More than 15 years ago, Josh Grisdale was exploring Tokyo when he encountered a problem that few of us actively consider. After maneuvering his electric wheelchair off the train, he discovered there was no elevator. The subway staff were quick to help, and carried Grisdale down four flights of stairs. “[To the staff], I was […]
“To travel,” Aldous Huxley wrote, “is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” For those of us who have traveled to places with autocratic leadership—like Cuba, China, Burma, or Iran—the wisdom of Huxley’s words is undeniable. Today, the United States itself has become a sketchy destination. Travelers from around the world, put off […]
Palawan’s Popularity Problem: An Interview with Photographer Duncan Murrell This past fall (autumn for those outside North America), I was lured to Palawan, a culturally and ecologically rich archipelago in the Philippines made up of nearly 2,000 islands. Seeing the name pop up repeatedly on “world’s best islands” and “world’s best beaches” lists in recent […]
While traveling, we try to be as efficient and eco-friendly as possible. But what about when we return home? We’ve come up with simple ways you can practice sustainable travel at home as well as abroad. While going through the motions of daily life, prioritize sustainability by supporting your local community and its natural resources. […]
You’ve just taken a vacation that you’ll never forget, so it only makes sense to mark the occasion with a souvenir that will remind you of your getaway forever. The only problem? You’re an eco-conscious traveler and shopper, so you want it to be both special and sustainable. It might seem an impossible task, but […]
As ethical travelers, we’re always looking to give back to the people and places we visit. The classic problem with international charity efforts is that they can fail to create local buy-in, and particularly fail to achieve a sense of local ownership of the new project. We’ve all heard about the unintended consequences of do-gooder […]
It goes without saying that technology has revolutionized the travel industry. A light tap or two on your phone can lead you to the right accommodation or the perfect travel partner. So why couldn’t technology serve as a vehicle for travelers to explore the world more responsibly? In many ways, it has. Numerous apps and […]
Sex tourism and trafficking remain prevalent issues in the travel industry. Within the thriving sex industry, women and girls – and young men and boys – are trafficked due to a boom in tourism and cheap flights to countries such as Cambodia and South Africa. In 2016, there are an estimated 45.8 million people in […]
Tuesday 8 November is a date that will not quickly be forgotten. The US Presidential Election may have dominated media outlets and bar conversations, but 8 November was also World Responsible Tourism Day (WRTD). This year marks the 10th anniversary of WRTD. The event was established at the World Travel Market in London in 2006 […]
