Responsible Travel

Responsible Travel – Sustainable Tourism

Firstly, we’d like to point out that, as far as we’re concerned, all travel should intrinsically be as responsible and ‘sustainable as possible (it can never be 100% so), and that should go without saying. We don’t generally like making a song and dance about it and object to the frequently seen use of terms such as eco, green, sustainable or responsible tourism bandied about as simple slogans or marketing tools. That said, it is key to our travel style, so we will outline a few of our thoughts, policies and specific projects in the area of responsible travel.

Small Group Sizes

We believe that genuinely small group sizes are a simple and highly effective method to reduce the impact on local communities and the environment while also improving the experience for our guests. Group sizes on all our scheduled tours are, therefore, (to our accountant’s dismay), limited to 10 to 12 persons. Again, ‘small group tours’ have become something of an advertising slogan – even if the tour comprises up to 20 persons or more.

This offers major advantages when visiting local villages, tribal groups, etc., as a small group obviously has far less impact, is less intrusive and there’s a much greater chance of a warm welcome and opportunities for genuine interaction. (No villager is going to invite 18 people in for a cup of tea!)

Similar benefits arise for any nature-based activities: hiking, snorkelling, bird watching, etc. Not only do smaller groups have a less negative impact on the natural environment, but, as above, it is easier for a guide to transmit instructions and knowledge. There is also a far greater chance of spotting birds and wildlife with lower numbers.

Off-the-beaten-track destinations

Another core feature of our responsible tourism thinking is off-the-beaten-track destinations; not going to the same destinations every time and spreading the tourist dollar around. The famous sites are essential, but providing a balance between those and the lesser-known ones is, in our opinion, key. It’s the rarely visited sites – not included in standard itineraries – which frequently provide a more authentic insight into the destinations visited.

National Parks and Protected Areas

If governments see that creating and maintaining National Parks can create revenue, then it is an incentive for them to preserve such areas, and create new ones, instead of just going for short-term gain from logging and endless plantations.

Furthermore, if local communities perceive that national parks, forest reserves and wildlife sanctuaries bring in revenue for local communities, as well as employment for local people, then it is a big incentive for them to respect such protected areas and participate in responsible tourism schemes.

We, therefore, feel it is essential to incorporate as many such protected areas into our itineraries as possible – not only to show the scenery and exotic flora and fauna to visitors, but also to encourage authorities and local people to establish and take care of such areas.

Responsible Travel Awards

In recognition of some of our efforts in the field of sustainable and responsible travel, we’re proud to note that our Thailand manager and guide, Wipaporn (Wi), was the winner of Responsible Travel’s responsible local guide award for 2024. Additionally, we received one of the first Green Travel Awards from the Tourism Authority of Thailand back in 2010, for ‘Best UK Tour Operator for Local Communities in Thailand’.

Responsible Travel – community-based tourism

Where appropriate, we try and incorporate genuine community-based tourism projects into our small group tour itineraries. These refer to low-key initiatives on the part of villages or families which help to spread the tourist revenue while offering authentic experiences and interaction with the local inhabitants. Examples of these include the excellent local lunch/cookery lessons in Thailand’s Buriram and Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka.

Some of our aid projects

Note that while being a small, family-run and independent tour operator has many advantages for our guests – flexibility, the personal touch etc – it does mean our budget is correspondingly limited and our projects are inevitably modest compared to those of large, multi-national corporations. However, we’re proud of our various schemes – past and ongoing – and low-scale means the aid does go directly to the village headman or school director without passing by any intermediary organisations.

Ban Khone School

One of the successful, earlier projects that All Points East and our travellers were involved in was raising financing for the construction of a new village primary school in Don Khone Nua Village on Don Khone Island, Laos; a village that we’ve visited for a number of years on our South Lao tours.

Ban Phayaprai Children’s Centre

Our current project, organised by our Thailand manager Wipaporn (Wi), is providing support to a kindergarten in a village in far northern Chiang Rai Province on the Thai-Burmese border. Most of the area’s inhabitants are impoverished hill-tribe families (mainly Akha and Lisu) as well as Shan refugees from over the border. (Full Ban Phayaprai story here.)