Responsible Travel Policy

What is responsible travel anyway?

It's impossible to leave nothing but footprints. The very nature of travel means we have an impact on the cultures we visit, so we try to make it a positive one. Responsible travel has become a buzz-word in the travel industry.  It's difficult for everyone to be aware of how their journey impacts communities around them, and so there is a duty of care on the travel operator to act in a responsible manner.

When a ship filled with 2,000 people unloads it's passengers onto the docks of a small pacific island the human tide it creates alters the local community, economy and geography. Over time the effects are profound and often change the nature of the local communities so much that they no longer reflect any of the charms or values that made them popular. By contrast a single yacht mooring in a sheltered bay every couple of weeks brings joy and friendship to the community they visit, and the exchange of culture is far more genuine and rewarding for all concerned.

It's little wonder that truly adventurous travel has found much in common with Responsible Travel. The least travelled path and the most remote landscapes are a haven for the RAW Traveller; the time spent far away from anything resembling a tourist trail is the most treasured.

Lasting impacts

Small acts of generosity can lead to lasting joy, in ways that the traveller on-the-go could never observe. Similarly, the failure by travellers to show respect can have negative effects on the relationship between local cultures and transient visitors.

Your actions do make a difference, however small or insignificant they may seem.

There is a great deal more to Responsible Tourism than just being friendly of course. The biggest responsibility lies not with travellers, but with the travel operators. RAW Travel has a duty of care to our passengers and our local guides to act in ways that promote a positive impact from tourism.

We try and minimize the environmental impact from the way we travel , the places we visit and the amazing cultures we experience. We were one of the very first to include a compulsory carbon offset donation on all our groups flights. Being a part of charity fundraising events is very positive in itself, but RAW Travel also tries to share the benefits of tourism. We work with small operations in each country, we operate a small number of departures each year, and we ensure that no provider of services for a tour is left out-of-pocket by unforseen circumstances.

Their success is our success. Their joy is your joy. So let's keep smiling.

Our travel style

- Grass roots travel using bicycles and on foot wherever possible. 

- We choose small-scale locally owned accommodation where available, local restaurants and markets for dining, retaining revenue in local communities.

-Our RAW leaders facilitate communication of our values to travellers and local communities, educating them in sustainable tourism practices.

 - We employ local guides to aid travellers' understanding of local realities, culture and norms.

- We are committed to putting back into the communities and regions we visit by supporting aid, development and conservation projects in our key areas. See the ‘Charity' section of our website. 

 Tips for being a good traveller

Respect for our differences
- be aware of the standard of dress for locals and the acceptable definition of ‘modest'
- take special care at religious sites; shoes, shoulder and hats all vary with the temple
- never take someone's photo without asking permission first; sign language can do wonders
- try to learn about their ways of doing things to avoid frustration or misunderstandings
- a little effort to study your guide book on the culture of a country can improve your appreciation of the people and your enjoyment of their customs

Giving Something Back
- take a photo and get their address so you can send it back to them
- select a charity that works in the region and donate to them
- be generous in your humanity; share your kindness and your smile
- share your spending money around instead of buying up big in one place

Don't give handouts on the street
- this can encourage begging instead of developing sustainable skills
- particularly a problem with children who quickly learn to ask tourists for pens, candy or cash
- be aware of parents who use their children to approach travellers and ask for money
- never pay for photographs unless they are employed to dress in cultural attire and pose for you

Shopping and bargaining
- expect to bargain for almost anything that isnt listed with a price tag
- the only rule of bargaining is that once your offer has been accepted you cannot withdraw it
- avoid being too generous when shopping; access to easy tourist dollars can put the price of some goods out of reach for local people

Transport for Travellers
- use public transport as much as possible; it reduces carbon emissions and you're getting up-close and personal with the locals
- exercise your patience when dealing with timetables and delays to transport; you are never the only person inconvenienced

Care for the environment
- consider donating to a carbon credit scheme to offset your carbon-dioxide emissions resulting from airplane travel, buses and boats. Our group flight arrangements all include carbon offsets.
- never leave behind rubbish or waste; even when the local community are poorly educated on how to care for their environment there is no excuse for you to behave the same way
- avoid the use of disposable plastic bags


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