A highlight of a busy year of travel for this writer was meeting and travelling with the good people from Tourism Cares, a non-profit organization that aims to inspire the travel industry to put people and places first.
Tourism Cares CEO Greg Takehara (left), with Shaun Whitley, Travel Relations, Matt Berna, Intrepid Travel, and Aizazz Sheikh, Tour Radar. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
I met CEO Greg Takehara on a wonderful trip to Jordan, where we visited several of the community tourism enterprises nurtured by the non-profit. It truly was inspiring to meet some of the hundreds of (mostly) women whose lives – and families – have benefitted from the ability to meet with visitors, share stories and sell hand-crafted items. They have gained confidence and poise, and of equal importance they are earning money to make their lives easier.
A walking tour of the neighbourhoods outside Panama City’s UNESCO World Heritage Site Casco Antiguo. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
As a result of that meeting, TravelPulse Canada had the privilege of being invited to the Tourism Cares Meaningful Travel Summit in Panama, where I once again had the opportunity to see how tourism can be a force for good, enhancing local communities, preserving cultural expressions and widening the impact of tourism dollars.
The learnings from that trip were a perfect appetizer for my first G Adventures journey, a tour of Belize and Guatemala where 99% of the money spent in-country on hotels, transport, meals etc. went to small, local enterprises. I like service staff and bartenders as much as anybody, but I want my human connection experiences of a destination to go beyond the walls of a resort.
Handmade paper items are some of the products produced by the Iraq Al-Amir Women’s Co-op in Jordan (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
Over the past few years, the issue of overtourism and the conversation about responsible travel has jumped to the forefront. Destinations and their residents have expressed serious concern over the large influx of tourists and the seeming lack of respect when visiting.
The G Adventures Canada fam group at the border to Guatemala. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
As Tourism Cares puts it, this leaves a question: how can we, as travellers, continue to venture to our bucket list destinations in a responsible manner?
You’ll find some answers by taking a look at the Tourism Cares Meaningful Travel Map, which empowers partnering destinations to support tourism that directly benefits small local businesses, putting the tourism industry back in the hands of the local community.
Tourism Cares recently sent along a communications describing six recommended ways that travel advisors can help their clients authentically travel responsibly in 2025.
#1: Prioritize sustainable experiences from the start
Don’t make sustainable travel an afterthought. Infuse researching how to visit your desired destination responsibly and sustainably throughout the trip-planning process.
· Focus on locally-owned or operated companies.
· Look for companies that have third-party accreditation for their sustainable practices.
· Choose experiences that have a community focus.
#2: Research is key
When looking for sustainable experiences or businesses, do the homework beforehand (refer to #1). If in doubt, reach out to the local tourism association to see if they can help direct the search. For a quick resource, Tourism Cares’ Meaningful Travel Maps can help advisors and travellers discover carefully vetted impact partners in destinations around the globe.
#3: Go off the beaten path or travel during the off season
To help manage overtourism, opt to visit lesser-known destinations, neighbourhoods, or communities. Off-season travel can also help avoid crowds and possibly reduce costs.
#4: Focus on local as much as possible
By visiting locally-owned businesses or businesses that sell locally sourced products, you can help strengthen ties between tourism and a community’s well-being, creating resilient destinations that embrace tourism. Look for locally-owned accommodations with sustainability programs and strong ties to the community and those that source food, drinks and amenities locally. It’s about contributing to the destination’s circular economy.
#5: Leave the destination better than you found it
Similar to when exploring outdoors, be sure to follow the principles of “Leave No Trace” by picking up after yourself, not touching historic artifacts, and not disturbing plants or wildlife. Look for opportunities in the destination that can really connect with local people. Engage in activities that have an impact component to their offering, whether it is a restaurant focused on helping youth or a local store that sells only products made by local women. Most of these opportunities create a more immersive and authentic experience.
#6: Seek community
Lastly, use the power of travel to build connections, foster curiosity, and spark change. As the world faces many dividing challenges, let travel be a force of uniting and understanding. When visiting, create meaningful connections with the communities, learn from and embrace different cultures, and simply enjoy a cup of coffee with a stranger — who knows where the conversation may land!
I love the sights, sounds, smells and flavours of travel, but the memories that make me smile are the hugs, handshakes and common ground discovered when open hearts and minds meet. It’s much harder to be divided when you’re looking someone in the eye.