We actively support responsible initiatives and organisations across all our programmes. Examples include, but are not limited to:
Community Tourism Projects
We support community tourism projects across most programmes, from local craft shops to including a homestay in our tailor-made itineraries. We encourage homestays for those clients who are interested – this is particulalry relevant to our Southeast Asia programme where homestays are more commonly arranged in Borneo and Laos. Community owned lodges and accommodation are also available in other parts of the world and we use these whenever possible. Not only does the money from these directly benefit the community, it also offers our clients an authentic insight into the local culture. We also actively recommend - across all programmes - restaurants, shops, etc, that directly benefit the community.
Education Training in Southeast Asia
We actively support education programmes throughout Southeast Asia. Examples include ‘Baguette & Chocolate’ in Sapa and Hanoi (Vietnam), the Shinta Mani ‘Institute for Hospitality’ in Siem Riep (Cambodia) as well as ‘Cabbages and Condoms’ in Bangkok (Thailand). These are training restaurants and hotels that provide employment and education for local young adults. We also incorporate school visits into a number of our Southeast Asia itineraries.
Fair Trade Tourism South Africa (FTTSA)
For the last couple of years, we have been highlighting FTTSA reserves and lodges in our tailor-made itineraries. FTTSA promotes ethical business practices and respect for human rights, culture and the environment amongst tourism establishments in South Africa. We now draw attention to these properties as FTTSA-approved in our itineraries so that clients can see that they have made a responsible choice.
Ranthambhore National Park
Friends of Conservation supports a NGO called the 'Prakratik Society', which operates in Ranthambhore, an internationally renowned National Tiger Reserve, located in the state of Rajasthan in Northern India. Much needed medical and education facilities are provided for the communities living in the villages on the borders of the reserve. The area is, however, under great pressure from the growing human population. Large numbers of cattle are grazing freely in the reserve and causing severe environmental damage to the habitat. One solution to this has been to set up an artificial insemination programme whereby the cattle are stalled, vaccinated and generally looked after. This leads to improved health and results in better breeding stocks and increased milk yields, bringing commercial benefits too. The resulting dung can be used to fuel existing bio-gas plants, providing alternatives to open fires - thus preserving forest resources and in this case, critical habitat for the severely endangered tiger.
Information kindly provided by Friends of Conservation.
Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN)
Whilst researching Jordan as a new destination several years ago, the work of the RSCN came to the attention of our North Africa & Arabia Programme Manager. We have supported them ever since, becoming a Corporate Member but more importantly instructing our ground agent in Jordan to contract certain ground arrangements, such as selected accommodation, through the society.
The RSCN runs five main reserves in Jordan, and has followed a very successful model pioneered in the Dana Nature Reserve, where the local Bedouin are actively involved in the running and managing of the reserves and developing an excellent eco-tourism infrastructure. As well as protecting areas of beauty, rare animals are also bred in the reserves, such as oryx and ibex. We are corporate members of the RSCN and promote them wherever we can. Even if you decide not to include a visit to one of their reserves, the excellent Wild Jordan centre in Amman showcases their activities and sells handicrafts from the communities they support. It is also the starting point for our walking tour of Amman.
Travel Operators for Tigers (TOFT)
Travel Operators for Tigers (TOFT) is a collective campaign encompassing all those involved in wildlife tourism in India and South Asia. In cooperation with Global Tiger Patrol it aims to support a sustainable approach to tourism in wildlife reserves, together with aiding specific conservation programmes which benefit local communities and wildlife.