Traveling
Responsibly
|
Asian
Footsteps / Tibetan Expeditions
Responsible Travel Policy
1. Introduction
2. General guidelines for guides
3. Informing groups about responsible Travel
4. Groups & local interaction
5. Establishing new contacts & activities
6. Responsible Trael guidelines for local operators
1.
Introduction
Responsible or ‘low impact’ travel may be defined as
“minimizing the negative impact on environments and cultures
caused by tourist activity and enhancing the positive results of
tourism”. Traveling is as much about how you visit as where
you visit. Tourism does impact on local communities and we strongly
believe in a need to balance the welfare and conservation of all
people and environments with the benefits sustainable tourisms offers
to protect the people, cultures, environments and resources of the
areas in which we work.Goals & Objectives
Based in Lhasa, our original destination, we are inviting tourists
into our home. As such we want them to gain as much as possible
from the stunning natural environment and the immense cultural wealth
of the Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau.
From this, the heart of Asia, we are expanding to include South
Asia, Indochina, China and Mongolia and are very conscious of the
strong links as well as differences between these regions.
We are also very conscious of the impact that mass tourism can have
on the environment and the negative impacts that this can have on
small communities, whilst appreciating the social and economic benefits
that tourism can bring.
• In Tibet we are our own ground operator employing all Tibetan
managers, office staff, guides and drivers.
• Throughout China, Nepal, Bhutan and India we work with wholly
locally owned and operated agencies.
• In Indochina and Mongolia we work with joint ventures with
a strong commitment to responsible travel and using and employing
local staff and operators.
• We use existing infrastructures where possible and small-scale,
privately, locally owned accommodation.
• Encourage small groups
• Guides and group leaders follow detailed guidelines on acceptable
behaviors and practices. These cover cultural considerations, reduction
and disposal of waste and protection of endangered wildlife.
• Travelers are issued with country specific guidelines to
help them to make responsible decisions whilst traveling. These
guidelines cover appropriate dress, etiquette for visiting homes
and religious complexes, waste and environmental issues and endeavor
to explain cultural behaviors which may seem alien to western travelers.
• We are committed to 'putting back' into the communities
and regions we visit by supporting development and conservation
projects in these areas and specifically choosing to use local businesses
that support such projects.
2.
General Guidelines for Guides & Leaders
The following general guidelines are standards of behavior we should
expect from everyone. By observing them you will gain the respect
of the local people and help your groups increase their respect
and understanding of local cultures and peoples.Cultural Differences
Experiencing cultural diversity is one of the great joys of traveling,
and we need to make sure that these differences are encouraged and
respected. At a general level, we need to respect the cultural rules
in the areas we travel to. Please make sure in your dealings as
guide/leader and in educating your group members that you accept
these differences and not try and change them for the benefit of
your group's comfort. Forewarn travelers about differences that
they may find confronting or misinterpret, early in their trip and
explain the background to these customs.Assisting locals in their
understanding of western culture
The flip side of cultural understanding when traveling is helping
the locals gain a greater insight into western culture, beyond the
superficial attractions of money and wealth. As guides and leaders
working with western groups you are in a unique position to act
as a ‘bridge’ between locals and tourists, assisting
each in appreciating and understanding the other.
Help group members recognize that as a westerner in Asia they are
in a position of power. They are probably richer than the locals
they are meeting, and a world traveler - something many locals they
meet can only dream of. When dealing with locals respect that they
may wish to develop economically and have access to material possessions
that we take for granted. While this undoubtedly changes the villages
and makes it less "uncoil" for tourists, it is something
that we should respect and understand. Everyone has a right to development
and a better standard of living.
You can also help people to understand the negative influences that
come from increased material wealth on the family and the community.
Assist local people to achieve a balanced view of development.Dress
Standards
Asian people generally dress modestly, and as a rule groups and
guides/leaders should dress the way the locals do. Dress standards
vary from place to place, with the rural areas tending to be more
conservative than the cities. Be aware of this, and inform your
group of it too.
It is highly offensive to the Asian community for women to wear
singlet tops. Not wearing a bra is also offensive and provocative.
If women dress inappropriately they may attract more male attention
than they really want to! Tight, body-hugging attire is also not
acceptable. This is not to say no one can wear shorts, but there
will be situations where they are inappropriate, especially for
females. Shorts should never be too short, and lycra is best left
for the gym.More formal dress codes apply for religious sites you
may visit, and to prevent the wrath of the gods as well as the locals
these should be closely followed. In general one should have covered
shoulders and legs, shoes and hats should be removed.Swimming
There are no areas of Asia where nude sun baking or swimming is
acceptable, despite what other travelers might be doing. We don't
want to sink to the level of other travelers. Bikinis are generally
inappropriate but a bikini is all some travelers will have. If this
is the case they should be encouraged to swim/bath in a sarong or
T-shirt where necessary. If you are staying in a small village you
will probably be bathing in a stream, river or waterfall, and women
should wash in a sarong or in the mode that the local women use.
Men and women may need to bathe in a different area – check
what is appropriate.Etiquette
There are a few general codes of behavior that apply throughout
the areas we operate and groups should be informed, and reminded
if necessary.
• Crooking the finger to call somebody is considered impolite.
• Showing affection in public is considered quite offensive.
Explain that away from the major urban centers it is extremely rare
to see couples holding hands, though it is quite common to see friends
of the same sex holding hands.
• The head is the symbolic high point in Asia. You should
never touch a person on the head.
• It is polite to remove your shoes before entering a house.
Look for shoes at the front door as a clue and follow suit.
• Criticism should only be used when put among praise.
• It is inappropriate to express anger in a raised voice.
Becoming angry is embarrassing to those with whom you are dealing
- they will not be embarrassed for themselves, but for you making
a fool of yourself. "Keeping face", that subtle but important
quality of personal dignity, is important! Answering questions!
The ideal demeanor for the traveler I Asia is friendly and open
and ever ready to answer questions - where you are going? Are you
married? How old you are? - Questions that in a western society
may be considered personal. You need to prepare travelers for this
and insist they remain patient, and also to recognize that the people
are just being friendly and curious. Asian people often ask what
your religion is. They have a general concern that everyone has
a religion, though it doesn't particularly matter which one. Asian
people usually have a similar attitude to marriage and children.
If someone asks if you are married or have children, and you are
not/do not, a good standard response is "not yet". If
the group members are feeling uncomfortable with such questions,
try to encourage them to be patient or subtly change the subject!
The locals' enthusiasm, curiosity and eagerness to speak English
often antagonize travelers. In return the locals often find western
attitudes ‘stand offish’ and cold. Different attitudes
towards privacy may conflict with the western attitude. Asian people
often have an interest in our books, writing or photographs, which
the westerner considers ‘private property.’ Concepts
of property, private ownership and privacy are very different for
the rural Asian, who is accustomed to living and sharing in a close
knit community. These need to be explained to travelers so they
are prepared and understand that their local hosts are not being
‘nosy’ but politely interested.Drugs and alcohol
The laws of most Asian countries carry harsh penalties for drug
possession or usage. Guides/leaders are not to indulge in opium,
dope or other illegal drugs whilst leading trips and it is not acceptable
for group members to do so either.
The use of alcohol needs careful consideration especially in smaller
villages and tribal regions. In these areas our 'privileged' status
brings with it a responsibility to promote the good in our cultures
and not the excesses. Many village people cannot afford to purchase
alcohol and so see our sometimes excessive consumption as a sign
of affluence and elitism. For some the lure to taste that influence
causes them to ignore family responsibilities and spend their income
on alcohol.
In communities where we are offered the ‘local brew’,
still keep in mind a level of constraint and if group members are
becoming more than a little inebriated it may be time for you to
have a subtle word in the local guide or hosts ear about slowing
it down or changing activities. Out of control drunken Westerners
(aside from making fools of themselves) can damage our positive
relationships with locals and negatively change the group dynamics.
In towns and larger urban centers where there is increased local
wealth our influence has less impact and the use of alcohol has
wider acceptance.Prescription Medicine
Avoid giving western medicines to our Asian hosts. In general they
are not accustomed western medicine and we are not trained to give
it. In addition, we don't want dependence on medicines to occur
especially when natural and traditional treatments may be just as
effective. If a local person approaches you for treatment, encourage
them to seek traditional cures or assist them to the local clinic/hospital.
You may have a doctor in your group who wishes to treat local people.
In this instance please explain the above concerns and encourage
the doctor to take these into account when deciding on what assistance
should be offered. It may be better to suggest to medicos in your
group to not reveal their profession as they may quickly gather
a queue of patients and be left in a dilemma.There are exceptions
to this rule in the case of emergencies. If a local is seriously
injured and in a potentially life threatening situation then they
should be given the appropriate first aid treatment which may include
medication. However, remain aware of the potential dangers of allergic
reactions to drugs and try to get them to medical help as soon as
possible.Sexual Relationships & Prostitution
Be aware that it is taboo in some communities we visit to conduct
an intimate relationship with the locals, and in many countries
there are strict laws governing the behavior of unmarried couples.
In some communities there are heavy fines for such indiscretions
and in other communities it can be punishable by serious injury.
Be aware too that the recipient of a foreigner's attentions can
be seriously affected within their local communities in terms of
their well being, social standing and reputation. Homosexual relationships
have gained much wider acceptance in Western communities in recent
years. Be aware that you may need to remind a group member that
this is not the case in some parts of Asia and if a local is found
to be engaging in a homosexual relationship they could be totally
outcast or shunned by their families and community or worse. In
seeming contradiction to the conservative attitudes generally prevalent
in Asia, prostitution is an aspect of many Asian societies. In some
regions this trade is practiced openly and without stigma amongst
local men – the same does not apply to foreigners.
Any group member who shows interest in frequenting brothels needs
to be given strong words on the social and economic reasons behind
prostitution in Asia. Point out the risks of contracting HIV and
sexually transmitted diseases. They should also understand that
unlike prostitutes in developed countries, many Asian women are
not prostitutes of their own free will but in fact are bonded labor.
They have been sold to pimps by their families and are imprisoned
in brothels. They face ridicule and condemnation by their communities
and can never return. Many end up with drug problems and become
infected with HIV.
Relationships between guides/drivers and group members are not encouraged.
Such relationships generally have a negative impact on the group
who perceive preferential treatment. If the relationship does not
last the duration of the trip larger problems can ensue, often resulting
in dissatisfied clients and complaints. Do not delude yourself that
you can keep such relationships private.Photography – still
& video
Please ensure that group members are aware and sensitive to the
impact of photography. Sensitivity is the key. They should always
ask permission before taking photographs of people and respect their
wishes if they refuse. Minority groups in particular are often unhappy
to have their photo taken. They may think they do not look attractive
(wearing their work clothes rather than festival clothes), while
other groups believe that part of their spirit is taken away if
they are photographed. Porters are often unhappy about being photographed.
Encourage travelers to send back copies of photos via you or directly
to the people themselves. The locals gain a great buzz from seeing
themselves in photos and it encourages a ‘sharing’ rather
than ‘taking’ attitude towards photography. Also in
many cases the locals could never afford to take photos themselves.
You should make every effort to distribute the photos the next time
you are in the area. When your group sees you doing this it is all
the more encouraging to them to return photos.While we welcome travelers
to pack their video cameras, there are some places that we request
them not to film. In some small villages, home stays and remote
communities we discourage the use of videos as the local people
consider that filming is too intrusive.Donations and gift giving
This is a difficult issue for many travelers who want to assist
the local communities but are unaware of the larger implications.
Inform travelers of these issues before visiting tribal communities
and advise them of the most helpful methods of giving something
back to the region.
If travelers wish to donate to a community suggest what you know
of local charities or development agencies that are operating in
the area. If you are visiting communities regularly perhaps check
with the local school about what they actually need so you can direct
interested groups to purchase appropriate donations (ie. Don’t
keep donating pens to a school where all the children are required
to use pencils).Beggars
Travelers may look to you for advice on dealing with beggars. Essentially
it’s up to individuals but you may make some suggestions.
Suggest to travelers not to give sweets/candies to children who
may not have access to good dental care. Advise groups on how the
local people treat beggars in their community. This can be an especially
difficult issue in countries like Cambodia where many beggars are
victims of mines. Suggest travelers perhaps buy more postcards etc
than they actually need from street sellers – this assists
the bottom rung of society whilst giving them the self esteem of
being able to earn a living.Ways not to give!
Giving money and goods away at random to individuals can result
in the local communities acting like beggars. It accentuates an
unequal relationship between locals and visitors, with tourists
being seen as purely ‘money givers’ or mobile ATM machines.
It also strips self esteem away from people when they get money
for simply being poor rather than having to solve their own issues
of poverty through community action. We also need to be careful
not to pay for acts of kindness in monetary terms (eg. paying kids
for pointing you in the right direction if you are unsure where
you are, or lighting the way down a dark alley with their torches).
We do not want to encourage the development of a society that equates
every human action as a potential money making scheme.Avoid feeling
that we necessarily have to give ‘material’ things at
all. The best giving can sometimes be shared interactions. A smile,
a joke, a song, dance, or playing a game.
Giving something of your friendship, time and interest to interact
with locals can be the best gift of all. Let them know that you
regard them as individuals equal to yourselves – not as a
tourist attraction.Environmental Responsibility and waste minimization
In Asia, the enormous economic growth of the region has been at
the cost of the environment. Analysts are only now beginning to
recognize the extent of the damage and the true cost to the environment
and the welfare of its inhabitants.
Tourism adds to this problem. However, we can minimize our impact
on the places we visit by encouraging travelers to practice waste
minimization initiatives whilst traveling.
In many places it will seem a losing battle as locals do not care
about rubbish disposal. Remember environmental awareness takes time
and education – it has not been high on western consciousness
for all that long – persevere and assist in the awareness
and educational process.
It is often easier to act responsibly if we can see the fruits of
our actions. For example, removing litter from a trail makes it
more pleasing to the eye and is something we can enjoy straight
away. In contrast, the impact of sewerage and soap in waterways
takes a lot longer to be of visible concern and makes us slower
to react and improve our environmental practices. We are naturally
reactors rather than preventers, yet in environmental terms, reacting
is often too late. We should be looking to adopt preventative actions
on our trips by adopting practices that are commonly recognized
as the three R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Some practical examples
of this:Rubbish
• Encourage group members not to use plastic covered or wrapped
foods when fresh options are available. The disposal of plastics
and styrofoam is a major problem, and the more we can do to reduce
its use the better. Take your groups to local markets where little
packaging is used, the food is fresh and the money is benefiting
the local producers. Suggest travelers always take their own bags
when shopping.
• Whenever you are away from towns or cities we must not leave
any rubbish we take in with us. Encourage travelers to pick up any
rubbish that they see, left behind by other travelers, so that we
leave a place cleaner than we found it.
• Make sure support trucks on long Tibet/Mongolia trips have
sacks (or equivalent) to store excess empty water bottles until
they can be properly disposed of. Encourage pax to refill water
bottles rather than endlessly buying new ones.
• In National Parks and other protected areas organic waste
such as food scraps should not be dispersed or buried there. This
practice may introduce exotic seeds and is not the natural diet
of the native animals. Take it out with you again.Drinking water
Bottled water is for sale in much of Asia, but unfortunately there
are few facilities for recycling of the bottles. Please do what
you can to help by encouraging group members to refill personal
water bottles. This is particularly simple and effective in China-Tibet
where boiled water thermoses are provided by hotels and guest houses.
Toilet facilities
When trekking or in remote areas use the toilet facilities that
are provided. If none are established, find a suitable place and
inform group members. This should be at least 50m away from water
sources and people’s homes. Bury your shit - a small spade/
shovel should be purchased and carried for this purpose. Instruct
the group that toilet paper should be carried out in a plastic bag
for appropriate disposal later, or burnt. Energy and water conservation
Create awareness amongst your group of being prudent with fuel and
water. Pollution, green house gases and other problems of fossil
fuel use are escalating as developing countries strive towards modern
Western appliances, vehicles and production methods. Clean water
supplies are diminishing. Some examples:
1. Air-con in hotel rooms. Don’t use unnecessarily or leave
on when out of the room. Turn down, to ‘fan only’ or
off overnight. Better for avoiding sore throats and colds too!
2. Air-con vehicles. Short journeys are easily managed with windows
open.
3. A cold shower may be more refreshing than hot in the tropics.
Encourage solar systems for hot water heating. Avoid hot showers
where the water is being heated with cut timber or other non-sustainable
methods eg Nepal trek tea houses.
4. Encourage alternate sources of fuel for cooking and heating.
5. Talk to hotel management about systems – eg cleaning lady/person
not changing the sheets and towels every day unless requested.
6. An empty room does not need light. Environmental degradation
On treks use existing tracks and stay on them. This is especially
important during the wet season because it is all too easy to create
new tracks in order to get a better footing. If people don't adhere
to this, the trail will soon become a series of footpaths that turn
into erosion gullies. This impacts on the vegetation as branches
are reached for as handholds, broken off, and add to the topsoil
that has been dislodged to silt up the waterways.Fires – reduce
deforestation by avoiding unnecessary use of scarce firewood. Fuel
stoves should be used for cooking on camping trips and we should
choose accommodation that uses kerosene, gas or fuel – efficient
firewood stoves. Put on warmer clothes rather than stoking a wood
fire for warmth.
Soap – On treks when the group is bathing in streams or lakes
ask group members to forget about soap for a few days and feast
in their beautiful natural body smells! A soap-less bathe will still
remove sweat! A nail brush and face washer may help! Conventional
body soap and shampoo are degradable but it takes time for them
to break down and in the interim they may still be contaminating
water quality for people downstream. The bigger problem is actually
products like washing powders which contain cleaning agents that
will damage the soil and vegetation if not disposed of in a controlled
manner. It is difficult saying ‘no soap’ to passengers
when the locals have their big bags of Omo on the riverbank, but
it is important that we don’t add to the problem, as we are
visitors and an additional ‘load’ on the eco-system.Wildlife
When visiting National Parks or reserves where groups will be in
contact with wildlife, please ensure that they follow the appropriate
Park Regulations that ensure that wildlife is protected. Ask group
members to respect this even if they observe that other tourists
don't.
Sometimes local people will try and sell protected species to foreigners.
Travelers may wish to do this so that they can set the animal free.
However please explain that this can sometimes be a money making
scam for locals and it is a better policy to refuse to pay money
and encourage the local to release the animal. When they realize
there is no demand for the animal then the practice may eventually
stop.
Shopping and dining - Please encourage travelers to refuse to buy
any souvenirs, food or products made from local wildlife.
3.
Informing travelers about responsible travel.
Education on responsible travel is the key. On group trips the initial
group meeting is a good time for this information to be followed
up and given specific detail in relation to the trip you are leading.
• You should emphasize the importance of mutual respect.
• Explain the reasons why we have these guidelines, that we
are guests and are privileged to visit local homes and communities.
We want to have sustainable tourism so travelers in the future can
also visit and enjoy the same experience.
• Cover the General Guidelines in brief, gauging the topics
you think require the most emphasis for this particular trip and
passengers – eg dress, photography.
• Do not be overbearing, but clear and informative. Have some
fun too explaining what happens when rules are broken. It can be
useful to share why you as a leader/guide believe in Responsible
Travel and allow some of your own style to show through. This introduction
sets the tone for the rest of the trip and allows you to set the
ground rules and make clear your expectations from the beginning.
• Distribute and explain country or trip specific guidelines.Group
members may also need a further briefing before entering particularly
sensitive areas (eg. areas of special religious significance). Tell
them directly what to expect from the locals' behavior, the physical
conditions of the toilets, shower, beds, etc. Inform them of taboos
and their origins. Give them some handouts on language, hints on
things they can do to communicate with the locals and generally
sort out what sort of behavior you expect from them. Being prepared
and informed allows travelers to actively participate in Responsible
Travel efforts (and can minimize the risks of culture shock for
them too). With small private groups, join them for meals and discuss
in a less formal way early in the trip.Act responsibly yourself
You have incredible influence on a group's behavior. Lead by example.
Treat the locals like the valued friends they are - and watch your
group do the same, reassured that there is no need to be cautious
or shy of these Asian people after all. Acting responsibly and with
respect as a leader is perhaps the best way to get your group following
suit.Be strong on enforcing Responsible Travel policy
Explain to travelers that you are serious in your commitment to
responsible travel and behavior that compromises either the safety
or comfort of the group is unacceptable. If people do something
that is offensive take them aside and help them to understand what
they should be doing instead. Explain what they will get out of
respecting the rules - pride in respecting local cultures and learning
more about the culture. If someone constantly refuses to follow
these rules, take them aside and firmly tell them that their behavior
is inappropriate. This does not necessarily involve getting angry
or loud - indeed in accordance with local norms it is better if
this is not the case - but can be a calmly stated “you have
embarrassed yourself, you have embarrassed me as your leader/guide
and other group members and I can not have that happening again
on my trip". Sometimes other group members will support you
in telling people their behavior is inappropriate.
Encourage open discussions/debates about styles of tourism. Get
feedback from group members about things they found difficult. This
can help you to develop ways of better preparing future groups.
Give positive feedback to travelers too, thanking group members
for their cultural understanding, reinforcing their efforts, noticing
their attempts and passing on appreciation from locals. Discussion
with local operators
Guides/leaders should be in discussion with local operators about
our Responsible Travel aims and how they can be achieved in a particular
region. Knowledge of environmental issues and the affects of tourism
may be lacking in the regions we visit and guides/leaders should
play a pro-active role in the sharing of information.
4.
Groups and Local Interaction
Group Meeting: Discuss at first group meeting what opportunities
there will be for meeting/getting to know the locals. Encourage
pax to break the ice with locals and start talking to them first.
Immerse themselves as much as possible.Lead by example
The guide/leader’s example and attitude is crucial. The more
you make the first move and interact the more passengers will.Language
Use should use simple local language in passenger’s presence
to set an example, and give passengers confidence to give it a go.
Right from the beginning encourage people to learn bits, broken
down so it doesn't seem so daunting. Demonstrate that you can communicate
with the local people even if you only know two words, hello and
thanks. After they get past their initial fears of not being able
to communicate most people relax and their holiday becomes much
more exciting and enjoyable."
Dining
Start the trip with a very 'local' experience - dinner at a back
street local restaurant/market; buy snacks from a local vendor,
etc. Use local non-touristy restaurants. Don't do all the ordering
– have passengers do at times.
Places with lots of locals, market stalls, on the street etc
Avoid eating in formal air-con restaurants too often. Set an example
suggesting lots where you can sit outside, and be amongst the local
activity.
Encourage pax to explore restaurants and food on their own as well
as under your guidance.Identify ‘bridges’, special interests
or activities that bring locals and travelers together eg playing
cards, Mahjong, cricket. Start a game outdoors and you are guaranteed
to attract local children and before you know it you've got an entire
series on your hands.
Introducing travellers to our local operators/guides/friends
Local guides are often the key that unlocks interaction...for many
people the language barrier can be a real issue so local guides
can play a huge role." Be friends with the local people yourself.
Know personal things about them and their family that you can impart
to passengers. This goes especially well for home stays etc. The
best way to learn and achieve this is to spend time with them yourself.
Passengers love to see you interacting well with the people that
you work with, makes them feel safe and more likely to get involved.
Get to know the life stories of many of the people passengers will
meet: give them some of the info in advance to whet their enthusiasm
to learn more when they meet – helps give passengers a lead
into conversation.
Handicraft or agricultural or other livelihood activities
Include first hand experiences of how locals make their livelihood.
• eg learn weaving technique
• paddy field – have a go at threshing machine
Get in touch with local NGO's, especially those that support local
industries. Most of our clients do not have the time or skills to
volunteer but they have the money and will be prepared to support
if they know the money is going to a good cause."Learn what
the locals ‘DO’ in a normal day and go do same.
Go where they relax eg park, tea shops, have a beer, worship. School
Visits.
Photography
Encourage groups to send back photos and always check if there are
photos in the office for distribution. If pax have digital cameras
having them take photos of locals and show them the photo on the
screen is one of the best tools to get locals and pax interacting.
Having passengers share their photos from home creates a great response.
This is when their families bring out their photo albums of weddings
and other important events and you get to know them a lot better.The
road less traveled.
Take groups on walks through city back streets, away from main tourist
areas.
Just reminding pax there are other sides to the city is enough for
many of them choose to go off and explore these areas, and often
come back with stories about the people they've met and some unique
things they wouldn't have seen on the main roads.
Take your group to the local market, buy some different fruits/snacks
and then have a tasting afterward. f
5.
Establishing new activities or trips
Up to this point these notes have concentrated on the on-going issues
that arise in the running of our established trips. In addition
to these there are special considerations that need to be addressed
when establishing a new component of a trip or a completely new
itinerary. The guidelines below refer specifically to setting up
a new home stay within a minority group village, but the issues
raised are relevant whenever leaders are researching new activities
or locations.Initiation
If you have discovered a suitable destination for a trip, approach
a local person and express your interest. If possible this approach
will be to a person who you know so there is a relationship of trust
established and a strong foundation to build in these sorts of visits.
Encourage them to talk to the appropriate committee or channel within
the community to ascertain interest and support of tourist visits.
Clarify what we mean by visiting:• We are interested to stay
in community because of the traditional element there and would
like to learn more about the culture.
• We do not expect any special conveniences built for us.
We wish to stay and live with the local people. We wish to eat local
food. We wish to participate in and appreciate the local way of
life.
• We would pay them for the work that they do - in a way that
is best for the community - individual or a community bank account.
It can be a lot of work for one person and we need to be sensitive
to the family situation - elderly, babies. We would like the financial
benefits of our visit be able to be shared as widely as is possible.
• We would expect them to educate leaders and group members
about the cultural and spiritual rules of the village and to let
us know what rules we should be expected to follow.
Ask the local person to let us know if there is interest and if
so can we visit and discuss further issues. On getting a response
take care to decipher "yes" as meaning an actual yes from
the local people. We have to be careful that the home stay isn't
one person desperate for it to happen at the expense/inconsideration
of the local community.Visit, assessment and discussion
You should go to the community and meet the appropriate people in
the village. You should have as much info as possible about the
community before the visit. If a local operator is assisting you
in establishing the home stay make sure they go along too, to act
as in interpreter if necessary and to give them an understanding
of the Responsible Travel considerations that we want to address
in setting up the visit. Be sure that the operator is acting in
the best interests of the whole village and not just themselves.Information
gathering on local community
While there it is good to collect information on:
• Community structures - leadership and decision making
• Spiritual beliefs
• Material culture
• Economic/political aspects of the communityAll these areas
have implications for visits such as:
• Appropriate gender behavior
• Possible activities to participate in
• Use of alcohol or opiumInformation about Asian Footsteps
You should discuss how other community visits work with AF. What
sort of things are done, the practicalities, the problems, the good
things and bad things, etc. You should continually explain that
we do not expect any special privileges. Explain our philosophy,
views on tourism, our vision and our requirements. Describe what
travelers may be like (some are insensitive no matter what we do),
and the need for activities and learning. Talk about the environmental
impact of visits and assess what awareness there is. Explain concerns
you may have and how we could overcome these. (Using local firewood,
toilets, bathing in rivers etc.)Practicalities
Discuss and record what is said on the following matters:
• payment - type and method
• planned frequency of visit
• how problems and disagreements will be resolved
• planned activities during our stay
• how would proposals for change be dealt with
• positive and negative aspects of the visitFrom a tourist
point of view look at the facilities and what travelers will need
to know - sleeping, bathing, eating, transport and things to do
or learn with the community. Facilities can be basic as long as
group members understand that in the beginning. Usually they require
simple mattresses or blankets in cold places. Discuss this with
the local people and explain that if we bought them could they be
kept in the community for use by us on our visits. You may need
to be sensitive on the issues of payment. Look at the possibility
of setting up community banks or alternatives - maybe paying school
fees if the community does not want a cash system.Establishing rules
for travelers and guides
Involve the local community members in writing low impact codes
for our visit. Some issues that should be understood and followed
by our travelers include:
• Entering premises appropriately - Shoes on or off? Are there
any taboos to uphold? Who are the key people to introduce travelers
to and to greet? Gift of thanks appropriate?
• Moving about premises appropriately - What are general traffic
areas? What are private areas, family areas, toilet bathroom areas,
etc? What are the rules of leaving a group or individual properly?
• Communicating appropriately - Are there issues that can
or cannot be addressed to certain people? What are the rules about
physical contact? What are the rules about nonverbal communication
- eye contact, hand gestures, etc? How and where do people sit,
etc.
• Bathing and washing appropriately - What should be done?
Where? What should be worn? Males together or separate to females?
Other rules?
• Eating and drinking behavior - What is good mealtime etiquette
- eating with hand, fork, spoon, etc? Leaving rice, starting with
rice? Ways of sitting, communication and noises during eating? Ways
of expressing satisfaction or fullness? Ways of leaving eating area?
• Enquire if there are other rules that are very important
for the local community that tourist should know and respectInvolvement
of the whole village
You should meet as many of the local people as is possible during
your visit. Try and gather general community support and don't exhaust
the resources of one or two people. Discuss the possibility of sharing
group members around during our stay, or getting villagers involved
in other ways. We should be encouraging the distribution of the
income we bring amongst the entire village. This can be difficult
and should be negotiated with your main contact.
Consider the relationship you would have with the community –
‘patron/beneficiary’ or ‘entertained/entertainers’
may not be a constructive basis to establish a home stay. Establishing
visits on an equal basis is far more likely to succeed.Write up
the results of your discussions
Thorough documentation of rationales and processes assists in our
long-term accountability for our low-impact stance. Documentation
gives the project a history, allows others to be informed of what
has been agreed upon, can be utilized in future training, and keeps
us accountable to see the project through the various steps involved.
First visit
Communicate very clearly with the village about the visit - clarifying
what will happen and when. Ring to confirm or write letters. You
should explain very carefully to travelers about the visit - what
to expect and how to behave. Ask them to support the process and
explain there may be problems. Provide as much information as possible
to group members about culture etc. Set rules with group members
regarding appropriate behavior, local customs, giving of gifts,
use of alcohol, and so on.
At the end of visit discuss how it went with your local hosts as
well as your group. If there were any problems or misunderstandings
have an open forum on how they can be resolved. It may be worthwhile
to set up a time to visit the village again without a group to discuss
how everyone felt about it.Review
Six visit review. Discuss any problems and strengths of visits for
groups and locals. Discuss frequency and impact and future of visits.
Encourage twelve monthly reviews. Once we have developed visits
to a community we have an ongoing responsibility to them. If there
are problems within villages then we should discuss these with the
operator and the appropriate people in the village to try and solve
them. We should not just ‘up and leave’ a village if
there are problems without spending time negotiating and trying
to solve the issues to the benefit of all concerned.
6.
Responsible Travel guidelines for local operators
Asian Footsteps
has a strong philosophy of responsible travel. We have put together
sets of guidelines for our guides, leaders, groups and local operators
to enhance understanding of our commitment to responsible travel
and explain the key points.
We would appreciate you taking the time to read these guidelines
and would welcome any feedback or any comments on any ways we could
improve them.
Because we work with and make use of your services, we request that
you please consider the following issues when working with our groups.
Responsible
Travel – what does this mean?
Responsible travel is also known as “eco-tourism” and
it basically means that when we travel we try and have a positive
impact, that our interactions with the people and culture are mutually
respectful and beneficial and that our groups do not damage or destroy
the local environment, economy and culture. We have a strong commitment
to Responsible Travel, and we ask that all our guides, leaders,
passengers and local operators (hotel staff, drivers, trek staff
etc.) help to make sure we follow Responsible Travel guidelines.
Local Economy
Asian Footsteps often uses different hotels and operators within
the same town. So our groups may stay in one hotel but use other
operators for travel arrangements, guides or eating arrangements.
The reason for this is that more people can benefit from our business,
and it also provides for different styles of interaction between
our groups and the local people.
Local operators need to be aware that the sharing of business in
no way reflects on the quality of their service and to understand
that it is part of a company policy.
We also like to help support local handicrafts and small charitable
ventures, rather than big factories and businesses. If you know
of any, please let us know.
We do not support factories and businesses that use mass or abusive
forms of child labor.
Pollution &
Environment
Asia’s economic growth has put an enormous burden on the environment.
Governments are attempting to minimize by passing conservation and
environmental protection laws.
As tourists, we contribute to the pollution in many ways - in particular
by the use of plastic mineral water bottles and the creation of
other rubbish. We aim to try and minimize the amount of pollution
we cause as tourists by encouraging our passengers to refill water
bottle from hot water thermoses in their rooms when possible. In
an effort to minimize this we encourage all of our guides, leaders,
groups and operators to dispose of rubbish appropriately and to
use recycling facilities wherever it is possible.
This is especially important if you provide a service involving
camping or hiking. Our policy is to carry out ALL rubbish unless
it can be disposed of properly.
We encourage hotels to introduce a system that gives guests the
option of not having their bed sheets and towels laundered every
day. This will reduce water and detergent consumption.
We actively discourage all our groups from purchasing and products
made from endangered local wildlife.
Culture &
Customs
We aim for our style of travel to be beneficial for everyone associated
with Asian Footsteps – including the local communities that
we visit. One of the joys of travel is learning about different
cultures. Things should not be changed for us because we are foreigners
or visitors. It is important that you help us to learn and teach
us the right and wrong ways of behaving. If you think that a guide,
leader or passenger is behaving inappropriately or offensively –
please tell us.
We advise our passengers to be thoughtful when taking photos of
people; we suggest that they always ask first. We ask our travelers
to dress respectfully and suitably for the places they are visiting.
We do not believe in discrimination against any person because of
their color, sex, religion, nationality, race, age or size.
Our leaders are forbidden to accept any “bribes” or
commissions on sales or goods and will be instantly dismissed if
this is found to be happening.
We do not allow the following behavior on our trips.
• Physical violence to any local person, employee or fellow
passenger.
• The use of illegal drugs.
• The use of prostitutes or any sexual services.
Please tell us any ways you think we could improve our operations
in relation to the above topics. Thank-you for your time.
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