Our Responsible Travel Policy

Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries, accounting for nearly 12% of the world’s GDP. While this creates many benefits that contribute to national and local development, it can also impact negatively on the environment and local cultures. This includes the depletion of natural resources, pollution from solid and liquid waste and emissions or land degradation.
We don’t intend to add to these problems. By traveling responsibly with The Adventure Company, following this simple code of conduct and encouraging others to do the same, you can make a real, positive difference to the people and places you visit. We hope you will follow these guidelines to help preserve the beauty of our world for the next generation.
 

WHAT WE ARE DOING?

There are three strands to our policy on Responsible Travel. The first relates to the way our trips operate; secondly we provide information to tell our clients about how to avoid the potential negative effects of travel and help them to act responsibly; thirdly we support specific charities and local projects. We are always trying to do more and feel that we have created a culture within our company that can only lead to further advances.

OUR STYLE OF TRAVEL

Travelling as a small group goes a long way to reducing the impact of travel. Staying in local-style accommodation – or even as guests of locals – is also very important. We avoid internationally owned hotels where we can because we want the money generated by our stay to benefit local people directly. Doing this also removes the need for scarce resources to be diverted to provide special tourist facilities.
Using local transport is important too – it’s fun and adds variety to a trip but it also provides opportunities to mix with local travellers and channels money into the right hands.
Contact with local people – a key feature of every trip. This is one of the best ways of creating understanding and tolerance between cultures (and our group leaders advise clients about do’s and don’ts). Local group leaders are employed on more than 90% of our trips, plus there’s the drivers, guides, porters, etc. This gives our clients a further chance to mix with residents of the host country and puts money directly into local hands.
Group leaders will point out opportunities to purchase local products and will alert you to issues of trade in endangered species. They are trained and briefed according to our Responsible Travel policy and will help you to minimise any negative social impact, protect the environment and reduce waste. Issues such as energy and water conservation, environmental degradation, reduced use of plastic bottles, carrying out litter, etc. Special measures are also taken to protect the natural environment when trekking or visiting sensitive or fragile ecosystems.
In order to limit the social impacts of travel, we provide plenty of information about local religions, customs and sensibilities, as well as background information about food, politics, history etc

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Simply reading this leaflet and taking a few moments to think about the impact you personally could make is a start. Being aware of and adhering to our Responsible Traveller’s Code will have an immediate effect – setting an example to other travellers and influencing local people will increase your positive contribution.

Responsible Traveller’s Code

Find out about your destination. Buy relevant guidebooks and learn about the culture, politics, geography, religion and customs of the area before you travel.

Go equipped with some basic words and phrases. A few words (even just hello, please and thank you) will go a long way towards developing communication and understanding with local people.

Dress respectfully. It is very easy to embarrass, shame or offend local people by not covering up or dressing appropriately.

Buy locally made goods and use locally provided services. Try to put money into the local economy by encouraging trade and the local manufacture of goods and crafts.

Pay a fair price for the goods and services you buy.

Haggling is often a part of local life, but make this light and bright - don’t go too far. Keep a realistic perspective. What is a trifling sum to you, could be a significant amount to a local family (perhaps worth something important to them, such as a meal).

Ask permission to photograph or video – how would you like it if a stranger came along and took photos of you going about your everyday life (hanging out the washing, going to the gym or walking the dog)?

Avoid conspicuous displays of wealth, especially in very poor communities where you are a guest. Remove watches, rings and expensive jewellery.

Don’t make promises you can’t keep about sending pictures, gifts, etc...

Support local community or environmental projects – rather than giving money to beggars. We can provide ideas before, during and after travel.

If you want to give something, give stationery to a local school, or something practical – like a pair of warm socks, a needle and thread, or a warm hat. Try to give them to a person in authority and ask them to make a judgement on giving them to those who most need it rather than to a beggar. Don’t hand out money, sweets or medicines.

When you return home think how you can support programs to help the country you’ve been privileged enough to visit.

Save the environment – carry out litter, do not buy mineral water in plastic bottles (use a water purifier instead, where appropriate), take bio-degradable soap, burn toilet paper, don’t throw away plastic bags, choose a hotel or tour operator that has a Responsible Travel policy.

On some of our trips there is the opportunity for diving and snorkelling excursions. The underwater world is a very fragile environment and touching coral (even unintentionally) or taking it will create lasting damage. Be aware of your surroundings.