Responsible tourism rewarded
Specialist operator Discover Adventure has had its commitment towards responsible tourism recognised.
The company, which organises worldwide fundraising challenges for charity groups, has received a four star accolade from the Association of Independent Tour Operators.
This is in recognition for the work the operator does supporting communities it sends people to, the responsible methods used to conduct tours and the environmental practices of the business more generally.
The company operates a ‘Leave no Trace’ tourism policy and takes time to brief all participants on what this means and how to travel responsibly.
Discover Adventure is involved in community projects on a long-term basis in Peru, Tanzania and Nepal. Participants can stay on after they have completed their challenge to help out at schools, orphanages and children’s homes.
Carbon offsetting of flight emissions is encouraged via the Climate Care website and participants can now reduce the impact of their trip in a more practical way by volunteering with environmental volunteering charity BTCV to offer a practical alternative to offsetting carbon emissions.
People can volunteer for a day to construct footpaths, carry out dry stone walling, create wildlife habitats or plant trees in their local communities after completing a challenge.
BTCV believes getting people interested in the environment through volunteering, and then encouraging longer term adoption of pro-environmental behaviours such as saving resources, consuming less and travelling wisely, has potential to make a greater impact in addressing climate change than offsetting.
The Salisbury-based operators’ managing director Jonathan Bryan said: “Long before the phrase ‘responsible tourism’ was coined we were organising and running all of our trips with a conscientious mind on minimising the negative impact we have on the places we visit.
“The value of tourism to the local economy of the countries to which we travel should not be underestimated.
“Our style of travel, often to remote parts of the world, generates employment and incomes in rural communities which often have no source of revenue other than subsistence farming.
“Without the employment we offer to porters and local guides these communities might find it difficult to sustain their way of life”.
The AITO Responsible Tourism Star System has a maximum of five stars. The alliance with BTCV should mean that Discover Adventure will achieve the highest award in the coming 12 months, the company said.
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026