Responsible Travel

Responsible travel is about minimising the negative impact on the environment, to respect local cultures and traditions and support local economies. Here are a few tips on how you can be a responsible traveller.

"Minds are like parachutes, they work better when they are open" -
Encountering new cultures

To get the most out of your trip, do some research on the places you will be visiting. Our tour guides will give you information about the destination when you arrive, but try to read some books about the country before you go. On our website you will also find some information about our destinations and some book tips. And last but not least, remember to have an open mind when you are exposed to new cultures and traditions.

Water resources

In many places fresh water is precious, so do not use more than necessary. Make the showers short and do not leave the water running while brushing your teeth. When you stay in a hotel do not have towels and linen washed every day, this will help to reduce the amount of water used during your visit and also to reduce the use of detergent.

Toilet facilities

Use toilet facilities where they exist so that valuable water resources do not get contaminated. In some countries toilet paper cannot be flushed down the toilet, as the sewage system is not able to cope with this, use bins provided. Ignoring this could cause a blockage or flood.

Swimming or bathing

If you go bathing or swimming, consider the sensibilities of local people and dress properly. At some destinations the common practice is to bath or swim in a T-shirt and shorts, this refers both to men and women. Ask your tour guide if you are unsure about how to dress. Nudity or inappropriate dress can cause offence. Avoid using soaps and shampoo.

Electricity

Do switch off all electrical appliances when not in use. If you stay in a room with air condition please do not use it more than necessary since it is a huge energy user.

Wildlife and marine life

We insist that our guides maintain suitable distance from wildlife. Do not encourage a guide or driver to get closer to a wild animal just so that you can take a better picture. Never touch or feed wild animals, you may pass on a disease, distress the animal and not at least put yourself at risk. If you go swimming, diving or snorkelling make sure that you do not touch or step on corrals; they are very fragile and break easily. Do not collect fossils, shells or stones. In some places they use animals for photo purposes, do not support this. Many of these animals are taken from the wild and drugged for this purpose, once they become too large to handle they may be killed. Respect the environment by taking your litter home with you.

Hiking

If you are out hiking do not pick wild flowers and plants, especially at high altitudes and latitudes, where native flora can be very slow growing. Keep erosion to a minimum by staying on existing trails. Take your rubbish home with you if it can't be properly disposed along the way. When we are out hiking we recommend our travellers to bring along a plastic bag and collect a few pieces of litter from the trail and dispose it at the end of the walk.

Shopping

We aim to put as much as possible back into the local communities we visit. So for example when you go shopping, try to support local producers. But remember never to buy products or souvenirs made from endangered species.

Bargaining

Bargaining is a cultural norm in much of Asia but many travellers often has misconceptions about how it's done. Between some travellers there can even be a kind of status symbol tied up with a traveller's ability to get a bargain. Remember that bargaining is as much about the social interaction as the final outcome, have fun with it and keep things in perspective, aim to leave any shopping experience with smiles all round. Be fair and realistic.

Food and drinks

We encourage you to support local restaurants, which are often family-run, by trying out their food. If you eat locally produced food you will help the local farmers, the local economy and the environment. Drink local beer or fruit juice rather than imported brands; they are often cheaper and just as good if not better.

Photo

Please always ask permission before taking pictures of people, ritual events or special places like shrines. Sometimes a souvenir postcard has a better picture, and also supports the local economy. In some cases, being photographed is the individual's income and in such cases it is up to the individual to agree to this before taking the photo.

Begging and giving gifts

Begging always presents a difficult situation for travellers, and our advice is not to give to beggars even though it will be hard sometimes especially when it comes to children. But keep in mind that in some cases children skip school or are forced out by their parents, and are even deliberately maimed or drugged to increase their earning capacity as beggars. Giving money, even to children who offer to act as guides can also make children the primary income earners in their family, resulting in long-term school truancy. Handing out sweets may encourage children to start begging, and may ruin their teeth in a place where there is no dental service.
We think giving to beggars is a short time solution to the poverty problem, instead ask our tour guide about organisations and charities which can direct your money and gifts to the most needy in the most cost effective manner.

Hawkers

Try to be patient and courteous to hawkers selling gifts to tourists, a polite "no thank you" and a smile is usually all that is needed to be left alone. Keep in mind that they are very poor and are just trying to make a living.

Waste and litter

Litter is a huge problem in many countries especially in the third world where there is limited or no infrastructure for waste disposal, let alone recycling facilities. So first of all, try to leave as much excess packaging at home (e.g. film boxes, anything plastic) and bring biodegradable products. Litter should always be disposed of responsibly. If it is not clear that rubbish bins are emptied regularly, rubbish should be carried out to where it will be disposed of. Batteries are one of the most damaging products to leave behind and it is a good idea to bring them back to your home country for disposal. We encourage customers to avoid accepting plastic bags for everything in shops and to reuse the ones they have. In some countries there are water-refilling stations, use them. It you smoke, plastic film cases is perfect for storing your cigarette ends until you can find a bin. On boats, rubbish must be carried back to facilities on shore and never dumped over the side of the boat.

Sex Tourism

Every year millions of tourist goes overseas and the majority of them are responsible travellers who respect the local environment, culture and people. But we need to keep in mind that sexual exploitation of children is a significant problem in the developing countries. It is estimated that more than one million children world-wide are drawn into the sex trade each year. Also women are often sold, lured or forced into the industry against their will. If any of our travellers are buying sexual favours during any of our tours, they will be asked to leave the tour immediately (with no compensation).

Offside Travel is a member of ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography, and the Trafficking of Children) a non-profit organisation committed to preventing the sexual exploitation of children. For more information about ECPAT and how you can support them, please have a look at their website, www.ecpat.com

Feedback

We welcome any feedback on our operations; please send us an e-mail on info@offsidetravel.com.

In the end we will conserve only what we love.
We love only what we understand.
We will understand only what we are taught.
- Baba Dioum