Responsible Tourism

Environmental Considerations

The environmental impact of travel, especially travel in a large group, can be considerable, both to the environment in general and on a more specific local level. Any area that is visited has its own environmental issues that are often unique to that area. A good understanding of these issues is therefore essential in helping a group minimise its impact on the area being visited. This is where the use of local agents with local knowledge is so important - they understand the pressures that tourism can bring and how those pressures can best be minimised.

The travel companies we deal with have all demonstrated a significant commitment to reducing the negative impact that travel causes on communities and the environment, and each has its own guidelines for responsible tourism. For a more general overview of the factors which effect the environment whilst travelling, The British Ecological Society and YET have issued guidelines on environmental responsibility for expeditions (pdf,400Kb).