Charities & Travel Organisations we support at Travel Matters
Here is a list of the charities & travel organisations we like and support at Travel Matters.
Friends of Conservation was founded in 1982 to help prevent wildlife and habitat degredation in the Masai Mara – one of the most ecologically important regions of the world. Over the last 25 years we have become an organisation with a reputation as one of East Africa’s leading conservation bodies and work alongside some of the most progressive minds in this arena.
Tourism Concern are an independent, non-industry based, UK charity whose vision is a world free from exploitation in which all parties involved in tourism benefit equally and in which relationships between industry, tourists and host communities are based on trust and respect. Their mission is to ensure that tourism always benefits local people.
The Travel Foundation is a UK charity that cares for the places they love to visit. Your holiday can make a real difference to your favourite destinations. It can help protect the natural environment, traditions and culture – things that make your visit special. All of which can make your holiday experience even better. We have signed up to the Travel Foundations Forum and have committed to take action on sustainability within our business. Also check out www.makeholidaysgreener.org.uk
Founded in 2008, TravelPledge was set up to respond to the growing requests from travellers to be able to contribute financially to charitable social and environmental projects in the destinations they visit.
The LATA Foundation is a UK-based charity dedicated to promoting sustainable development in Latin America and responsible business practices in the tourism industry.
Here is a list of tour operators and travel organisations we support at Travel Matters. If you know of other responsible travel organisations, we are keen to hear from you.
ActiveEarth Travel provides specialist travel services for customers booking ActiveEarth products. They have the expert knowledge of the specially chosen locations used by the ActiveEarth group and are able to provide the best travel, accommodation and in-situ transport options to suit your programme or trip.
Exodus has over 30 years of experience in organising worldwide adventure tours and more specifically Family tours since 2005. They have successfully carried forward their experience, spirit and passion for travel into the family market to become one of the UK’s most established and respected family adventue companies.
Diverse earth offer ethical travel to far-flung destinations for small groups, families and individuals. Their team of experts have searched the globe to provide unique trips ranging from leopard safaris in Sri Lanka to trekking in Tibet, exploring the Amazon to sailing on the Nile. Their tours are designed so that the traveller can get the most out of their holiday.
Expert Africa (part of the Sunvil Group), specializes in tailor-made trips to Southern and East Africa and the Seychelles, offering value for money with unrivalled expertise. Its trips are individual and highly flexible, catering for free-spirited and discerning travellers. By offering quality trips that support small estabishments and local guides, it also tries to minimize any environmental damage and to help the communities whom it visits.
Explore is widely recognized as the leading specialist in adventure travel with experience and customer service which is second to none. Each itinerary is carefully planned to offer the right balance of active exploration, fun and relaxation to provide the ultimate adventure holiday for every member of the family.
Families Worldwide specialize in family adventure travel overseas in which they provide adventure and activity holidays as tours or tailor-made itineraries for families travelling with children. Their holidays are produced with great care to ensure that the customer has a fun and inspirational experience whilst away.
Hands Up specializes in holidays that combine eco-sightseeing with a meaningful taste of volunteering. For example, a trip may start by spending a few days with a guide exploring the destination while learning something of the local language, culure and etiquette.
ITC Giving was established in 2011 to offer existing and prospect ITC clients the opportunity to engage in and understand in much more depth the destinations they visit. ITC Giving’s parent company International Travel Connections (ITC), is a family-owned, independent luxury tour operator, has been arranging luxury, bespoke holidays for its clients since 1974.
Insider Tours offers tailor-made guided tours throughout southern India and Sri Lanka, with weddings and honeymoons being a speciality. The entire operation is embedded in the local people and the company’s relationship with them. The company prefers to use homestays and lodges, and small locally owned hotels. To this end, the tours are built around regions or projects that benefit the community so that visitors can support the local economy, travel less and relax more and absorb the local culture.
Journey Latin America is a specialist for Central and South America, offering the widest range of flexible holiday options, including tailor-made travel and small group tours. With a 5-star Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) responsible tourism award, its large team of specialists truly understand the ecological and social issues particular to the region.
An African and Indian Ocean specialist offering some tours, but mostly tailor-made, upmarket itineraries to Southern and East Africa, as well as a comprehensive programme to Madagascar. Rainbow Tours includes many community partnership lodges and bed and breakfasts.
Sunvil is a fully bonded operator. They are always innovative and offer an alternative to the masses with their unique tailor made travel options. In addition to Greece and Cyprus, Sunvil Discovery Europe now journeys to Italy, Sicily, Lipari and Madeira, The Azores, Portugal, Armenia, Romania, Sweden and Norway. The Sunvil Africa team are true specialists to Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. Sunvil Latin America operates to Costa Rica, Guatemala (including Belize extensions), Ecuador & Galapagos, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil, Panama, Mexico, Venezuela and Antarctica.
Traidcraft has been running a variety of tours for about 20 years and have changed and evolved over time. With the growing interest in fair trade and the broader cultural and development issues connected to it, they are developing a range of tours that will allow supporters and friends the opportunity to see the benefits of their work, fighting poverty through trade.
Tribes is an independent specialist travel company. It is owned and run by Amanda and Guy Marks, who founded the company in January 1998. They are backed by a small, committed team of travel professionals who really do have a passion for what they are doing.
Organisations
Business Fights Poverty is the international, free-to-join professional network for those passionate about fighting poverty through good business. The network connects practitioners and experts around the world to form a global community pushing the boundaries of how business can fight poverty.
CARIBSAVE is a partnership between the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) and the University of Oxford. The CARIBSAVE Partnership addresses the impacts and challenges surrounding climate change, tourism, the environment, economic development and community livelihoods across the Caribbean Basin, using an integrated and holistic approach.
The Fair Trade In Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) is a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable tourism development. It does this through raising awareness, research and advocacy, capacity-building and by facilitating the world’s first tourism Fair Trade certification programme.
Stuff your rucksack enables travellers to give pratical help to places they visit by bringing things that are really needed. It is about helping small, legitimate organisations that get little or no help from their government or from local or international NG0′s. It is about travellers helping other travellers to give pratical assistance to people who have the least, but often give the most.
People and Places matches skills and experience to need – our role is to enable both volunteers and local communities to gain mutual benefits. Crucial to this role are our relationships with local partners.
The Muskoka Foundation They are a not-for-profit organisation based in the United States. Their vision is to create a network of hundreds of modern day explorers, travelling overland in communities around the world, using their skills to do good as they go to create a better world together. Unlike many of the ‘voluntourism’ type programmes, they do not charge travellers any fees and they provide them with specific skills, curriculum and equipment to carry out the good work.
