The TOURISM UNION INDOCHINA (FORMERLY KNOWN AS TUI TRAVEL ) Guide to Responsible Travel
While we hope that your holiday in Asia will be stimulating, relaxing and even exciting, we also hope that you will get more out of your stay in this wonderful part of the world than rest and recreation. As part of our TOURISM UNION INDOCHINA (FORMERLY KNOWN AS TUI TRAVEL ) Responsible Travel Policy, we’ve prepared some
pointers which we hope will make for more informed, more ‘responsible’ holidays.
Read up. Learn about your holiday destination before you get on the plane. Read widely and read critically about the history, culture and peoples of Asia. Arriving in Asia with some understanding about the background the country you are visiting will help you get more out of your travels and your encounters with local people and sites. You will suffer less culture shock on arrival, be less likely to make cultural faux pas, and you will be more equipped to deal with the vagaries and vicissitudes that go with being in a vastly ‘different’ part of the world. Refer to your TOURISM UNION INDOCHINA (FORMERLY KNOWN AS TUI TRAVEL ) Pre-Departure Guide for some recommended titles and consider referring to the
World Tourism Organisation’s ‘Global Code of Ethics for Tourism’, visible at www.unwto.org/code_ethics/eng/brochure.htm This code establishes guidelines for tourism development and is a public statement against harmful tourism, including tourism which exploits children, and sex tourism.
Learn la lengua. Refer to your Pre-Departure Guide, pick up a phrase book, ask your tour leader or local guide, or mix with the locals. Learn a few key phrases and a passage of smiles and fun will open up. You will shop smarter, gain a better insight into cultural nuances, and enjoy more enriching experiences with local people.
Combat carbon. Consider making an on-line payment to ‘offset’ atmospherically damaging aircraft emissions. The principle of carbon offsetting is a somewhat controversial one, so in considering whether or not to make a carbon offset contribution, we suggest you refer to a number of websites. Some of these are listed on our Small Group Journey itineraries.
Shower short. Minimise your shower time so that water resources are used sparingly, and do not bath. Although much of Asia is subject to an annual monsoon downpour, it is not unusual for rains to fall locally, inundating some parts of a county with water while leaving nearby areas parched dry and in drought. In tourist boom cities such as Siem Reap in Cambodia the sheer volume of tourist arrivals is creating unprecedented demand on water and other resources.
There are other things you can do to save water – consider using one plate only at buffet meals so that use of washing water (and detergent) is minimised.
Towel for tomorrow. Keep your use of towels and linen to a minimum. Speak to your tour leader or local guide to request that linen is not changed daily by hotel housekeeping services. This will not only help to reduce the amount of water used during your visit but will also reduce use of detergent.
Leave off the lights. Turn off lights when not in the room, and turn off the TV when no one is watching it. Air-conditioning is a huge energy user, so – most importantly – do not use airconditioning unless you need to.
Bargain, but banter. Bargaining is a cultural norm in much of developing Asia, and our advice is to approach your shopping with a measure of good humour and fun. A fair deal is one in which you are happy with the price you paid, and the seller is happy with the price received. There is no ’right or wrong’ price when bargaining. Bargain with a little compassion, and aim to leave any shopping experience with ‘smiles all round’.
Purge plastic. Keep your use of plastic bags and packaging to a minimum. Undeveloped Asia does not have the facilities or the capacity to engage in mass recycling, so this means that plastic waste is usually buried. Without light, buried plastic can take literally hundreds of years to break down. Consider shopping with a cotton carry bag, or re-use a plastic bag. Say no to plastic straws in drinks (and learn how to say this in the local language!) and consider re-using water bottles or bringing one from home.
Purchase in provinces. Spread your shopping across your holiday destination, outside the usual
shopping meccas, as well as in places rightly famous for their shopping opportunities. Spending in villages and provinces in developing Asia will help spread the direct benefits of tourism across wider geographic areas.
Be friendly to forests. Don’t purchase hard wood furniture manufactured from illegally felled lumber or made from lumber of unknown origin. Hard wood deforestation has scarred vast tracts of Asia in recent decades and has profound social, economic and environmental consequences for local populations. Arguably, it also accelerates the rate of global warming.
Respect the protected. Do not buy sea shells, coral, or animal parts (tiger teeth, bear claws) which are likely to have been obtained illegally, or which are sold illegally. Don’t buy captive animals or birds in order to set them free, as this perpetuates demand for an unnecessary, cruel practice. Do not take photographs of captured or performing wildlife.
Spend socially. Wherever possible, shop in outlets that support community groups such as women’s projects, disabled groups or similar. Ask your tour leader or local guide to tell you where these places can be found.
Lunch locally. Avoid continual eating in hotels. Eat outside at good local restaurants. Doing so will help spread your tourist dollar directly to local, smaller scale enterprises and often rewards you with a better, more authentic meal experience! Purchase your water from local restaurants or street vendors rather than from hotel mini-bars. Do not use wooden disposable chopsticks (in Japan alone it is estimated that 120 million sets are used daily). Our TOURISM UNION INDOCHINA (FORMERLY KNOWN AS TUI TRAVEL ) city guides
recommend ‘tried and tested’ local restaurants which serve food hygienically.
Stick to staples. Many restaurants in developing Asia serve animals which are protected species. Shy away from the novelty appeal that goes with ordering an exotic food. Do not order wild animal species from restaurant menus; consume instead meats and fish which are farmed sustainably.
Care for culture. Travel with respect to locally practised customs and beliefs. Accept alternate ways of thinking and of doing things; embrace and find intrigue in the differences that define a culture. After all, the world would be a boring place if we all did things and thought the same way. Remember … you are travelling precisely in order to seek out new sights and sounds. In Asia you will need patience, you will need to understand the concept of ‘face’, and you will never get Updated April 07, 2008 3
anywhere by losing your cool. Your tour leader or local guide will provide you with information on cultural norms specific to your holiday destination. Be particularly aware that drunkeness, swearing or public displays or affection are viewed as inappropriate and offensive by many Asian cultures.
Dress to impress. People in developing Asia generally dress conservatively. Women tend not to wear revealing tops nor skirts or pants that show their knees and even men will usually prefer long pants to shorts (smart knee-length shorts are fine). ‘Follow suit’ and dress with a sense of decorum. As well as showing respect to local dress norms you may also find that you are afforded better all-round reception from local people, and better service in shops. First impressions count for a lot in Asia, and your dress style presents a visible and prominent façade to everyone you come in contact with.
Snap with sensitivity. A camera can be used as a fun social ice breaker, but to some people it can also be an invasive and offensive tool. Try to be discreet, ask permission before taking a photo of someone, and respect the wishes of people who clearly do not want to be photographed. Consider sending photos back to your subjects (through your tour leader) but do not go back on your word when you do this. Think very carefully about the implications – for your subject and for future travellers – before paying for a photo.
Offer only alms. Do not give money, presents or candy to children on the street, at home, or in village communities. Gift giving creates inequality within communities and encourages children to start begging. 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. Giving money to adult beggars is a slightly different proposition, and is more often socially normal in Asia. The
appropriateness of giving money to adults is often situation-specific, so defer to the advice of your tour leader or local guide. Gifts such as text books and pencils are best given to organisations (such as schools or clinics) rather than to individuals, as distribution through a community channel is more likely to occur equitably, and with dignity.
Ride a rickshaw. In your free time, consider getting around by man-powered cyclo, samlor, or rickshaw. As well as being environmentally friendly modes of transport, the drivers of these distinctively Asian vehicles are often from the poorer stratum of society and can benefit economically from the patronage you give them.
Chip in for a charity. TOURISM UNION INDOCHINA (FORMERLY KNOWN AS TUI TRAVEL ) supports the work of a number of charitable organisations
working in Asia, all of whom would be enormously grateful for any financial donation you could make. Speak to your tour leader or local guide, or refer to this website for specific information on how to donate to organisations which would appreciate your assistance.
Snorkel sensibly. When snorkelling, diving, or observing marine mammals such as turtles, observe environmental guidelines. Never touch or break living coral! Never touch or feed any marine animal or fish.
