On the two-decade anniversary of his travel company, Responsible Travel, Justin Francis reflects on just how far the industry has come and where it’s going next. He suggests nothing is possible unless we first reduce carbon emissions and restore nature and that the only way forward is to consult more closely with local people.
In this interview for Skift, Florian Sengstschmid, CEO of Azerbaijan Tourism Board, talks about how the DMO used the pandemic to develop a solid, sustainable tourism strategy and emerge as a safe destination, ready to back welcome travellers. Since Azerbaijan is not a mass tourism destination, he hopes it will be easier and safer for travellers to enjoy the country’s immersive experiences when the time is right.
The crises of 2020, particularly the pandemic and violence against Black Americans, have caused many travellers to rethink how and where to travel. The recent rollout of vaccines gives some hope that they may be able to enact their plans sometime in the next year or two – and shift towards more values-driven travel.
Adumu Safaris is a social impact safari company working in partnership with local communities to harness tourism’s potential to protect cultural and natural heritage. They successfully combine cultural immersion experiences with traditional safari itineraries, and have the ultimate aim of restoring thousands of hectares of Maasailand. Rebecca talks to husband and wife team David and Danielle to find out more.
Plans to create a huge ski resort that would require blowing up part of the Alps are on hold after major pushback from locals coming to grips with warming. A growing grassroots movement is now standing up to the powerful ski industry, arguing that it sacrifices untouched landscapes for ever grander projects that ignore the looming climate crisis.
