Home » South East Asia » Thailand. Brogan Abroad | All Rights Reserved. It is so true that responsible tourism benefits *both* the locals in each country & well as the travelers ourselves. Vang Vieng was once known as the party capital of South East Asia, and a mandatory stop in every backpacker’s gap year itinerary. Learn how your comment data is processed. But more importantly, I try and seek out experiences that allow me to engage with and spend my money in local communities. LOVE how you clearly explain responsible tourism using examples from so many countries! Posted In Travel. These can include overcrowding, the destruction of heritage and the environment, globalisation, detrimental social change and many others. This style of tourism should maximize the benefits to local communities and minimize negative social or environmental impact, helping local people to preserve fragile cultures and habitats. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. As you know, there’s more to the Netherlands than Amsterdam, with plenty of other beautiful cities and regions on offer. You will have noticed that the key word here is, As you know, there’s more to the Netherlands than Amsterdam, with plenty of other, You can find more information about NBTC’s vision and strategy, This dramatic landscape has helped in the rebrand of a decadent party town, into a place where the surrounding countryside is once again the star attraction. You may have already heard the term being used in a different context e.g. Rumours that tubing was dead spread quickly and backpackers stopped coming. I make it a point to visit a different one each weekend. Conscious of the importance of good governance and political stability in providing the context for responsible tourism in destinations, and recognising that the devolution of decision making power to democratic local government is necessary to build stable partnerships at a local level, and to the empowerment of local communities. She’s on a mission to explore the world through responsible cultural and adventure travel, and through deeper, more meaningful local experiences. It helps in preserving the nature for future generations while enjoying it now to the fullest. What do local communities, the planet and the wildlife get out of it? Responsible tourism makes travellers a (temporary) active part of that community, as opposed to them just being a spectator. This third-world country is in the midst of a massive economic flux due to tourism. Tourism leakage, or the act of our tourism dollars leaving the communities where we visit is a vital component within sustainable travel. As you can see, responsible tourism comes in many different forms. … Your email address will not be published. Likewise, the shells that are apparently just inanimate objects are precious nutrients for microorganism living at the beach – and thus should be left where they are. Minimises negative environmental, social and economic impacts, Generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of host communities, improves working conditions and access to the industry, Involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances, Makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, to the maintenance of the world’s diversity, provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues, provides access for physically challenged people, and is culturally sensitive, engenders respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence, Responsible tourism from a traveller’s perspective, One way I minimise my impact is by always taking a. on trips to minimise my single-plastic use. The Importance of Responsible Tourism. One of the strategies that NBTC is using is to attract tourists to different parts of the country and, if possible, at different times of the year, so that more regions and residents will benefit from visitors. Responsible tourism vs. sustainable tourism vs. ecotourism – is there a difference? Responsible tourism can be developed with many different initiatives. Travelling responsibly doesn’t only have a positive impact in the destinations and communities we visit, but it provides us with enriching experiences that often stay with us and become the highlight in our memories. Overcrowding, disrespectful behaviour and the displacement of local people are only a few of the problems that have stemmed from this. Traveling responsibly means taking care of the cultures and environments you come in contact with. in the Atlas Mountains developed with the community in mind. One way I minimise my impact is by always taking a portable travel water filter on trips to minimise my single-plastic use. This has been good for the city in that it has established a strong tourism sector, but in recent years the problems that come with overtourism have started to show. Parts of the world that were once hard to reach are now easily accessible, and the cost of travel is considerably lower nowadays compared to 20-30 years ago. A responsible tourist will make decisions based on what is best for the local communities in the long term, making sure that the actions based on those decisions have a positive impact on those communities. Responsible tourism from the travel industry’s perspective. More and more countries are turning to tourism for economic growth, and travel in itself has never been as accessible to as many people as it is today. Things like homestays or immersive tours to visit and learn from rural or indigenous communities, or even simply staying in locally-run accommodation rather than international chains, can be a great means of genuine cultural exchange and ensuring your money stays in-country. Finding locally owned and operated places to spend my money means doing a little research when planning a trip to ensure that my time and money is making the greatest positive impact to where I’m visiting. ‘tourism directed towards exotic, often threatened, natural environments, intended to support conservation efforts and observe wildlife’. In addition, sometimes we hear the term responsible tourism too, which can add a bit of confusion and make you wonder what it all means and whether there is a difference. One thing I do differently from others though, is respecting the delicate local ecosystem. More and more destinations, tour operators, hotels and other tourism enterprises are branding themselves as eco friendly and sustainable.