Travel Classifieds & Advocacy Community

Step Up Travel
Responsible travel is a way of traveling that emphasizes the importance of personal exchanges, leading to deeper cultural understanding, genuine benefit to local people and their communities, preservation of the environment, and ultimately a more peaceful and equitable world.

Global Development Research Center
"Sustainable tourism, in its purest sense, is an industry which attempts to make a low impact on the environment and local culture, while helping to generate income, employment, and the conservation of local ecosystems. It is responsible tourism which is both ecologically and culturally sensitive. . . more-->"

International Centre for Responsible Tourism

• minimises negative economic, environmental, and social impacts
• generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of host communities, improves working conditions and access to the industry
• involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances
• makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, to the maintenance of the world's diversity
• provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues
• provides access for physically challenged people
• is culturally sensitive, engenders respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence

"The Responsible Tourist and Traveller" - U.N.W.T.O., May 2005

Travel and tourism should be planned and practiced as a means of individual and collective fulfilment. When practiced with an open mind, it is an irreplaceable factor of self education, mutual tolerance and for learning about the legitimate differences between peoples and cultures and their diversity.

Everyone has a role to play creating responsible travel and tourism. Governments, business and communities must do all they can, but as a guest you can support this in many ways to make a difference:

1. Open your mind to other cultures and traditions – it will transform your experience, you will earn respect and be more readily welcomed by local people. Be tolerant and respect diversity – observe social and cultural traditions and practices.
2. Respect human rights. Exploitation in any form conflicts with the fundamental aims of tourism. The sexual exploitation of children is a crime punishable in the destination or at the offender’s home country.
3. Help preserve natural environments. Protect wildlife and habitats and do not purchase products made from endangered plants or animals.
4. Respect cultural resources. Activities should be conducted with respect for the artistic, archaeological and cultural heritage.
5. Your trip can contribute to economic and social development. Purchase local handicrafts and products to support the local economy using the principles of fair trade. Bargaining for goods should reflect an understanding of a fair wage.
6. Inform yourself about the destination’s current health situation and access to emergency and consular services prior to departure and be assured that your health and personal security will not be compromised. Make sure that your specific requirements (diet, accessibility, medical care) can be fulfilled before you decide to travel this destination.
7. Learn as much as possible about your destination and take time to understand the customs, norms and traditions. Avoid behaviour that could offend the local population.
8. Familiarize yourself with the laws so that you do not commit any act considered criminal by the law of the country visited. Refrain from all trafficking in illicit drugs, arms, antiques, protected species and products or substances that are dangerous or prohibited by national regulations.

"The Responsible Tourist and Traveller" has been approved by the World Committee on Tourism Ethics in May 2005 and endorsed by UNWTO resolution A/RES/506(XVI) adopted at Dakar, Senegal, in December 2005, by which the General Assembly recommends the dissemination of this text to the travelling public worldwide.

Click here to read more about the U.N.W.T.O.

Step Up Travel promotes responsible travel by preferentially marketing those service providers who agree to the Responsible Travel Agreement before publishing their ads.

All ads created after February 1, 2007 display the how the service provider promotes responsible travel.

Ads thought to be irresponsible can be submitted for review and possible removal. Travelers can post feedback on the ads regarding their experience with the provider and the ways that provider is responsible or irresponsible. All ad publishers provide up to 3 traveler references who may be contacted as well. Step Up Travel provides resources for both the traveler and the provider to learn about responsible travel.