Responsible travel

Responsible travel starts with planning. Making informed choices before and during your trip is the single most important thing you can do to become a responsible traveller.

Practise responsible travel tips before you travel

• Look for websites specializing in responsible travel, ecotourism, or sustainable and responsible tourism.
• Read guidebooks with information on your destination's environmental, social and political issues, and read before booking.
• Contact tour operators who have first hand knowledge of the place you are considering visiting.
• Ask questions and let tour operators/hotels know that you are a responsible consumer. Before you book, ask about their social and environmental policies. For instance: What is your environmental policy? What percentage of your employees are local citizens? Do you support any projects to benefit the local community? Do you support conservation? How?

Practise responsible travel tips while you travel

• At the hotel: Ask about environmental policies and practices. Talk with staff about working conditions. Does the hotel support community projects?
• Language: Learn a few words of the local language and use them.
• Dress code: Read up on local conventions and dress appropriately. In many countries, modest dress is important.
• Behavior: Be respectful of local citizens' privacy. Ask permission before entering sacred places, home, or private land.
• Photographs: Be sensitive to when and where you take photos/video of people. Always ask first.
• Environment: Respect the natural environment. Never touch or harass animals. Always follow designated trails. Support conservation by paying entrance fees to parks and protected sites.
• Animal products: Never purchase crafts, clothing, furniture or other products that have been made from protected or endangered animals.
• Pay a fair price: Don't engage in overly aggressive bargaining for souvenirs. Don't short-change on tips for services.
• Buy local: Choose locally owned lodges, hotels and B & Bs. Use local buses, car rental agencies, and airlines. Eat in local restaurants, shop in local markets and attend local events.
• Hire local guides: Enrich your experience and support the local economy. Ask guides if they are licensed and live locally. Are they recommended by tour operators?

Code of conduct (India, Sri lanka, Bangladesh, Vietnam)

1. Use local food cooked with locally produced raw material where ever you can.
2. Don’t openly consume alcohol on religious places.
3. Conduct bargaining in a light-hearted and courteous manner.
4. Always ask permission before taking pictures of people.
5. Do not pose for photographs on religious sites.
6. Do not ever touch a holy man.
7. Dress modestly in public places and religious sites and avoid topless sunbathing.
8. Don’t waste water – use showers, don’t leave taps running, re-use towels
9. Don’t waste electricity – turn off lights, TV etc. and consider sleeping without a/c.
10. Consider using public transport, especially the train, for some journeys.
11. Re-use plastic bags when shopping or buy cotton shopping bag.
12. Only throw rubbish in litter bins that are obviously emptied.
13. Consider taking a bag when trekking to pick up litter.
14. Be wary when purchasing things that may not have been responsibly produced.
15. Do not buy seashells from beach traders or any ancient artifacts.
16. Don’t give money to street beggars.
17. Note it is customary to tip drivers and guides if service is good