Responsible tourism is about making travel choices that are environmentally sustainable, socially responsible, and economically beneficial to local communities. It involves being mindful of the impact your travel has on the places you visit and taking steps to minimize negative effects while maximizing positive outcomes. Here’s how you can practice responsible tourism:
1. Environmental Sustainability
- Reduce Waste: Minimize the use of plastics, recycle whenever possible, and dispose of waste properly.
- Conserve Water and Energy: Be mindful of your water and energy use, especially in regions where these resources are scarce.
- Protect Wildlife and Natural Habitats: Avoid disturbing wildlife, stay on marked paths, and don’t collect natural souvenirs like plants or rocks.
2. Cultural Sensitivity
- Respect Local Cultures: Learn about and respect the customs, traditions, and beliefs of the people in the places you visit.
- Language: Learning a few phrases in the local language can go a long way in showing respect.
- Photography: Always ask permission before taking photos of people, especially in indigenous or rural communities.
3. Economic Responsibility
- Support Local Businesses: Spend money in locally-owned restaurants, shops, and accommodations to support the local economy.
- Fair Trade: Buy products that are made locally and sustainably, ensuring that artisans and producers are paid fairly.
- Local Employment: Choose tour operators and services that hire local staff and provide fair wages and good working conditions.
4. Social Responsibility
- Engage Respectfully: Interact with locals in a respectful and meaningful way. Avoid treating local communities as tourist attractions.
- Give Back: Consider contributing to local projects or organizations that work to improve the well-being of the community.
- Avoid Exploitative Practices: Don’t participate in activities that exploit people or animals, such as unethical wildlife tourism or visiting orphanages.
5. Conscious Travel Choices
- Slow Travel: Spend more time in one place to reduce the environmental impact of transportation and to have a deeper cultural experience.
- Offset Carbon Footprint: Consider offsetting your travel-related carbon emissions through reputable carbon offset programs.
- Sustainable Transportation: Use public transportation, cycle, or walk when possible instead of relying on cars or flights.
6. Education and Awareness
- Stay Informed: Educate yourself about the environmental, social, and economic issues in the places you visit.
- Advocate: Share your knowledge with others and promote responsible tourism practices within your network.
By adopting these practices, responsible tourism can help protect the environment, preserve cultural heritage, and ensure that tourism has a positive impact on local communities.
SALKANTAY EXPEDITIONS TOUR OPERATOR
Seven years ago I undertook this adventure, to launch a different travel agency. Convinced that tourism is a means of unity and understanding between different peoples and cultures, from Salkantay Expeditions. We committed to the principles of Responsible Tourism as the best way to travel. In the city of cusco and the world.
- Preservation of the environment
- The beauty and diversity of Peru is impressive – we want to keep…
- In all our tours, we have a policy of cleaning that must be respected by all our employees and tourists, not dirty places to visit.
- Use proper fuel for the preparation of our food and not harm the environment.
- Guarantee the proper use of pollutants to keep clean rivers, lagoons and nature in general.
- Prohibit afforestation – fire and deter others from doing so
- Avoid activities that threaten wildlife, or may be potentially damaging to our natural environment
Helping the local Community.
Salkantay Expeditions, company committed to the welfare and job opportunities for local people and ensuring the benefits of tourism for all and not just a social class, the help offered, is far from communities Cusco where we do different campaigns for children and adults.
We work all year and part of our savings are assigned to bring this aid to communities and to provide support in education, health, infrastructure (Javier Mendoza Zarate Guide and Business Manager Salkantay Expeditions) appreciate your confidence in our project.
