Ethical Travel Advice

Real Gap offers plenty of ethical travel advice to people concerned and interested in travelling ethically. Ethical travel is the most personal and direct way you can make a difference. You can contribute to the eradication of poverty and promote intercultural/international understanding and good relations. One of our biggest ethical travel advice points is that by promoting and supporting ethically sustainable tourism in countries you visit you can help to create great benefits to the local communities. Another ethical travel advice point is that you will also assist in preventing detrimental effects on indigenous cultures, wildlife and ecology. Our range of ethical travel projects span the world. Ethical Travel in Africa Ethical Travel in Asia Ethical Travel in South America Ethical Travel in Australia Ethical Travel in Eastern Europe

Our main points of ethical travel advice:

Ethical travel advice for before you leave:

• Get rid of excess packaging on goods before you go - waste disposal is expensive and problematic in poorer countries
• Learn a few words of the local language and read up on the country
• Find out if there any useful gifts you can bring to the community you visit
• Don't forget to either pass on your travel brochures to others or recycle them

Ethical travel advice on flying:

• Remember to go by train on in-land journeys wherever possible
• Go abroad for longer periods and fly less often
• Off set your carbon emissions by supporting companies like Climate Care.

Ethical travel advice on responsible shopping:

• Always try to buy local goods, merchandise and food produce
• Bartering is an art form but make sure you pay fairly for the goods you buy. A pound lost here or there is no real loss to a Westerner but can make a big difference to the retailer
• Don't buy goods made from endangered animals, plants, or tortoiseshell - most of the time it's illegal to import and export them and you are endorsing poaching too

Ethical travel advice on cultural issues:

• Observe dress codes, customs and traditions
• Ask permission to photograph local people first
• Ask questions, don't dictate answers
• Be sensitive on issues of displays of wealth and modern technology. It only emphasises the gulf between rich and poor in very deprived communities
• Be relaxed about your host country's concept of time, acceptable behaviour and personal space
• Don't waste resources like food, energy and water
• Be aware of litter: take your litter home wherever possible

Ethical travel advice on visiting fragile eco-systems:

• Don't erode landscapes by creating new tracks or short-cuts
• Make sure you don't tread on rare native flora - keep an eye on where you walk
• Don't remove coral when swimming
• Don't pick flowers or pickup seashells
• Be aware of animal exploitation and cruelty
• Keep to suggested or legal observation distances when viewing wildlife - if they alter their behaviour because of you then you are too close

Ethical travel tips
What is ethical travel ?
How to travel ethically
Ethical travel