ Tales event, where attendees shared their experience of over-tourism, slow travel, responsible travel and “travel by the book”.
One book we can think of, is called Holidays That Don’t Cost the Earth by John Elkington and Julies Hailes.
It’s been around since 1992 and gives good advice – and a warning or two – to those in the travel industry to make the experience better for travellers, as well as the destinations they visit.
Then there’s OneTomorrow, a not-for-profit charitable fund of APT Travel Group (ATG), which includes the brands APT, Travelmarvel, Botanica, Captain’s Choice and Antarctica Flights.
Its mission is to make a lasting, positive impact on nature and the communities it touches, through both immediate and long-term support of environmental and humanitarian causes.
The Washington-based Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) is a globally recognised nonprofit organisation dedicated to transforming the way the world travels
CREST provides Cape Cod as a living case study in sustainable transformation.
Here, rising visitor demand intersects with marine conservation, development pressures collide with climate reality, and a centuries-old culture works to stay inclusive without losing its identity.
Carnival Corporation – the world’s largest cruise business – is committed “to creating safe and inclusive spaces for all team members and guests, while responsibly navigating and preserving the incredible communities and scenic spaces in which we operate”.
We’re also familiar with the work of The Long Run, a membership organisation supporting a global community of purpose-driven tourism businesses.
Responsible travel or the art of travel, for us, means TREADability: Travel Responsibly for the Environment, the Arts and your Dreams.
