Join in the movement of Sustainable Tourism for Development in 2017!

2017 marks the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development declared by the United Nations General Assembly. Now, you may wondering what does this mean?

Well, as the world is becoming flatter, tourism is becoming more prominent with over 1 billion tourists each year heading to international destinations.

Tourism can be very detrimental to some communities. However, it can also bring jobs and opportunities that will alleviate poverty in the communities, especially if tourists become responsible travellers. The best way to be a responsible traveller is to have as little impact as possible on the people, the culture and the environment of your chosen destination.

This year’s special designation aims to shape or even change the behaviour of consumers so that they become more sustainable when travelling abroad.

UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai exclaimed that “this is a unique opportunity to build a more responsible and committed tourism sector that can capitalize its immense potential in terms of economic prosperity, social inclusion, peace and understanding, cultural and environmental preservation”.

Volunteering on ethical projects while abroad can be a great way to travel responsibly and sustainably. Check out our blog to read about some of the impacts our volunteers had on the projects we support in 2016.

Join in and celebrate 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by volunteering on your next trip abroad!