S.O.S! Responsible traveler!
Perhaps you are one of those 'Martian travelers' who wants to be responsible but doesn't know how. The reality is that in the Spain of the 21st century there are few options to organize a responsible trip and this exclusivity usually makes the result more expensive (but there are some).
Experts endorsed by more than two decades of work, study and awareness in Responsible Tourism, Koan Consulting, are clear in this regard: the objective is progressive awareness. T maybe this year you will not be able to compensate for the harmful effect of the fuel of the plane you are traveling on , but if, on the contrary, this year you have made some purchases of local crafts from the community for the first time, you are saved. We hope that you will be one more and one less predatory traveler.
Apparently everything is a bit confusing in this garden of 'sustainable and responsible travel', but basically it is about you having “principles of social and economic justice” and that “you fully respect the environment and local cultures”, as explained by José María de Juan Alonso, founding member of the Spanish Center for Responsible Tourism, director of Koan Consulting and Vice President of EARTH-European Alliance for Responsible Tourism and Hospitality.
He tries to learn to evaluate concepts such as "eco", "solidarity", "sustainable" which sometimes mask falsely responsible products and packages. It is clear that we will never be Dutch, German, English or Swedish (main source countries of responsible travellers) but calling things by their name does not cost that much.
“ In Spain, hoteliers do have a certain sensitivity towards responsible tourism , but travel agencies are ultra refractory: responsible tourism does not interest them at all”, says De Juan with the experience behind him of more than 20 years trying to sensitize the sector without showing the slightest interest except for very dynamic exceptions as is the case of the AEPT (Spanish Association of Tourism Professionals). "Here in our country there is not even a strong responsible tourism association like in Italy and, even delivering the sustainability certification for free as we do in Koan Consulting, the sector is not up to the job." Only some hoteliers "are usually more sustainable than travel agencies because the reality is that the savings that energy efficiency entails for them is tangible in the short term."
Conclusion: could it be that we have not understood that Is improving the social and environmental image of a destination profitable in the long term? Will we continue with our "bread for today and hunger for tomorrow"? We have what we deserve? Fortunately, there are travelers who speak with their choice and, eye, "it is proven that they choose the destination based on the image it projects".
If you want more information, consult the Responsible Tourist Vademecum
THERE ARE THERE :
- For inquiries and awareness of responsible and sustainable travel, The Spanish Center for Responsible Tourism (a joint initiative of Koan Consulting and Rutas Pangea (Madrid).
- For responsible tourism consultancy, Koan Consulting (Madrid).
- For responsible bicycle trips in Spain and the rest of Europe, Rutas Pangea (Madrid).
- For an agency specializing in responsible and sustainable tourism, Agrotravel (Vizcaya).
- For alternative adventure trips with sustainable itineraries in Africa, Asia and America: Discover Tours (Madrid).
- For specialists in customized and group trips and expeditions through Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania, Taranná (Barcelona).
- For specialized trips in Morocco, Senegal, Peru and Cambodia, Ismalar (Málaga).
- For specialized trips to India, Thailand, Nepal and Vietnam, Marco Polo (Bilbao).
- For specialized trips in Peru, Responsible Travel Peru (Peru) .
- For trips with a feminine spirit to discover the world through its women, Focus on Women (Madrid).
- For specialized solidarity diving trips, SoliDive (Madrid).
- In addition, the Banesto Foundation Project Its main objective is to support the business initiative of women in Africa and Latin America in the tourism sector, and more specifically in the hotel sector.
- To organize trips on your own and contact agencies that sell them.