RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

“Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have.”
- MARGARET MEAD
American Anthropologist (1971-1978)

Environmental issues concern all of us but a great majority, amongst us, is not familiar with them. Most of us are daunted at the prospect of performing or participating in an enterprise with which we
are not familiar. A question that haunts us is “what we can do to serve the movement?” Our experience has shown us that it is the effort/s of individuals that has the greatest impact on bringing about changes…the need of the hour is to stand up and say…WE CAN DO IT!

We can help the environmental movement by incorporating uncomplicated habits in our daily routines. Discovery Journeys strives to achieve this objective by following simple exercises, and assumes full responsibility to protect and preserve the environment, by supporting local cultures and sustainable development, in areas where it operates.

With its commitment to responsible tourism, “Discovery” is among the first travel concerns to adopt good practices in all its business activities; to care for the environment – encompassing the ecosystems; indigenous cultures and customs – to promote tourism. We not only provide valuable knowledge to the traveller, but also help to sustain development that does not harm the local environments.

To meet these objectives the management of Discovery Journeys, has laid down guidelines and criteria that seek to reduce environmental impacts, particularly the use of non-renewable resources, using measurable benchmarks, and to improve tourism’s contribution to sustainable development and environmental conservation.

Discovery Journeys has a “non plastic policy” and all its printing is done on re-cycled paper. To benefit local communities we involve them in all spheres of tour activities (as tour leaders, sales reps, nature guides, drivers etc.). We conserve natural resources – from office to destination – this includes providing quality transport, which is fuel efficient and regularly undergoes pollution tests, to minimise green house gases and noise; use of recycled paper prevents waste; and disallowing use of articles like plastic bags makes for better disposal of waste material and prevents congestion.

The Discovery Journeys’ Initiatives…

• Support efforts to conserve the environment
• Minimise environmental impacts using benchmarks
• Sustain the well-being of local people
• Stress on local ownership
• Improve contribution to local sustainable development
• Require lowest possible consumption of non-renewable resources
• Contribute to biodiversity