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Guidelines for Responsible Tourism :
“”Our aim is to offer how we can travel the right way – the responsible way ?””
Today tourism is one of the world's largest and fastest growing industries and it can have very positive and very negative impacts on its hosts. When we travel we benefit by the exposure to new and different cultures and ways. It is equally important to us that when we travel to different parts of our amazing planet that our exchange is always a mutual one and that we make a positive contribution to people and places that we visit along the way.
These days ‘Responsible Travel' and ‘Sustainability' are hot topics. Responsible Travel is not about donating large sums of money to charity (at least not without thoroughly researching the long-term intentions or effects of the charity) or merely following the status quo.
We believe Responsible Travel is about taking time to think about how our actions can benefit or how they impact the people, communities, economies, environments and eco-systems we visit, and then use this to make a difference (or sometimes more appropriately - how we can NOT make a difference). We are constantly considering our actions and how we and the people who travel with us can improve our impact on the places we visit.
Please see our Travelling Responsibly Policy below, and the following ways in which you can help us to make a difference in the countries we travel in and maybe in your homes as well...
Please note: Our Responsible Travel Policy is an open document. Please feel free to comment or make any suggestion as to how we may be able to improve.
ITC Responsible Travel Policy
Social Impact
We recognize that the cultures and communities we visit can be fragile and require an ongoing commitment from us to ensure that we have a lasting positive effect. Tourism, when carried out in a responsible manner, can be a real help to local communities providing income, positive cultural exchanges and the financial incentive to protect their natural environment.
- Small group size - Our groups REALLY are small! With a maximum of 10 in any one group we minimize our impact on the small communities that we visit
- By travelling as a small group we can truly have a positive interaction and social exchange with the people we meet and visit.
- Many places have special spiritual, sacred or historical significance. Treat these areas with respect. Learning about places you visit will help you understand and respect the value they hold for others.
- Learn some of the local language. Learning a few phrases and greetings in the country you visit shows respect to the people and helps to break down cultural/social barriers
- When meeting and interacting with people who have or appear to have much less (material possessions and opportunity) than we do - it is tempting to want to ‘give' and share what we have with them. We also like to think about - ‘What are the short and long term effects of aid/charity or even the simple act of giving food - on local communities?', ‘Who actually benefits or feels good?' Usually the answers to these questions are complex. Think about them before you go ‘giving' things away.
- Always ask permission before taking pictures of people, ritual events or special places like shrines. If people seem reluctant or look away then DO NOT take a picture. Be careful not to cause offence through your thoughtlessness. It's quite easy in a small, simple community to appear an arrogant rich foreigner, so be aware of the feelings of other people, and try to avoid giving offence
Economy - Trading Issues
Local standards of living are usually very different from our own, so we need to realize that our economic power is great and we should not abuse it.
- We like to support the economies of the places we visit - by buying locally made products, using local accommodations, restaurants, markets and support small businesses. (Buying locally made products also decreases the environmental cost of importing).
- We employ ethnic minority guides in the place we visit. For example : Tour Sapa Trekking to village or claimbing to fansipan Moutain .we always used Local as H’Mong people but for tour to centre highland for visit some village ..we used local tour guide as M’nong people and Jlai people
- Choose locally made crafts and support local skills, not simply buying on price but on value to you: bargaining for a lower price for both souvenirs and services is often the accepted and expected custom, but don't drive a hard bargain just for the sake of it.
- We always give the opportunity to try local food and specialties. Many rural areas around the world are under threat from a reduction in their agricultural base and by eating locally produced goods we help the local farmers as well as the local economy.
Environmental Impact
The number of people getting out into the outdoors and enjoying recreational activities is growing rapidly. With this rise in ‘environmental traffic' comes an increasing impact on the natural environment, damaged plants, unsightly rubbish, eroding shortcuts, polluted water and deteriorating facilities. The environment is our home, the home of billions of animal and plants species and the home of future generations is a delicate and highly threatened foundation. Today it is essential that we change our habits at home and in the way that we live and travel and adopt a more caring attitude to the environment. Here are some of the things we do at home and on our trips to help conserve the natural environment:
- We always remove ALL rubbish from the places we ride and camp and deal with it in the most appropriate way: Reuse what can be reused, recycle what can be recycled, compost all compostables (or feed them to domestics goats, pigs or chickens) and aim to minimise items put into landfill. Tip: Did you know that putting food scraps in landfills produces methane; a climate-changing gas
- When shopping avoid ‘single use packaging'. As much as possible only buy products packaged in reusable, recyclable or better still NO packaging.
- Say NO to plastic supermarket bags. Use cardboard boxes or reusable carry bags to transport shopping.
Local Projects
Schools in Mai Chau Hoa Binh
Every year ..ITC travel with Woodlown College in Australian .Arrange Vietnam Trip for student With topic of converstion .”” Green environment “
Mekong tourism Development Project.
Responsible Tourism in Cambodia , Laos and Vietnam
Under supported by the Asian Development Bank . Itc Travel Co.ltd has cooperation with Vietnam Nation Administration of Tourism organized Work Shop ,Aims to promote the develop of tourism sector in lower Mekong river basin countries Cambodia , Laos and Vietnam – through infrastructure improvements,community and private sector participation and sub- regional cooperation .
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