Friday, February 21, 2014

The RIGHT way to visit Nepal

The whole purpose of this blog was in inform the general public about the shocking culture changes that are happening in Nepal due to high amounts of tourism. But here is the thing, people are never going to stop touring Nepal. It is remarkable in beautiful and has an interesting and colorful culture. People will always travel to Nepal. So what is the RIGHT way or correct way to visit Nepal. How can we go there and "leave no trace" as they say??



Trekkers in Nepal



Well let me answer that for you. I have done some research. I found a touring company that is a non-commercial organization specializing in travel to the Himalayas. They donate all of their profits to charity. That generates income for developmental projects which support environmental and educational development. Now who wouldn't want to travel with these people??? They are giving back and trying to use tourism as a tool to educate the world, which will help it stay healthier longer. 

They also promise to:

1. Pay the cost to carbon balance your flights in order to neutralize the impact on the environment 

2. Through a committed environmental policy they work to ensure minimal impact of their activities

3. They have a fair and ethical employment policy which is committed to employing local staff and  
    paying fair wages

4. They have a simple and fair pricing policy with no hidden extras

How great is that???!! I looked more into their environmental policy that is mentioned in #2. It is a long long LONG list of ways that they make sure to not abuse the environment but rather help it. Some of my favorite examples given were:

1. "Souvenirs: try to buy local crafts from fair trade outlets rather than imported goods. This encourages the practice of fair wages and promotes the local economy . If in doubt about a fair price or where to shop please ask your leader."
2. "Try to respect local tradition. There are a number of customs you will come across on Your trip which your guides and Leader will explain."


I love those examples because it tells me that this company is not only trying to protect the environment, but they are also trying to preserve the culture which is the whole point of this blog. 

Now THAT is the correct way to travel to Nepal. It will always pay off to be an eco-tourist. For more infomation regarding their tours visit http://www.theresponsibletravellers.com/. I would HIGHLY recommend it!




1 comment:

  1. I like your post! I have learned a lot from it! As a adventure tourist destination, we need to protect the safety of travelers, while conserving the environment! That is what I am thinking.

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