|
Kenya's Renewed Attraction for Responsible Tourists |
- Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Rating: 3.3/5 (23 votes cast)
|
Written by Emma Starrs
|
GSE Ecotours, an ethical tour operator offering community-based Kenyan
Village Homestays, has reported a 40% increase in enquiries and
bookings for its unique holidays to rural Kenya, since the Foreign
Commonwealth Office relaxed its travel advisory to the country last
month.
According to the firm, ethical travelers are being driven by a
determination to help local communities to ride out the after-effects
of the political turbulence, which threatened to have a serious effect
on Kenya’s local economies. Previously a model of stability, Kenya’s
economy is supported by the travel industry’s contribution of over £455
million a year from its estimated one million visitors.
Says Jackie Kariithi, founder of GSE Ecotours: “People are aware that
by supporting grassroots tourism, they are directly helping local
communities to stay on their feet. We have had a long-term working
relationship with all of our host villages and thankfully the renewed
interest we are seeing from our customers enables us to continue
supporting their economies, as well as helping to develop local
community projects and to protect natural resources.”
To support rural Kenyan communities, GSE Ecotours’ Village Homestay
scheme ploughs revenue into local projects and provides wages for
families who act as hosts to their guests from the UK. Travelers are
immersed in the local culture and are treated as family members,
receiving tuition in local languages, customs and handicrafts. The
mutually beneficial arrangement means that villagers are financially
rewarded for their hospitality and travelers enjoy a profound cultural
experience and the knowledge that they are helping communities to
support themselves through industry.
Tags: africa tourism culture
|
|
|
Tips for Travelling Responsibly |
- Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Rating: 3.6/5 (13 votes cast)
|
Written by Stephen Knight
|
|
Whether you are planning the trip of a lifetime, a gap year abroad or just a holiday break, you can make a difference when you travel, not only for yourself but for the people and places you visit. Being a responsible traveller means more than just offsetting your carbon emissions, it requires thought and preparation. Responsible travel is based on the principles of sustainability and it requires you to examine the environmental, social and economic dimensions of your trip. Thus, responsible travel is all about minimizing the impact of your travel and maximizing the benefits for local economies, environments and host communities. Making informed choices before and during your trip is the single most important thing you can do to become a responsible traveller. Give some serious thought to your packing list. Your hi-tech synthetic travel jacket might keep you snug, but is it also warming up the planet or exploiting the people you plan to visit? Your soap and shampoo may smell wonderful but are they biodegradable? Try and ensure your backpack contains as many ethical products as possible (i.e. environmentally-friendly, fair-trade, not tested on animals etc). Travel lightly and leave any excess packaging at home (i.e. plastic wrapping) - your hosts shouldn?t have to deal with your rubbish. Educate yourself about the destination you are visiting by reading guidebooks and travel articles: culture, religion, geography, politics, ecosystems and local customs. Consider your carbon footprint when using air travel as your flight will do more damage to the environment than any other aspect of your trip. You can offset your carbon dioxide emissions through any of the following organisations: Carbon Clear; C-Change Trust; Climate Care; Future Forests; Sustainable Travel International; Tree Flights or the World Land Trust. Use public transport, hire a bike or walk when convenient - it?s a great way to meet local people and reduce pollution. Try to support the local economy by buying regional products instead of imported goods. Use local services and businesses which employ members of the community, it is far more enriching and is mutually beneficial. Help preserve local wildlife and habitats by respecting rules and regulations, such as sticking to footpaths or not standing on coral. Take care not to buy trinkets and souvenirs made from local flora or fauna. By buying products made from coral, starfish, shells, fur, ivory, hides, feathers, horns, teeth or eggs, amongst other things, you may be encouraging an elicit trade in endangered wildlife. Animals are not here to amuse us, so do not support this trend by visiting circuses, festivals and carnivals where performing animals are used. Respect local customs, traditions and culture - a responsible traveller doesn't go abroad to force their world-view on developing communities. Always ask before photographing local people. Think carefully about what's appropriate in terms of your clothes and the way you behave. You'll earn respect and be more readily welcomed by local people. Respect local laws and attitudes towards drugs and alcohol that vary in different countries and communities. Try to learn some words in the local language such as please and thank you, as this will be greatly appreciated and shows a respect for the culture. Don't be obsessed with getting the lowest price when haggling. What does a few pence mean to you compared to the seller? When eating out, choose small local restaurants so you will benefit individuals instead of foreign companies. Drink local beer, wine and fruit juices rather than imported brands. Take a strong water bottle and boil or purify your drinking water, rather than buying bottled water. Always try and use local energy and water as efficiently as possible and adopt a zero-litter policy. When travelling or trekking in sensitive places use a solar powered battery charger for cameras, ipods or global positioning systems to avoid wasting batteries. When travelling to impoverished countries do not give out medicine to alleviate suffering unless you are medically qualified. It is better to give your unused first-aid kits to local clinics or health charities rather than ?experiment? on local people. If you intend you volunteer overseas try and choose a locally run organisation so all your money goes to the cause rather than paying for the marketing and administration of a volunteer-sending agency. Some foreign run agencies offer little more than glorified holidays and are often more interested in making money than helping the environment or local people. No one benefits form these placements apart from the companies that organise them. The guidance above is for anyone looking to travel in a way that lessens their impact on the environment and provides genuine benefits for conservation and local people.
Changes in our attitudes to travel and tourism will help build the kind of world that can be enjoyed by our descendants in perpetuity.
The author is the webmaster of Volunteer Latin America
Tags: sustainability holiday co2 volunteer
|
|
|
Ethical Escapes and Adventure Holidays |
- Currently 2.4/5 Stars.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Rating: 2.4/5 (17 votes cast)
|
Written by tion London
|
|
Uncovering
hidden gems in South Africa, volunteering in Moshi and exploring secret
eco-havens in Madagascar ? all these experiences and more are available in
Acacia Adventure Holidays? latest 2008 brochure. The tour operator has also
reduced the maximum number of passengers in its small group safaris from 16 to
12, thereby minimising the travellers' impact on the environment; and with
several of the tour operators new itineraries reaching remote and rural areas
Acacia Adventure Holidays has made it easier to meet the people of
Africa.
Getting
away from the crowds by Dhow: The few tourists that do visit Madacasgar
number around 150,000 a year, but Acacia Adventure Holidays has taken paradise
to another level on its new 7-day adventure, traversing the more remote Northern
islands by Dhow. Heavenly eco-havens
including, Ankazoberavina and Nosy Irinja are visited en route ? the latter home
to the Hawksbill turtles and exotic coconut crabs. Further highlights include, Nosy Be, Nosy
Tanikely and the Lokobe Reserve, where adventurers can go in search of the Black
Lemur and the Nosy Be Panther Chameleon.
A
wealth of hidden wonders in South Africa: South
Africa is ?so this year? according to Acacia Adventure Holidays ? their new
15-day small group Safari, Hike & Bike Kwazulu-Natal, unearthing the
country?s hidden gems. Mountain biking
and hiking in the Drakensburg Mountains is eco-ploring at its best, with many of
the trails leading to remote rural villages.
Mount Njesuthi is a further highlight, ready and waiting for energetic
hikers who will then retire to Zululand ? this hospitable tribe sharing their
mystical beliefs on everything from spiritual healing to witchcraft. No safari would be complete without a chance
to view the Big Five and game viewing in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, is
a final wildlife extravaganza, before canoeing across the waters of the Greater
St. Lucia Wetland Park and kicking back on the beach at Kosi Bay.
Learning how to tread
lightly: The 12-day Masai
Walking Safari is an eco-centric addition to Acacia Adventure Holidays?
portfolio; starting in Kenya?s capital, with an out of city wildlife expedition
to the nearby Nairobi National Park. Leaving the 4X4 behind the itinerary
includes walking safaris through Hell?s Gate National Park to view its
spectacular gorges and geothermal hot springs, followed by a challenging trek to
the summit of Mount Longonot where travellers are rewarded with panoramic views
over Lake Navisha and the Great Rift Valley. The final section of the small
group safari sees culture and wildlife combine with Big Five game viewing in the
Masai Mara and a 6-day trek through the Loita Hills with the red robed Masai
tribe.
Hands-on tours for
ethical tourists: Travellers can also
get ethical in Africa on the six-day Volunteering Tanzania small group
safari or trek through
the dense forests of the Volcan range on the 10-day Primates of Rwanda
itinerary .
Tags: africa volunteering holiday vacation
|
|
|
Travellers get ethical in Africa |
- Currently 2.6/5 Stars.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Rating: 2.6/5 (30 votes cast)
|
Written by siobhan kindness
|
|
More volunteers are heading for Africa
Kate Plummer, Marketing Manager at Acacia Adventure Holidays comments: ?We?ve seen a 20% increase over 2007 towards the charitable or volunteering aspects of our tours. We feel that the high profile campaigns for example, ?Live 8?, have had a real impact on the choices people make where holidays are concerned, and people readily identify with their musical icons who are highlighting issues relevant to Africa.
Ethical travellers
There?s a fairly even split between both sexes in terms of ethical
trips and this relates to singles, couples or groups of friends ? the
common denominator being that they want to give something back to the
host community they are visiting.?
?We?ve also coined the term for a new phenomenon in the market, that of
the ?mini-gap? ? where people want an alternative to the gap year that
offers a similar experience. Volunteering is sound option for this
group and while these adventurers might have been considering the
longer gap year option, knowing that we can package something similar,
on a value for money basis and in a shorter time frame often makes
sense whether the traveller is between studies or taking a break from
their career.?
Adventurers on the 8-day Tanzanian Trail itinerary now have the option
to participate in a further 6-day volunteering holiday. Travellers
will gain an insight into the Amani Project in Moshi ? a charity that
aims to help the growing number of street children and kids affected
with HIV/Aids. Day to day activities might involve helping the kids in
their lessons, assisting with odd jobs, labouring or working in the
home?s kitchens, but afternoons are free to explore the local area.
Participants can enjoy various
activities including, horse riding around the lower slopes of Mount
Kilimanjaro and swimming in the Kikuletwa Hot Springs (a location
which also doubles as a great picnic spot) or alternatively volunteers
can simply chill-out and take in the scenery from the NEW Coffee Tree
Hotel ? (no doubt taking it?s name from the fantastic locally produced
coffee) which offers first rate views of the mountain. Volunteers are
also free to spend their afternoons having an energetic kick about on
the makeshift football field with the kids, leaving the evening free to
check out the local bars and Moshi?s live entertainment. (?795pp +
local payment from ?304pp with year round weekly departures). The
price includes all tour highlights as listed on the website, transport,
road tolls and taxes, camping and cooking equipment, most meals,
services of tour leader and driver, transfers to and from the project
site and shared accommodation at the Amani project (based on two people
sharing). Excludes return international flight, visas, departure taxes,
transfers, and flexible local payment excursions.
Highlights on the 8-day Tanzanian Trail include, Lake Victoria, the Serengeti, the Olduvai Gorge and the Ngorongoro Crater.
|
|
|
Travel 
