Malawi-based tour operator, The Responsible Safari Company, specialises in sustainable, educational and philanthropic travel experiences. Despite the devastating effects of the pandemic on their business, the company have declared a climate emergency and signed up to the guiding principles outlined by the Future Of Tourism Coalition. For managing director, Kate Webb, improving economic resilience goes hand in hand with protecting local ecosystems.
Responsible travel company Better Places launched successful campaign 'Dream Now, Travel Later' to stay connected with travellers and highlight the plight of their local teams. So far their innovative crowd-funding efforts have raised an impressive 65,000 euros for their teams of guides and drivers affected by the pandemic.
Stopping tourism leakage requires long-term strategic goals and new success metrics. It also requires a holistic approach that focuses on niche markets, supports local businesses and workers, and protects destinations’ unique social and natural assets.
While tourism is on pause, there has been much discussion about how we can improve the sector from an environmental and overcrowding standpoint. But we also need to improve it for local people by respecting them and their culture and ensuring they have equal access to the infrastructure and economic opportunities that tourism can bring.
The Future of Tourism Coalition brings together key players from around the world who want to ensure that destinations are placed at the centre of recovery strategies. Jeremy Sampson tells official media partner Travindy about this new and timely global collaboration and the Coalition's plans to facilitate the transition towards a new model for tourism.
“Net-zero hotels” are something no one had heard of ten years ago, but now an increasing number are redirecting their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint and achieve this gold standard in hospitality sustainability.
