Responsible Tourism

How can you help?

Should you find yourself confronted with any practices or behaviour which are clearly detrimental to the environment during your travels - be it at the hotel, on the beach, during an excursion - please communicate this to the local guide or service provider. In voicing your suggestions, your criticism or your praise, you can make a vital contribution to ensuring that adequate attention is paid to environmental concerns, and that improvements can be initiated if and where they are needed.

Water, energy and waste
Clean drinking water is at a premium in many parts of the world. Some destinations also experience water shortages in the hottest months of the year. Hotels are not generally affected by any rationing which has to be imposed. But by being economical in you r own use of the water available, you can benefit the local people and the local farmers.

By having a shower instead of a bath while you are overseas, you will be taking an active step to conserve drinking water. Laundries, too, consume large quantities of water. Many hotels already ask their guests to decide how often they wish their towels and bed linen changed. If you decide not to send these items for washing but they are removed anyway, please inform reception.

Electricity is very expensive at many locations, and can often be generated with fossil fuels. You can make your own contribution to protecting the Earth's climate by switching off you r room's air-conditioning if you are going to be absent for a prolonged period of time. Saving water will help here, too: producing clean drinking water is an energy-intensive process.

Unlike the UK, not all our travel destinations have the infrastructure needed to dispose effectively of their man-made waste. Batteries (which contain toxic heavy metals), sun cream bottles, plastic bottles, aluminium drinks cans and similar items cannot be effectively disposed of or recycled at many destinations. Many local shops will automatically put any goods you purchase into a plastic bag. Here, too, you can set an excellent example of how to avoid generating unnecessary rubbish by politely refusing any plastic bags offered.

In many countries, which have become attractive travel destinations precisely because of their natural beauty, the local population has often been simply overwhelmed by the growth in tourist activities. To add to the problem," environmental protection" is a totally foreign concept in many of these locations. You can play your part here in ensuring that beaches or tourist routes do not deteriorate into rubbish dumps but retain all their appeal in the future, too.

We also advise you to avoid any activities which are simply fun but entail the unnecessary use of fuel or energy or generate pollution or noise, such as jet skiing, speedboat rides, beach buggying or jeep, motorcycle or mountain bike tours over dunes, riverbeds or natural landscapes, unless these are nature observation trips run by professional guides. Needless to say, transportation to and from an excursion destination is not included in the above!

Flora & Fauna
Corals are living creatures, which grow very, very slowly: if they are damaged, they take an extremely long time to regenerate. Walking on coral reefs damages the corals and should not be undertaken under any circumstances. Care should also be taken not to touch the coral when diving or snorkelling. In following these guidelines you can help preserve these natural wonders for future generations to enjoy.

We strongly advise you not to purchase which have clearly come from the sea:
    - Shellfish are a vital part of the ecosystem. The decimation of the triton snail, for example, has enabled coral-eating starfish to proliferate to such a point that they now threaten coral reefs all around the world.
    - Shark's jaws and teeth should similarly not be purchased. Sharks are the most important inhabitants of the seas, and are at the end of the food chain. They ensure that the stocks of other predators are kept under control. They also serve as the oceans' "health inspectors". But hundreds of millions of sharks are now killed every year. As a result, some species, such as the great white shark, have either become extinct or are in danger of becoming so.
    - Sea turtles are at the top of the endangered species list. But, despite international protection, products such as sea turtle soup or turtle shell jewellery are still offered for sale at many destinations.

In the wake of the CITIES convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora of 1973, a long list now exists of animals and animal-derived products that are subject to strict import bans. Some types of plant (such as cacti and orchids) also have protected status. Violations of these laws can result in substantial fines and confiscation of the animals or products concerned.

Dolphinariums are becoming increasingly popular. But they are highly controversial from an animal welfare perspective. Offers to "swim with the dolphins!" or other activities involving actual physical contact with these mammals should be avoided at all costs. Despite the perpetual "smile" that they seem to display, dolphins often find such activities genuinely stressful. Many also suffer health problems as a result of the chlorinated water they are kept in and the unsuitable diets they are fed. In view of this, we strongly advise you not to participate in such activities.

Whale-watching tours should only be undertaken with qualified guides who have been trained or licensed as such by the local nature-protection authorities. You can find out about your skipper or guide's qualifications by asking the service provider directly. A minimum distance of 100 metres should always be kept from the animals. Music and noise should be avoided, and the boat should always keep to prescribed routes.