Responsible travel is about minimizing your impact and maximizing your connection with people and the environment. It's about making a positive contribution and having the most rewarding and inspiring travel experiences of your life. Responsible tourism can be more-or-less defined as travel that takes into consideration the 'triple bottom line' issues of:
Travel that minimizes negative environmental impacts and, where possible, makes positive contributions to the conservation of biodiversity, wilderness, natural and human heritage.
Travel that respects culture and traditions and fosters authentic interaction and greater understanding between travellers and hosts
Travel that has financial benefits for the host community and operates on the principles of fair trade.
Travelling by the responsible travel ethos is one of the most direct and personal ways you can make a difference to some of the biggest issues affecting our world: poverty and peace. Be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem - and have the time of your life doing it.
Each vacation you take is an opportunity to have a positive impact on the places you visit. Anyone can be a responsible traveler! You can get back to nature, or bathe in luxury...hike into the rainforest, or explore the city...stay close to home, or travel to the exotic location of your dreams. Responsible travel provides many options, and is often very affordable. By using socially and environmentally responsible tour operators, hotels and outfitters, you can ensure that your trip contributes to conservation efforts and to the well being of communities. Your travel choices make a difference.
Below are tips for making responsible choices during your vacation.
Be respectful of local citizens' privacy. Ask permission before entering sacred places, homes or private land.
Learn a few words of the local language and use them.
Respect the natural environment. Never touch or harass animals. Always follow designated trails. Support conservation by paying entrance fees to parks and protected sites.
Ask about environmental policies and practices. Talk with staff about working conditions. Does the hotel support community projects?
Be sensitive to when and where you take photos/video of people. Always ask first.
Read up on local conventions and dress appropriately. In many countries, modest dress is important.
Never purchase crafts, clothing, furniture or other products that are derived from members of protected or endangered animal species.
Don't engage in overly aggressive bargaining for souvenirs. Don't short-change on tips for services.
Choose locally owned lodges, hotels and B & Bs. Use local buses, car rental agencies and airlines. Eat in local restaurants, shop in local markets and attend local events. That way money spent in the community stays in the community.
Enrich your experience and support the local economy. Ask guides if they are licensed and live locally. Are they recommended by tour operators?.
The Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) is a program seeking the categorization and certification of tourist companies according to the level its operation comes closer to a model of sustainability program, administered jointly by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, National Chamber of Tourism, Ministry of the Environment, and University of Costa Rica, recognizes those that submit to a rigorous assessment are evaluated on their employment of local people, respect for local culture, contribution to the economic and social well-being of the community, and preservation of natural resources.
Travelers' Philanthropy is a growing movement among travel businesses to support community projects in host countries. Increasingly, hotels and tour companies are providing financial and material assistance to local schools, health clinics, and orphanages. Many are also giving tourists an opportunity to contribute to and even visit these projects. You too might find your travel experience enriched when you contribute to the well-being of the places you visit.
If you want to contribute to a community project, please contact us at: info@costaricahighlights.com
Have a great, sustainable journey!
Contacts
phone: (506)2235-4656 | (506)8315-1477All rigth Reserved 2008 www.costaricahighlights.com
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