“Every gap year student should have some skills training to help them travel in a more sensible and informed way. There are very few things in life that we expect to go off and do with no training, so why do we assume that travelling in the developing world can be achieved without preparation?”

Charlotte Hindle – author of Lonely Planet’s ‘Gap Year Guide’

Friday, 21 August 2009

2009’s hottest destination (and that’s when the trouble started)


To view the original article Click Here
Title – 2009’s hottest destination (and that’s when the trouble started)
Source – The Independent
Date – 21st August 2009

Responsible and Ethical Travel often treads a thin line and those influential bodies in the travel industry have an important role in making sure they stay the right side of it; none more so than Lonely Planet.

In this case it does seem that their decision to highlight the Bay of Fires in Tasmania as the ‘hottest’ destination for 2009 has led to a local battle which the Australians are by now very used to. The three way fight between conservationists, big business and the aboriginal community.

I don’t think we can really blame Lonely Planet for this, maybe they will even have been the catalyst to help preserve this area before it is eroded through human development, much as it may have been ignored until now, it this day and age nothing stays hidden forever.

So what can you do?

Promoting Ethical and Responsible Travel is something you can play your part in. Do your research and listen to all sides of the argument before you decide how to spend your ‘tourist dollars’ and where you decide to visit.

It is very much individual choice as to where you decide to visit and how you visit. Always balance your choices with the desires of local people and the level of ‘harm’ almost any form of travel will cause. We can certainly help you find a balance which will be acceptable to you, where your positive impact can offset some of the negative impact travel inevitably has.

At Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Ethical and Responsible Travel, alongside sessions on Travel Health, Travel Safety, , Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Transport Options, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com. For a complete list of Blog entries visit our National Press Archive page.

For more information on any of our services, please call us on 0845 602 55 95 or Contact Us.

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