Learn more about responsible tourism

What's wrong with mass tourism?
Read our 'package of shame' dossier on the problems with mass tourism

What is ecotourism?
The concept of ecotourism holidays emerged from the nature based tourism over the past 20 years.

Useful web resources
http://www.theinternationalcentreforresponsibletourism.org
The International Centre for Responsible Tourism is sponsored by responsibletravel.com and has been established to enable those moving forward a wide variety of initiatives to create Responsible Tourism to share information and publicise their work. It is a forum for those working in the destination countries and the originating markets.

http://www.bigvolcano.com.au/ercentre/ercpage.htm
The Ecotourism Resource Centre provides hundreds of links to relevant sites.

http://www.ecotourism.org
The International Ecotourism Society brings issues of sustainable tourism to businesses and has an online library.

http://www.greenglobe.com
Green Globe is a worldwide certification programme dedicated to helping the Travel & Tourism industry around the world develop in sustainable ways - ways that improve the environment, well being and the way of life for local people and for visitors.

http://www.greenstop.net
This website promotes companies and individuals who are working towards a sustainable future, especially those in travel and tourism.

http://www.green-travel.com
Green travel has an extensive ecotourism directory and links to regional and worldwide ecotourismorganisations and a very active mailing list which you can join here.

http://www.planeta.com
Planeta.com is a clearinghouse for practical ecotourism in South America. As a travel resource centre, we provide more than 10,000 pages of practical features and in-depth scholarly reports and host a variety of online forums and conferences.

http://www.travelwatch.org.uk/
Travelwatch is an environmental management company created specifically to service the Travel and Tourism sector.

http://www.uneptie.org/tourism/home.html
The sustainable tourism area of the United Nations Environment Programme, including information on the UN tour operator's initiative.

http://www.world-tourism.org
The World Tourism Organisation site includes information on the International Year of Ecotourism in2002, and many links to internal sites reviewing tourism, statistics and the industry. A useful address for current global tourism facts.

http://www.wttc.org
The World Travel and Tourism Council site has papers from meetings, resources and many good links including international agreements.


Protect the environment - its flora fauna and landscapes.

http://www.cites.org
Website for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna. Information and listings of the flora and fauna on the world's endangered species list

http://www.foc-uk.com
Friends of Conservation support conservation projects throughout the world and work with many touroperators on project support and educating travellers.

http://www.staff.amu.edu.pl/~zbzw/ph/pnp/swiat.htm
National Parks Worldwide - an extensive directory of Parks throughout the world and internationalinstitutions with an interest in Protected Areas.

http://www.iucn.org
A short cut to the World Conservation Union, who concentrate on research in protected areas of the world and work closely with WWF and UNEP.

http://www.wcmc.org.uk
The World Conservation Monitoring Centre provides information services on conservation and sustainable use of the world's living resources, and helps others to develop information systems of their own.

http://www.wri.org
The World Resources Institute site is not tourism specific but is a good source of environmental information and research material.

http://www.wwf.org.uk
WWF-UK has useful information on endangered species and what you can do to help.


Respect local cultures - traditions, religions and built heritage.

http://www.mtnforum.org
The Mountain Forum is a global network of individuals and organisations concerned with mountaincultures, environment and development.

http://www.planeta.com
The global journal of practical ecotourism.

http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk
Tourism Concern campaign on issues of ethical and sustainable tourism, the site includes information on issues, campaigns and initiatives around the world. It includes links to a network of organisations working for ethical tourism around the world

http://www.unesco.org
The UNESCO World Heritage Sites page lists sites around the world and gives information on conservation and sustainable tourism. It includes ways in which companies and travellers can help to preserve the world's cultural heritage.


Benefit local communities economically and socially

http://www.dfid.gov.uk
The website of the UK Government's Department for International Development, including information on the Tourism Challenge Fund and their work towards poverty elimination.

http://www.greentourism.org.uk
The Tourism and Environment Forum website, helping the Scottish tourism industry work better with the environment.

http://www.iied.org
IIED aims to provide expertise and leadership in researching and achieving sustainable development at local, national, regional and global levels. In alliance with others we seek to help shape a future that ends global poverty and delivers and sustains efficient and equitable management of the world's naturalresources.

http://www.odi.org.uk
The Overseas Development Institute is an independent think-tank on international development andhumanitarian issues including pro-poor tourism.

http://www.propoortourism.org.uk
Material on pro poor tourism from ODI and IIED - including work by Harold Goodwin (responsibletravel.com co-founder).

http://www.tearfund.org
Tearfund is an overseas development organisation working with partners in many countries. Recentresearch into tour operators and ethical tourism, which was carried out in partnership with the Centre for Responsible Tourism, is available on their website.


Conserve natural resources and avoid wastage - from office to destination

http://www.doingyourbit.org.uk
The site for the doing your bit campaign which details ways in which everyone can reduce their environmental impact. Tips on transport and saving energy and water are given as well as information on events and campaigns.

http://www.carbontrust.co.uk
The UK government's energy efficiency best practice programme website, providing advice and services on how to save energy and reduce bills. It includes a Good Practice guide, downloadable energy management software and a useful links page.

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/
The energy saving trust give advice an practical measures for saving energy, especially to small and medium sized businesses, including grants and information on the new climate change levy legislation.

http://www.globalactionplan.org.uk
Provides information and practical ways of going green at home and at work, checklists, packs and employee training are all offered to businesses of all sizes.

http://www.hcima.org.uk
The Hotel and Catering Management International Management Association have a programme called 'Hospitable Climates' which industry members can join. The site contains information on the programme and measures the industry is taking to reduce its environmental impact.
 
http://www.greenhotelier.org/
The International Tourism Partnership is a global programme of the International Business Leaders Forum. Green Hotelier is its key communications tool.


Minimise pollution due to waste disposal, noise and congestion.

http://www.chooseclimate.org/flying/index.html
A fun site which you can use to calculate the environmental effects of air journeys.

http://www.wastewatch.org.uk
A useful site looking at education, training and research into waste reduction and energy conservation.

http://www.recyclenow.com/
Loads of information about recycling, whats happens to your recycling, what can be recycled and where your nearest recycling points are.