Social Impact Travel- A New Perspective in Travelling
Luxury travel, as we all know, can have a tremendous and lasting impact on our lives, but it can also have a significant impact on the locations we visit. We adore the kind of travel that broadens our horizons, provides one-of-a-kind experiences, and fosters priceless memories. Additionally, we want to have a positive influence wherever we go because we think that travel should be uplifting for everyone. Travel with a social impact is one method to do this.
What is Social Impact Travel?
Having a positive impact on the local populations of the areas you tour is the primary objective of social impact travel. It is predicated on the notion that travel can present an opportunity to change the world for the better in addition to providing benefits to travelers.
How Can Travel Make a Positive Social Impact?
Hotels, tour companies, and other travel industry workers can contribute to society in a variety of ways. They can first utilize their resources to promote education, provide jobs for residents, and fund neighborhood initiatives. A quick and easy method to have a positive social influence that enhances your trip and supports your destination is to stay at hotels, camps, and establishments that put social impact at the center of their activities.
1. Improving Access to Education
The foundation of thriving societies is a high-quality education system. And a lot of upscale tour operators are doing their share to guarantee that the youngsters in their neighborhoods have access to it, from early childhood through higher education. For instance, Children In The Wilderness, a non-profit organization that teaches kids about conservation, was founded by Wilderness Safaris. They carry out initiatives that promote the preservation of threatened ecosystems while educating neighborhood children about the environment and fostering their growth.
Another excellent example is Hotel Sol y Luna in Peru, which started as a project to increase the number of local kids who had access to education. The company's founders soon realized they could profit from the tourism sector to help fund their venture and decided to construct an opulent hotel with this goal in mind. The Sol y Luna Association, which runs an Intercultural School and several foster homes, is funded by the hotel's earnings. Its creators consider this to be a straightforward and long-lasting strategy for assisting the neighborhood. According to them, Traveling at its best not only gets us from one location to another but also opens our hearts in ways that can transform many lives along the route.
2. Employing Community Members
Local economies can greatly benefit from tourism, but only if travel agencies make an effort to put the needs of the neighborhood first. Hiring local personnel is one approach to accomplish this. In addition to opening up work opportunities, this also involves locals in the growth of the travel industry. Locals can offer a vital perspective that aids hotels and tour operators in making a difference when they participate in the daily operations of such enterprises.
At Damaraland Camp, one of our favorite upscale lodges in Namibia, this is precisely the situation. Nearly all of the workers at this place are locals, including numerous managerial roles. Along with the obvious financial advantages of working at the camp, many community members also gain valuable skills that enable them to work at other inns and travel agencies. This is one way that tour operators might invest in long-term community development as opposed to choosing quick fixes.
3. Supporting Local Projects
Sometimes helping initiatives that are already doing wonderful work is the best approach to have a positive effect. For instance, the Torra Conservancy and Damaraland Camp in Namibia collaborate frequently. It was initially founded by an agreement between Wilderness Safaris and the local community, and it supports environmental preservation, infrastructural development, and local economic growth. Similar connections exist between the Calanoa Project and the Amazonian Calanoa Lodge in Colombia. Through several activities, this organization collaborates with the local indigenous tribes to help education, conservation, cultural heritage, and economic growth.
Both of these opulent hotels are aware of the important opportunity they have to bring more than simply tourists to the area. Instead of concentrating solely on business, they actively participate in regional initiatives to enhance local possibilities, infrastructure, and quality of life. By staying at a place like Damaraland Camp or Calanoa Lodge, you help the initiatives those establishments promote. You're also demonstrating your devotion to their particular ideals and objectives by selecting them over the numerous alternative possibilities available.
Making an Impact Through Luxury Travel
Every trip encounter has some sort of effect on the place visited. This is a fantastic opportunity for all of us to change the world for the better. Utilizing this opportunity to its fullest potential is the goal of social impact travel. Fortunately, luxury travel and social effect may coexist. There is nothing more enjoyable than exploring a new location from the inside out while being aware of how your presence is enhancing or safeguarding it. All you need to do is make smart travel plans, think about the consequences of your choices, and, of course, have fun.
