For years, sustainable travel has encouraged us to minimise harm, use less plastic, reduce emissions, respect cultures and protect the places we visit. Ethical Traveler attended the Regenerative Travel Asia Symposium in Singapore, where the conversation explored a bigger question: what if the travel and tourism industry could actively restore ecosystems, strengthen local communities, and […]
Animal exploitation in tourism is not a new issue. Across the world, experiences once marketed as “once-in-a-lifetime” have come under scrutiny—from elephant riding in Thailand, to holding sea turtles in the Cayman Islands, to “walking with lions” in South Africa. As travelers, we are naturally drawn to these experiences but too often, tourism continues to […]
Could you tell us a bit more about ‘SocialBnB’, the platform you co-founded? What is the difference with ‘Airbnb’? Socialbnb is a social enterprise that creates meaningful encounters between travelers and the local population that have a long-lasting positive impact. On the socialbnb platform, travelers can book accommodations (Impact Stays), experiences (Impact Experiences), and tours […]
by Natalie Lefevre, Karen Blansfield, and Jeff Greenwald “Nobody can discover the world for somebody else. Only when we discover it for ourselves does it become common ground and a common bond.” – Wendell Berry For those of us who love to travel, the first few months of 2023 are bringing cause for optimism. The […]
by Karen Blansfield, Jeff Greenwald, and Natalie Lefevre “Travel far enough to meet yourself.” – David Mitchell There’s a sad but wonderful irony in these words from author David Mitchell, whose books, such as Cloud Atlas, have transported us through time and across the globe. During the past year, many of us have not been […]
by Natalie Lefevre, Karen Blansfield, Molly Blakemore, and Jeff Greenwald “As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” – Anthony Bourdain Once again, we open our annual report with the words of […]
Matt Kurth and Humboldt Cannabis Tours Several years ago, Matt Kurth reached a crossroads in his life. After working as a whitewater river guide for ten years, he got “tired” of it and realized he was ready to tackle another challenge. It just happened to incorporate his experiences as a tour guide, a longtime passion […]
“It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be. The more I become aware of, the more I realize how relatively little I know of it, how many places I have still to go, how much more there is to learn.” – Anthony Bourdain NOTE: As […]
World Heritage Sites, as designated by the United Nations Scientific, Educational, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), are places of outstanding universal value. Each one represents an incredible culture and its history or living tradition, a work of architectural or artistic marvel, or a place of exceptional natural beauty or ecological importance. By design, UNESCO World Heritage […]
