In this “Good Tourism” Insight, Shamiso Nyajeka makes a pitch for the development of a responsible, sustainable, and economically-inclusive travel & tourism industry in Zambia. Poverty persists despite a lucrative mining tradition, and increasing tourism opportunities is a means to protect the environment rather than exploit it.
Restoration of forests, mangroves and peatlands offers great climate mitigation potential, in addition to the emissions avoided by halting their loss or degradation. However, while the Glasgow Declaration and related pledges are a welcome affirmation of political will, we need action.
Kind Traveler is the world’s 1st socially-conscious Give + Get hotel booking and education platform that empowers travellers to positively impact local communities and the destinations they visit. In this video interview, Anula Galewska speaks to co-founder Jessica Blotter about Kind Traveler’s niche approach to responsible travel, and the big impact small donations can have.
From Vanuatu to Canada’s Northwest Passage, the pressure to open up new areas to the cruise industry is relentless, but decisions are often made without detailed independent research on economic benefits or environmental impact. This is an issue currently faced by the community of Jervis Bay, 200km south of Sydney.
Travellers and the industry should recognise the people who live in communities that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, climate change and tourism, either the lack of it or the over-abundance of it. Community-based tourism is doubly beneficial because communities themselves are in control of what they share and who they share it with, while directly benefiting from the experience.
