best practices
Nine labels for ethical tourism
Can tourism have a positive impact on people’s lives and on the planet? More and more, environmental and humanitarian projects are learning how to harness tourism dollars to make a difference. Dignified livelihoods are being created in the field of tourism. In some places, ecosystems are better protected and researched, with tourism to thank. This […]
What Local Travel means to local travel experts
Every month, the WHL Group delves into the travel experiences of travel experts in its extended network through interviews that appear on The Travel Word. One of the requests made of each of these local partners is for them to briefly explain what they think local travel is. What follows is a revealing selection of […]
We suck at collaboration
In early May, 2011, Ron Mader, founder and editor of Planeta.com and 2010 winner of The International Ecotourism Society’s Innovation Award, gave a slideshow presentation at the Responsible Tourism Cities Conference in Durban, South Africa. Entitled Why We Suck at Collaboration, it “addresses failure in many guises, including massive tree failure and online tourism promotion […]
Bringing responsible tourism to the hills of Darjeeling, India
Set against the jaw-droppingly gorgeous backdrop of the snow-covered Himalayas and surrounded by the phenomenal forests and streams of rural Darjeeling, India, the little village of Mineral Spring is a community knit together by strong cultural values that have made it a model of sustainable growth. Two of these values are commitments to traditional agriculture […]
Responsible Tourism Week – A better answer to some tough questions
We at The Responsible Safari Company were excited to celebrate Responsible Tourism Week, but it also sparked some heated discussions and questions in the office about how responsible we are. Should we be shouting it from the rooftops or just quietly getting on with what we do? Are there guidelines on how to be a […]
Top five picks for volunteer holidays
According to The International Ecotourism Society, volunteer travel is one of the fastest-growing segments of the tourism market. Environmentally and socially aware travellers now require more from their overseas trips than lounging on a beach and checking out the local watering holes. As a result, the number of initiatives that combine traditional sightseeing with helping […]
Green Path Transfers launches global eco-friendly airport transfer service of local operators
Green Path Transfers (GPT) launched today as a global provider of eco-friendly airport and intercity transfers. The newest subsidiary of the WHL Group, GPT answers the needs of leisure and business travellers seeking cost-effective ways to reduce their carbon footprints.
The local arts of Luang Prabang, Laos
Long known as one of Southeast Asia’s most visually stunning cities, Luang Prabang, Laos, is replete with uncommonly beautiful sights, not the least of which are the resplendent palaces and golden-roofed wats (temples) associated with this former royal capital. Now also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and must-see destination for anyone fascinated by the remarkable […]