What is Responsible Tourism & Why We Should Care

Author : GROUND Asia Team | Tag : Responsible Tourism

At GROUND Asia, responsible tourism is a fundamental part of our educational programs for students; creating an awareness of the need to share global resources in an efficient, fair and responsible way.

So what exactly is responsible tourism? The concept is rooted in the belief that tourism should develop in a direction that minimizes the negative effects on local communities, and ensures that a positive synergy exists between the hosts and visitors.

The term is really another way of saying ‘sustainable tourism’, but since sustainability is often overused and not well understood, responsible tourism has been adopted by the industry as an umbrella term to mean any form of tourism that has positive benefits for the environment and all parties concerned.

In a nutshell, responsible tourism aims to:

• Reduce negative social, economic and environmental impacts
• Create greater economic benefits for local people and improve the well-being of host communities
• Improve working conditions and access to the industry
• Ensure that local people are directly involved in the decision-making process
• Make positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage by embracing diversity
• Provide enjoyable experiences for tourists by connecting with local people, thus leading to a better understanding of cultural, social and environmental issues
• Provide better access for physically challenged people
• Ensure the experience is culturally sensitive and encourages respect between tourists and hosts, while building local pride and confidence in the product

Education is the key to ensuring tourism has a positive effect and at GROUND Asia we work closely with all parties involved to ensure that our programs are designed to limit any negative impacts on the environment, while having real long-term benefits for the communities involved.

We are also constantly striving to ensure that students on our programs, as well as suppliers and local communities, are all treated fairly and with respect. We also support and encourage fair employment practices and our programs are designed to ensure that all wild and domestic animals engaged in our projects are protected and well looked after.

Through practical experience, research and with the additional knowledge provided by our travel partners, GROUND Asia has developed an extensive network of partners and built strong relationships with the destinations and communities with which we work – ensuring that all our projects truly benefit the local communities in which we operate.

In addition, all our programs are aligned with the UN’s Global Sustainable Development Goals, thus ensuring that we provide ongoing support and assistance to the communities with which we work – listening to their needs first and foremost, and ensuring that students who take part in our projects continue to play a participating role in years to come.

It is important to remember that responsible tourism is not a product, but an integrated approach, involving many stakeholders in any destination or place which attracts tourists. It should also be remembered that each of us can play a role in ensuring that responsible tourism practices are followed, especially when we travel to other places and cultures.

By taking a responsible, pro-active approach – whether its refusing to use a product that exploits animals, or opting to use a refillable water bottle to reduce plastic waste – we can all play a part in promoting the use of responsible tourism and changing our world for the better.

If you’re interested in arranging a responsible travel program for your students, check out our school and university programs and get in touch with us.