TRAVEL

RESPONSIBLE

From pumping money into developing economies to protecting tropical forests – such as the 10,000ha nature reserve created by the Dominican Republic’s Puntacana Resort – tourism is often very beneficial. However, it can also be damaging. At the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, responsible tourism was defined as ‘maximising the benefits to local communities, minimising negative environmental impacts and helping locals conserve fragile cultures and habitats.’ The concept is spreading into all areas of travel. Now people visiting the Galápagos Islands must be accompanied by a licensed guide, while as of May this year, Santorini has limited cruise visitors to 8,000 per day to relieve its creaking infrastructure. Among consumers, trends such as ‘voluntourism’ (volunteering holidays) demonstrate our desire to make positive contributions. We are proud to know that when Food and Travel readers visit an area they understand the impact that tourism has and support local economies by buying street food, staying at responsible hotels and being respectful of local customs.