World ExpeditionsBig Adventures. Small Footprint.https://assets.worldexpeditions.com/BlogWhat is 'Regenerative Travel'?https://assets.worldexpeditions.com/Blog/PostId/5486/what-is-regenerative-travelActivities,Adventure Travel,Thoughtful TravelWed, 28 Jun 2023 02:27:00 GMT<p>Regenerative Travel is a relatively new term in travel circles that aims to go beyond sustainable travel practices. While sustainable travel focuses on minimising negative impacts and returning a net neutrality on the environment and local communities, Regenerative Travel aims to have a positive and transformative effect on those environments and communities. </p> <p>Put simply, the core principle of Regenerative Travel urges travellers to have a positive impact by giving back more than they take from the destinations they visit. </p> <p>The term was born during the Covid pandemic, when locations typically overtouristed began to see improvements in key indicators like air quality, and less pollution. </p> <p>The question was soon posed - how can these improvements continue when travellers return? How can a destination benefit yet still incentivise the protection of natural and cultural assets AND still provide an enriching experience for the traveller? </p> <p>Enter, Regenerative Travel. </p> <div class="dynamicImageWrapper" switchsource="image1"><img alt="Beach clean-up is an important part of coastal restoration and regeneration" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="2127039" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Charities-_-Schools/World-Expeditions-Schools/Malaysia-conservation-program_-beach-clean-up_-school-program_-Pangkor-Island-2127039-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Charities-_-Schools/World-Expeditions-Schools/Malaysia-conservation-program_-beach-clean-up_-school-program_-Pangkor-Island-2127039-###width###px.jpg" /></div>   <p>A <a href="https://worldexpeditionsschools.com/our-programs/regenerative-travel" target="_blank">Regenerative Travel program</a> involves travellers committing to activities such as actively restoring and regenerating ecosystems, supporting local economies, engaging in community lead initiatives, fostering cultural exchange and reducing their carbon footprint. </p> <p>The benefits of Regenerative Travel are seen on many levels. This type of 'slow travel' seeks to create a net positive cycle, where travellers and destinations mutually benefit from the experience, leaving a lasting positive impact on the environment, building capacities for local communities, and increasing respect for cultures encountered during the journey. </p> <p>When travellers support locally driven initiatives and businesses, the communities receive the resources they require to care for and protect their environment. </p> <p>The demand for this style of travel also drives the local communities to engage in activities supporting this regenerative approach, and the traveller, sharing more meaningful experiences during their journey, is more driven to respect and protect the land and local communities while travelling. </p> <p> </p> <p><carouselsource aspectratio="4x3" data-plugin-options="{'items': 3, 'margin': 10, 'nav': true, 'dots': false}"><img alt="Vermicomposting workshops educating Nepali farmers to build environmentally sustainable livelihoods | <i>Trans-Himalayan Environment and Livelihood Program</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="2122843" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Nepal/vermicompost1-2122843-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Nepal/vermicompost1-2122843-###width###px.jpg" /> <img alt="Vermicomposting kits supplied to farmers by Trans-Himalayan Environment and Livelihood Program | <i>Trans-Himalayan Environment and Livelihood Program</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="2122845" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Nepal/vermi-kit-2122845-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Nepal/vermi-kit-2122845-###width###px.jpg" /> <img alt="Vermicomposting workshops educating Nepali farmers about sustainable farming | <i>Trans-Himalayan Environment and Livelihood Program</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="2122844" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Nepal/vermicompost-2122844-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Nepal/vermicompost-2122844-###width###px.jpg" /> </carouselsource></p> <p>We have teamed up with a local NGO, T-HELP, to implement a service program and help train local female farmers in the techniques of vermicomposting. This is combined with a group trek through the Annapurna Range through small farming communities and villages, into the location of the service program, gaining an understanding of the local environment and terrain, as well as gaining incomparable views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. </p> <p>Overall, Regenerative Travel offers travellers a unique opportunity to combine personal growth, cultural understanding, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. It empowers people to become responsible global citizens who actively contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive world.</p> 5486Travel Better: Memorable Responsible Travel Momentshttps://assets.worldexpeditions.com/Blog/PostId/3630/travel-better-responsible-travel-momentsNews,Thoughtful TravelMon, 30 Nov 2020 01:41:00 GMT<p><span style="color:#949e17;"><em><strong>2021 marks the 20th anniversary of our pioneering Responsible Travel Guidebook, a document designed to educate travellers on how they could reduce their impact when travelling.  Since then, our commitment to minimal impact tourism has seen us introduce many more initiatives that have been embraced by our travelling community – check out the highlights below.</strong></em></span></p> <p>In a world that is so beautiful, we aim to bring you closer to nature and create meaningful experiences with local communities and their cultures responsibly. It is a world with endless natural wonders to explore; a place we call our home. But it is a world that is undoubtedly under threat from our impact.</p> <p><strong>Since our inaugural Himalayan trek in 1975, we have been leaders in Thoughtful Travel. </strong>From day one, our ethos was to get out of the bus and to reduce our impact by exploring the world under our own steam. For over four decades, we've been creating genuine and sustainable itineraries to help protect what is delicate and to leave a positive influence. It has been in the past 20 years, however – where 'green travel' has become mainstream – that our responsible travel initiatives have received the public support required to become a real success.</p> <p><strong>A particular highlight was receiving the Environmental Achievement Award for our ‘Responsible Travel Guidebook’ publication from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in 2001</strong>, which educated travellers to reduce their impact and has since evolved into our <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/ebrochures/Thought-Traveller-Guidebook/index.html?_ga=2.69840144.126101284.1521430027-2107553138.1515013435" target="_blank">Thoughtful Traveller booklet</a>. Almost 20 years on, we’ve continued to pioneer minimal impact travel ideas with our ‘BIG Adventures. Small Footprint’ travel ethos at the backbone of our itineraries which we consciously craft to respect and positively impact the well-being of the communities and ecosystems we visit.</p> <p><strong>But we could not have come this far without our thoughtful travellers </strong>who have supported us and helped collectively change the world for good. Not only do our travellers leave with an enriching and transformative adventure experience with us, they have helped champion positive changes so others can also appreciate and experience the beauty of the earth. So thank you!</p> <p>Your support means we can continue to make lasting positive impacts so future generations can also experience the wilderness of the <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Blog/why-raft-the-franklin-river" target="_blank">Franklin</a> just as beautifully 40 years on; or to responsibly <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Blog/larapinta-trail-ancient-australia-northern-territory" target="_blank">walk the Larapinta Trail in the footsteps of the Arrernte people</a>, one of the longest continuing cultures on the planet.</p> <p>From protecting wildlife and supporting renewable energy to lending a philanthropic arm for our <strong><a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Blog/lend-a-hand-appeal-update" target="_blank">Lend A Hand Appeal</a> – with over $42K raised so far for struggling travel industry </strong>workers, our travellers and supporters are all amazing! Learn more about our most memorable responsible travel achievements and commitments below.</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><strong>Quick links: Jump to an achievement</strong></span><br> <span style="font-size:16px;"><a href="#1"><span style="color:#999999;">Offering carbon-neutral trips</span></a><span style="color:#999999;"><span style="color:#555555;"></span></span><br> <a href="#2"><span style="color:#999999;">Allowing travellers to invest in local communities and support cleaner energy at no extra cost</span></a><span style="color:#999999;"><span style="color:#555555;"></span></span><br> <a href="#3"><span style="color:#999999;">Distributed 485 emergency packages to stricken communities </span></a><span style="color:#999999;"><span style="color:#555555;"></span></span><br> <a href="#4"><span style="color:#999999;">Launching Community Project Travel in response to the 2004 Asian Tsunami</span></a><span style="color:#999999;"><span style="color:#555555;"></span></span><br> <a href="#5"><span style="color:#999999;">Allowing travellers to sleep greener at our eco-friendly campsites </span></a><span style="color:#999999;"><span style="color:#555555;"></span></span><br> <a href="#6"><span style="color:#999999;">Raised over $7 million for charities worldwide</span></a><span style="color:#999999;"><span style="color:#555555;"></span></span><br> <a href="#7"><span style="color:#999999;">Funding and supporting education projects in poor communities</span></a><span style="color:#999999;"><span style="color:#555555;"></span></span><br> <a href="#8"><span style="color:#999999;">Bringing tourism dollars to remote communities</span></a><span style="color:#999999;"><span style="color:#555555;"></span></span><br> <a href="#9"><span style="color:#999999;">Pioneering regenerative travel which aims at positive social and environmental impact</span></a><span style="color:#999999;"><span style="color:#555555;"></span></span><br> <a href="#10"><span style="color:#999999;">Became a founding member of the 10 Pieces Litter Collection</span></a><span style="color:#999999;"><span style="color:#555555;"></span></span><br> <a href="#11"><span style="color:#999999;">First company to develop a formalised animal welfare code of conduct</span></a><span style="color:#999999;"><span style="color:#555555;"></span></span><br> <a href="#12"><span style="color:#999999;">First company to stop offering orphanage tourism</span></a><span style="color:#999999;"><span style="color:#555555;"></span></span><br> <a href="#13"><span style="color:#999999;">Became founding supporters of the International Porter Protection Group</span></a><span style="color:#999999;"><span style="color:#555555;"></span></span><br> <a href="#14"><span style="color:#999999;">Hosted a Thoughtful Travel Q&A</span></a><span style="color:#999999;"><span style="color:#555555;"></span></span><br> <a href="#15"><span style="color:#999999;">Were the first charter member of the ‘Peace Through Tourism’ campaign</span></a><span style="color:#999999;"><span style="color:#555555;"></span></span><br> <a href="#16"><span style="color:#999999;">Completed over 400 Youth Service Learning Programs</span></a><span style="color:#999999;"><span style="color:#555555;"></span></span><br> <a href="#17"><span style="color:#999999;">An ongoing commitment to improve through the power of partnerships</span></a></span></p> <h3><span style="color:#949e17;">Thoughtful Travel Highlights</span></h3> <h4 id="1"><strong>Offering carbon-neutral trips</strong></h4> <p><strong></strong>We have long been concerned about the impacts of global warming and the impacts tourism contributes to that. While travelling has unavoidable carbon emissions, we're continuing to take BIG steps to reduce our footprint and improve our operations at every level.</p> <p>From November 2019, we began to <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Thoughtful-Travel/Offset-Your-Land-Travel" target="_blank">offset 100% of the unavoidable carbon emission</a> from our adventure travel holidays, so travellers can explore the world sustainably.</p> <p>“Travellers can continue to travel, providing incredibly important revenues into nations where tourism is a vital part of the national GDP mix, and do it guilt-free. We also encourage travellers to carbon offset their flights using the airline programmes. It’s an important trajectory that we hope the entire industry will join in on.” – Sue Badyari, CEO of World Expeditions Travel Group</p> <blockquote> <p><span style="color:#949e17;"><strong>In the industry, we can continue to foster change for good while supporting jobs for those employed by tourism around the globe, and that is a win-win.</strong></span></p> </blockquote> <h4 id="2"><strong>Allowing travellers to invest in local communities and support cleaner energy at no extra cost</strong></h4> <p>The carbon credits purchased from South Pole to offset emissions from trips are absorbed by World Expeditions, not passed on to travellers. In turn, our travellers help the climate cause to transition from fossil fuel dependency to renewable energy and help to protect and regenerate forests that capture and store carbon from the atmosphere.</p> <p>This means that for each active holiday our travellers book onto, they are directly supporting <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/thoughtful-travel/carbon-offset-positive-impact-projects" target="_blank">Positive Impact Projects in places such as Australia, Vietnam, China and Zimbabwe</a>, which address the UN Sustainable Development Goals, like reducing poverty, affordable and clean energy, reducing hunger, clean water and climate action.</p> <p><img alt="You are supporting projects in Australia, Africa and Asia." class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="761583" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Marketing-Images/World-Ex/Map-of-Positive-Impact-Projects-from-land-offsets-761583-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Marketing-Images/World-Ex/Map-of-Positive-Impact-Projects-from-land-offsets-761583-###width###px.jpg"></p> <h4 id="3"><strong>Distributed 485 emergency packages to stricken communities </strong></h4> <p>Food and hygiene packages have been distributed to families in Nepal, Kenya, Tanzania, India and Peru thanks to our 'Lend A Hand Appeal' supporters. <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Blog/lend-a-hand-appeal-update">Read more about the appeal and how you can donate today</a>.</p> <p><img alt="Porter families in Nepal receiving our 'Lend a Hand Appeal' food packages" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="761598" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Marketing-Images/World-Ex/Udaipur-1-761598-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Marketing-Images/World-Ex/Udaipur-1-761598-###width###px.jpg"></p> <h4 id="4"><strong>Launching Community Project Travel in response to the 2004 Asian Tsunami</strong></h4> <p>Our travellers across the globe with World Expeditions have been making tangible change in underprivileged communities that receive little to no government support and require assistance through our <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Thoughtful-Travel/Community-Project-Travel" target="_blank">Community Project Travel</a> trips.</p> <p>The dedicated division first launched in 2005 in response to the devastating Asian Tsunami in 2004 and has been a continuing force for good. Working alongside volunteers from the host communities, travellers complete grass-roots construction projects that have been funded by the World Expeditions Foundation.</p> <p>“It has become the portal for travellers to immerse in community project works that, while small scale, are measurable and leave a permanent benefit for the community once complete. As a profit for purpose division, we were able to deliver dozens of projects across the globe. This is a great pride for us, and a joy for the travellers that participated.” – Sue Badyari, CEO of World Expeditions Travel Group</p> <p class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="embed-responsive-item" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yQaEHDGp_PI?rel=0&controls=1"></iframe></p> <h4 id="5"><strong>Allowing travellers to sleep greener at our eco-friendly campsites </strong></h4> <p>Our portfolio of adventure holidays have always had a light environmental footprint by designing trips that allow adventurers to travel under their own steam – on foot, by bike or kayaking or rafting, with low carbon accommodation preferred.</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="embed-responsive-item" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/tWyfIIa_ctU?rel=0&controls=1"></iframe></div>   <p>In Nepal, our <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Thoughtful-Travel/Private-Eco-Camps-in-Nepal" target="_blank">exclusive campsites</a> offer new levels of comfort during a trek whilst caring for the environment and local communities. It provides year-round employment and career opportunities for the Nepali people (a camping-based trek can employ 25% more local people than a teahouse or lodge-based trek) and ensures a significantly smaller environmental impact, as deforestation is a major ongoing concern in the Himalaya.</p> <p>On our Larapinta trips in Australia, our <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Larapinta-Trail-Semi-Permanent-Eco-Camps" target="_blank">three-time award-winning campsites</a> continue to set the standard, incorporating new sustainable technologies including solar lighting systems and a hybrid grey water disposal system designed for the arid environment.</p> <p><img alt="Facilities at our eco camps | <i>#cathyfinchphotography</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="761585" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Brad/Cathy-Finch-photography/20200810_213918844_iOS-761585-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Brad/Cathy-Finch-photography/20200810_213918844_iOS-761585-###width###px.jpg"></p> <p>Where campsites aren’t used, we use comfortable, locally-owned accommodation to support the local economy and are eco-friendly and which often encourage communities to preserve their traditions so travellers can enjoy their downtime and feel great about it.</p> <blockquote> <p><span style="color:#949e17;"><strong>World Expeditions' active itineraries are crafted to minimise road travel and to maximize our travellers own power to get them from point A to B.</strong></span></p> </blockquote> <h4 id="6"><strong>Collectively raised over $7 million for charities worldwide</strong></h4> <p>Since its inception, our dedicated charity brand, <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Charity/Huma-Charity-Challenge" target="_blank">Huma Charity Challenge</a>, developed programmes that allow our Charity Challenger participants to run, cycle, trek or climb their way around the world whilst raising much-needed funds for important causes. <a href="https://www.humacharitychallenge.com/Find-a-Challenge" target="_blank">View various Charity Challenges you could take up ></a></p> <p><img alt="The Conquer Kozi team at the summit of Mount Kosciuszko | <i>Ayla Rowe</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="761591" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/HUMA-Challenge/Mt-Kosciuszko/Conquer-Kozi-2018-761591-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/HUMA-Challenge/Mt-Kosciuszko/Conquer-Kozi-2018-761591-###width###px.jpg"></p> <h4 id="7"><strong>Funding and supporting education projects in poor communities through our philanthropic arm, the World Expeditions Foundation</strong></h4> <p>Founded in 2007, the <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/World-Expeditions-Foundation" target="_blank">World Expeditions Foundation</a> aims to improve the standard of living in poor and indigenous communities, largely through education-oriented projects from donations raised.</p> <p>It served Nepal very well after the earthquakes in 2015 where the generous flow of donations were able to relieve many people in the worst-hit regions with tin roofing, canvass and canopies as well as fuel and food to help them get through the earliest days of the disaster.</p> <p>One of the charity’s major programmes is the <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Blog/PostId/2549/rebuild-nepal-community-project-in-photos" target="_blank">Rebuild Nepal Projects,</a> which continues to support the redevelopment of classrooms across remote mountain communities affected by those earthquakes.</p> <p>“It took sheer perseverance to see through the establishment of the World Expeditions Foundation to become a full DGR entity. That is, those donating to the foundation could receive a tax-deductible receipt which is a major propellant to heightening donations to create greater positive impacts with the projects we are supporting.” – Sue Badyari, CEO of World Expeditions Travel Group</p> <h4 id="8"><strong>Bringing tourism dollars to remote communities who have limited access to income from other sources</strong></h4> <p>Our unrivalled range of exploratory treks to remote destinations, like the <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Nepal-Regions/Great-Himalaya-Trail" target="_blank">Great Himalaya Trail</a>, spread tourism dollars to local communities that benefit from travellers visiting.</p> <p>Partnering with local operators and hiring local guides and leaders sees our traveller’s dollars investing in these local economies. It’s a fantastic way our travellers can give back to the communities they visit and better spread out the positive and negative impacts of tourism on the destination.</p> <p><img alt="Local people of western Nepal | <i>Lachlan Gardiner</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="761590" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Nepal/LachlanGardiner_WestNepal_2019_DSLR02_HIGHRES-1413-761590-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Nepal/LachlanGardiner_WestNepal_2019_DSLR02_HIGHRES-1413-761590-###width###px.jpg"></p> <h4 id="9"><strong>Pioneering regenerative travel which aims at positive social and environmental impact</strong></h4> <p>On top of our sustainable practices, we actively work to improve the destinations our travellers visit and essentially leave the place better than they found it. It’s about restoring and improving the health of the earth, not just maintaining it.</p> <p>As pioneers of the <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Australia/Raft-Canoe-Kayak/Franklin-River-Rafting" target="_blank">Franklin River Rafting Expedition</a> in Tasmania’s World Heritage wilderness since 1978, our responsible travel practices has allowed future generations to experience it just as beautifully 40 years down the track.</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="embed-responsive-item" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/3dpOqsFkPcM?rel=0&controls=1"></iframe></div> </div>   <p>On the <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/activities/trekking-hiking/larapinta-trail-treks-australian-walks" target="_blank">Larapinta Trail</a>, as visitors on the sacred land, we work alongside the indigenous traditional owners and NT National Parks & Wildlife to allow clients to gain a deeper understanding of the need to conserve the Aboriginal cultures and respect their place and lifestyle in Australia. A partnership between the landscape and the campsites has been established to maintain respect for country, to enhance the sense of place and to provide a total environment experience of the Larapinta trek.</p> <p>Our Larapinta eco campsites provide shelter to our walking groups through a series of minimal impact structures and each campsite's semi-permanent design allows the land to recover during the off-season.</p> <h4 id="10"><strong>Became a founding member of the 10 Pieces Litter Collection</strong></h4> <p>Focusing on litter ‘hotspots’ on mountain trails, it is offered on treks in <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Nepal" target="_blank">Nepal</a>, <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Bhutan" target="_blank">Bhutan</a> and <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Peru" target="_blank">Peru</a>, as well as the <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Indonesia/Trekking-Hiking/Bali-Rinjani-Climb-Gili-Islands" target="_blank">Mount Rinjani</a> and <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Activities/Trekking-Hiking/Kilimanjaro-Treks" target="_blank">Mount Kilimanjaro</a> summit treks. This litter minimisation initiative and education lobby, helps supports the UN Sustainable Development Goal of climate action, through traveller engagement.</p> <p>As the only Australian tour operator of ‘<a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Responsible-Travel/10-Pieces" target="_blank">10 Pieces</a>’, this initiative encourages trekkers to pick up 10 pieces of litter each day. While ‘10’ may sound like a nominal number, it multiplies immensely through the collective power of a group of travellers.</p> <p class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="embed-responsive-item" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/u0QD8ALQNtk?rel=0&controls=1"></iframe></p> <h4 id="11"><strong>First company to develop a formalised animal welfare code of conduct</strong></h4> <p>Under the guidance of World Animal Protection, World Expeditions developed a 10-step ‘Animal Welfare in Tourism Code of Conduct’ on how to be an animal-friendly traveller and see wildlife in a responsible way that does not cause harm.</p> <blockquote> <p><span style="color:#949e17;"><strong>World Expeditions' animal welfare policy is an industry-leading step towards integrating animal welfare with broader responsible tourism</strong></span></p> </blockquote> <p style="text-align: right;">– <em>Nicola Beynon, World Animal Protection</em></p> <p>Most recently, we removed the Eagle Hunting Festival from its Mongolian programme, as part of its drive to ensure all its trips adhere to the strictest <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Thoughtful-Travel/Animal-Welfare" target="_blank">standards of animal welfare</a>.</p> <h4 id="12"><strong>First company to stop offering orphanage tourism to prevent the unnecessary institutionalisation of children in developing countries</strong></h4> <p>All instances of orphanage tourism were removed from our itineraries in 2013, when research first revealed a direct link between the increase in the number of orphanages in developing nations and the increase in tourism numbers. Read more about <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Thoughtful-Travel/Child-Safe-Tourism" target="_blank">Child Safe Tourism.</a></p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="embed-responsive-item" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xDOzyoQHQOs?rel=0&controls=1"></iframe></div>   <h4 id="13"><strong>Became founding supporters of the International Porter Protection Group</strong></h4> <p>Mountain porters are an integral part of each World Expeditions trekking or mountaineering adventure. We support the International Porter Protection Group, Porters' Progress UK and the International Mountain Explorers Connection and, to ensure safe working conditions, developed a dedicated ‘<a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Thoughtful-Travel/Porter-Welfare" target="_blank">Porter Welfare Code of Conduct</a>’ for the porters it employs in Nepal, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Kenya and Tanzania.</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="embed-responsive-item" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8H3CqhS_sqg?rel=0&controls=1"></iframe></div>   <h4 id="14"><strong>Hosted a Thoughtful Travel Q&A</strong></h4> <p>The Q&A in March 2018 provided quality information and guidance on best sustainable travel practices and to inspire attendees to become stewards for travelling sustainably and responsibly. The live-streamed event featured expert panellists who discussed important responsible travel topics including ethical voluntourism, working conditions for porters in Nepal, voluntourism and why travellers should think twice before visiting an orphanage overseas. You can watch the discussion in the below video.</p> <p class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="embed-responsive-item" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hiq6l3D0ddU?rel=0&controls=1"></iframe></p> <h4 id="15"><strong>Were the first charter member of the ‘Peace Through Tourism’ campaign</strong></h4> <p>It aims to create awareness that the privilege of travelling provides a unique opportunity to learn more about Earth, the wonder of its natural beauty, and its many diverse peoples, cultures and heritage while fostering mutual respect, understanding and appreciation with each person we encounter in the process.</p> <blockquote> <p><span style="color:#949e17;"><strong>From animal welfare to child safe tourism, World Expeditions has always adopted and adhered to responsible and sustainable travel practices</strong></span></p> </blockquote> <h4 id="16"><strong>Successfully completed over 400 Youth Service Learning Programs, which tie in projects that aid communities and natural environments</strong></h4> <p>Through our youth brand, <a href="https://www.worldyouthadventures.com/" target="_blank">World Expeditions Schools</a>, we have committed to instilling service values in students and young travellers by providing Service Learning Programs guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals for schools across the globe – from renovating schools to assisting the upkeep of wildlife sanctuaries. <a href="https://www.worldyouthadventures.com/what-we-do/service-learning" target="_blank">Find out more > </a></p> <p><img alt="Painting at a community project in Nepal | <i>Greg Pike</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="761589" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Charities-_-Schools/World-Youth-Adventures/Community-Project-Everest-region-Nepal-761589-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Charities-_-Schools/World-Youth-Adventures/Community-Project-Everest-region-Nepal-761589-###width###px.jpg"></p> <h4 id="17"><strong>An ongoing commitment to improve through the power of partnerships</strong></h4> <p>We continually collaborate and seek guidance from a range of expert organisations, including World Animal Protection, ReThink Orphanages, 10 Pieces, South Pole Group, Leave No Trace, World Peace Tours and the International Porter Protection Group. This ensures that our travel philosophy and in-field operations reflect up-to-date sustainable practices.</p> <p>As said by American novelist, poet, environmental activist and farmer, Wendell Barry: “The earth is what we all have in common.”</p> <p>Together, we can foster change and instil greener and smarter travel behaviours to protect our planet's most vulnerable destinations and transform tourism's impact on nature and communities.</p> <p>Let’s continue to do our part to leave a positive impact and use thoughtful travel to not only see the world, but to make it a better home.</p> <p><em></em></p> <p><em>Published 30 November 2020. Last updated 20 April 2021.</em></p> <p><em></em></p> 3630