Responsible Tourism: What it Means to Us

Responsible Tourism means doing the right thing. It means putting your tourism dollars into the local economy. It means avoiding elephant rides. It means not giving to child beggars. We’ll explain more.

Responsible Tourism is an approach aimed at maximizing economic, social, and environmental benefits while minimizing costs to the destination. In more simple terms, Responsible tourism is tourism ‘that creates better places for people to live in, and better places to visit’.

The Basic Principles of Responsible Tourism:

  • Minimizes negative economic, environmental, and social impacts
  • Generates more economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of host communities
  • Involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances
  • Makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, maintaining of the world’s diversity
  • Provides more enjoyable experiences for travelers through meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues
  • Encourages cultural sensitivity, building respect between travelers and hosts