Responsible Travel is in our DNA
Responsible Travel is in our DNA
FLY LESS, STAY LONGER, EXPERIENCE MORE
Find out how we can help you make your holiday kinder to the environment, while enriching your experience at the same time.
According to one of the greatest naturalists of our time, Sir David Attenborough, a healthy natural world relies on a complex range of interconnected processes where every living thing is part of a continuous cycle to nourish and make possible new life.
The problem we have is that humans are increasingly using the resources of the planet in a linear way, breaking nature’s cycle and, among other things, producing vast amounts of material which simply can’t be recycled. If you add to this the harmful noxious gases produced by our lifestyle, together with over-population issues, you begin to understand the situation we’re facing.
We believe we have been offering responsible holidays throughout our history, which goes back almost four decades. We haven’t shouted about it much – it’s just what we do. To put this in context, here is a passage which appeared in a brochure we published in 2008…
“Travel is one of the few mass endeavours which joins together the peoples of all nations in a unique partnership and, as an industry, can play a positive and distinctive role in influencing the way people and governments act. Countless projects and partnerships across the globe, spanning the entire spectrum of the travel industry, have resulted in examples of cooperation in ways which should be an inspiration to all.
Of course, there is an environmental price to pay for travel. It is about finding the right balance between minimising our impact on the environment while not losing the ability to open minds through new experiences and interactions with cultures different to our own. We should never lose sight of the economic value of tourism and how it supports local livelihoods. Nor should we ignore the fact that countless conservation projects around the world rely on tourism to continue their work protecting endangered species and wild places.
One way to take responsibility for our travel is to make each journey count to the full – fly less frequently, stay longer and do more.”
These words ring even truer today which is why, when you book a holiday with Discover the World, you’ll get a trip which won’t cost the earth. We choose the elements of our holidays in a way that balances environmental impacts with pragmatism. For example, as well as ensuring that your accommodation is run as sustainably as possible, we will also look at how it is managed… whether we feel you will be happy there, what the health and safety is like, how their staff are treated and so on. We also consider the economic and social impact of travel, always trying to make these positive, wherever we go.
We suggest trying, whenever possible, to spend longer than a weekend when flying somewhere. Our Travel Specialists are full of inspirational ideas to help you plan ways of extending and enriching your itinerary, including alternatives to flying, such as rail or sea travel. With ever-changing views outside your window, there is something truly mesmerising about travelling through the heart of a country by train or boat – the journey becomes an intrinsic part of your holiday.
By flying less and staying for longer, you’ll experience the deep satisfaction of ‘slow travel’, gaining a deeper insight into the destinations you visit and return home feeling relaxed and enlightened.
To help further reduce your carbon emissions, we would suggest you offset the remainder with a reputable organisation such as the World Land Trust. The charity’s Carbon Balanced programme offers an effective means of being part of the solution in tackling climate change.
Find out more about our Pillars of Sustainability and the responsible travel initiatives we support.
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