It is my belief that if I have the privilege to travel the world, I also hold a responsibility to protect it. And if I’m going to write about travel, I should write about how to do travel well.
My goal is to seek out travel experiences that are fun, but also sustainable. I believe in the democratisation of travel, that it should not solely be the preserve of the wealthy. But mass tourism brings its own challenges, and how we act today will shape the world tomorrow. Small actions make a difference when multiplied by thousands of travellers.
For that reason, I always thoroughly research the destinations I visit, and if somewhere seems either unethical, or simply too fragile to handle visitors, I’ll either warn against it or simply not write about it at all.
This may sound cynical, but the most powerful tool you have to create change for the better in the travel industry is the money in your pocket. Where you choose to spend, or not spend, your money is the single biggest driving force behind sustainable travel.
Ethical travel can take many different forms, like choosing tour companies with robust responsible travel policies, buying local, and avoiding single-use plastic where possible. Likewise, harm can come disguised as good, from “voluntourism” projects that lure volunteers into systems that systematically abuse children, to sham “sanctuaries” pretending to protect wildlife.
Here at Call of the World, I aim to raise awareness of both the good and the bad, and I only partner with businesses that operate responsibly.
Not even the fiercest predator in the animal kingdom is immune from the destructive effect of human expansion, ignorance and apathy.
Tourism and wildlife have a fragile and complex relationship. Many conservation efforts worldwide depend on tourism to fund their existence, but this reliance is also often perverted into a parody of wildlife management simply to make money.
Here at Call of the World I will try my best to find out which wildlife experiences are ethical, which to avoid, and which providers in the travel industry can be trusted to offer genuinely responsible encounters.
Travel has given me incredible experiences in my life. But most importantly, I’d like you to leave this site feeling like you could do it too.
