8 sustainable initiatives from our local partners

Here at TravelLocal, we believe in reimagining travel as a force for good, and one of our ways of doing so is by working with passionate local experts: they not only possess exceptional knowledge of their destination, but also share our vision of serving local economies and the environment through a responsible, eco-conscious mindset. In this article, we explore eight ways in which our local partners from around the world are getting involved in helping transform the face of travel, through incredible sustainable initiatives.

Setting core sustainability principles in stone

The team at Morocco Sahara Desert Travel have put sustainability at the heart of all they do, showcasing their incredible and transparent commitment through a dedicated mission statement and handbook. They inform their customers about Morocco’s natural surroundings, cultures and heritages, and educate them about key sustainability aspects, issues, and ways in which travellers can make a positive contribution during their visit. They suggest eco-friendly alternatives when it comes to planning accommodation, transport and tour options for visitors, as well.

In the words of Ahmed El Maliky, “as a travel company who engage with various stakeholders in tourism, namely consumers, tour guides, travel agencies, hotels, transport companies, restaurants, and attractions, we understand our key role and influence in the sustainable development of tourism. We aim to follow, implement, and promote good sustainability practices to maximise the positive impacts and minimise the negative impacts of our operations. We also influence our clients and partners to do the same.”

Minimising environmental impact

“We are unwavering in our commitment to minimising our environmental impact,” says Souhir Chrouda of Tunisia-based Bonheur Voyages. “We pledge to reduce energy consumption, limit water usage, minimise waste generation, and actively promote sustainable transportation options.”

Souhir and her team also actively engage with local communities in Tunisia to contribute positively to their development: they identify and support community-based tourism projects, are involved in the conservation of cultural heritage, and collaborate with local stakeholders to ensure that their presence benefits communities in meaningful ways.

When it comes to educating travellers on sustainably-minded visits in Tunisia, Bonheur Voyages actively encourage guests to leave no trace behind during their stay, show respect for local cultures and customs, avoid purchasing products made from endangered species, and contribute positively to the local community by supporting small businesses and artisans.

Promoting a sustainable mindset and clean-up programs

According to Putri Ramadhani Nugraha, the Indonesia Impression team take great steps to both work with the local community and provide guests with responsible travel experiences. They encourage the use of eco-friendly modes of transport where possible, and partake in community-led environmental projects: “We work on providing sustainable trips, such as tours by bicycle and getting tourists involved by helping the locals plant new trees,” says Putri. “Twice a year, we also join the community in the local beach-cleaning program.”

The trips they offer are carefully created and especially mindful of the local animals and Indonesian wildlife – any requests that include elephant and horse rides are refused, for example. They also take a proactive stance when advising travellers on how to travel with the environment in mind, by bringing their own reusable containers and avoiding single-use plastics.

Offering tours rooted in community projects

In the words of Divine Inshuti of Kingfisher Journeys, “running a sustainable business and ensuring responsible travel cannot be an isolated journey”. That is why, on top of their commitment to operating and delivering sustainable adventures, she and her team also work with different organisations that run community-centred projects in Rwanda: these include the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation, African Parks, Azizi Life, Handspun Hope, Umusambi Conservation Project, and Nyamirambo Women’s Center.

Kingfisher Journeys promote tours that involve these organisations, and encourage travellers to participate in community projects as part of their itineraries. In areas where they operate, they also partner with locals by training them to act as guides. “One of our full-time activity leaders was trained via this very program, and training is currently ongoing for many others,” says Divine.

The team haven’t stopped there: they’ve managed to eliminate all single-use plastics on their tours, preferring refillable water bottles and reusable food boxes for packed lunches and picnics. They’ve taken further steps for the environment by also arranging clean-ups in areas where they operate, even getting travellers and local people to join in for a more fulfilling experience.

Driving tree-planting efforts in Patagonia

As they take travellers across the mesmerizing landscapes of Argentina and Chile, Claudia Salvato and her team at Say Hueque are always keen to collaborate with the local communities, and encourage the use of sustainable transportation while reducing waste – this includes avoiding single-use plastics wherever possible. They are particularly committed to a community-focused mindset, choosing to work with small family-run businesses and independent accommodations over chain suppliers.

“We also partner with ReforestArg, a local NGO that plants native trees in damaged Patagonian forests,” says Claudia, showcasing Say Hueque’s commitment to conserving and preserving the natural landscapes and resources which they help travellers explore. As of September 2024, the team have reached their goal of planting 100,000 native trees, having committed to planting 10 trees for every traveller they’ve created itineraries for since 2021.

Offsetting travellers’ carbon footprints

As well as offering a premium service, African Scenic Safaris Ltd pride themselves on being one of the first Travelife-certified tour operators in Tanzania, offering impactful trips that support local communities and help preserve the environment. Travelling with them for your next Tanzanian safari trip means you’ll be staying in eco-friendly hotels and lodges and enjoying more community-oriented tours and visits, as well as offsetting your carbon footprint.

“Being Travelife certified, we are showing and extending our commitment to sustainability and ethical travel through more than 200 sustainability criteria, across internal policies, office management, product range, international business partners, and customer information,” says Laura Sondermann of African Scenic Safaris Ltd. “We look forward to inspiring and supporting other companies on their way to becoming more sustainable, while working on our own vision to make every trip to Tanzania ethical and sustainable.”

Supporting local businesses to benefit both travellers and locals

According to Atoofah Rehan, the Corbiceo Travel team are focused on providing travellers with authentic experiences in Turkey, encouraging them to travel like a local in a way which also supports local businesses.

“Istanbul is a treasure trove of culinary delights, and being food lovers ourselves, we love sharing food experiences with our travellers,” she says. “We wanted to create tours that enable our guests to enjoy Istanbul like a local, walking along the famous Istiklal Avenue and sampling the best street food Istanbul has to offer.”

Exploring Istanbul’s foodie offerings with Corbiceo Travel means you’ll have the opportunity to discover hidden culinary gems frequented only by the locals, whether you’re in search of baklavas or the best cup of Turkish coffee. You’ll also be engaging in a zero carbon footprint experience, effectively leaving no trace as you tantalise your taste buds.

Involving trekking guides in local plantation projects

Through the success of their plantation pilot project, the forward-thinking team at Nepal-based Himalayan Circuit are showcasing the positive impact of innovative thinking in the world of sustainable travel.

“While working with eco-clubs and other concepts, we came up with a new initiative to involve trekking guides in plantations around trekking trails,” says Shiva Rimal of Himalayan Circuit. “June, July, and August are the rainy seasons – low seasons in the travel industry, when trekking guides typically have no work. We decided to engage our guides by creating a ‘trekking for plantations’ program during these months, paying them the same wages as we would during trekking season to get involved in local plantation work.”

Shiva adds that the project was warmly welcomed, enabling a team of eight trekking guides and porters to take part in supporting local sustainability projects, and giving her team new momentum in its plantation efforts.

Make it happen

Are you feeling inspired to plan a responsible trip alongside our local partners? Get in touch with them today to learn more about their sustainable initiatives – you’ll soon be off on a dream trip that will also help benefit the local communities, economies, and environment.