SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
The Wilderness Journeys Vision
In choosing Wilderness Journeys you can be sure that you are travelling with a company that takes its commitment to sustainable tourism and wilderness conservation seriously. We have been committed to responsible tourism and supporting nature conservation through ecotourism since the very beginnings of the company. Unlike some other tour operators, we have not been forced to adapt our business to accord with these principles. Responsibility to the wilderness environments, the communities and economies in which we operate has always been and will continue to be at the very core of our business. This commitment has been recognised in many awards over the years, most recently as a Highly Commended Tour Operator in the 2006 World Responsible Travel Awards.
Where we strongly believe we are different is that our approach to sustainable tourism and wilderness conservation is considered as a core component of our holistic commitment to create a cutting edge sustainable business. For a business to be truly sustainable it is necessary, in our view, to recognise that environmental and social factors are as equally important as the financial bottom line. This is especially critical in the tourism industry where our product is in many ways the precious wild places we choose to visit. In choosing to travel with Wilderness Journeys, you can be sure that your adventure holiday experience has been designed with these factors at the absolute forefront of our minds.
Put simply, our mission is to be one of the world's leading provider of inspiring and responsible adventure travel experiences; making a meaningful contribution to wilderness conservation and setting the standard for how adventure tour operators around the world should operate.
We want you to be inspired, to learn to love the wilderness regions you have experienced and to thereafter strive to protect the earth's wild places in whatever way you can.
Preserving the Earth's Wild Places
We are passionate about wilderness and wild places and it is a real privilege to share the landscapes, flora and fauna of so many countries with our clients. We greatly value these assets and we are absolutely committed to operating in a manner which conserves and enhances our natural environment.
Through the provision of engaging experiences from wilderness to wildlife, we are firmly of the view that tourism has great potential to develop the significance of the natural environment and the importance of sustainable living in global society. It is not our intention to force these principles upon anyone whilst enjoying what is ultimately a holiday. This process often takes the form of informal environmental interpretation and discussion with our guides. However, above all, we have found that wild places themselves have an inherent ability to educate, inspire and foster feelings of importance and respect.
Local Communities and Sustainable Economies
A Wilderness Journeys experience is defined not only by its environmental qualities. Integral to the experience is the support of and interaction with local communities and businesses. We aim to engage local businesses (tour operators, hotels, restaurants, guides and other ventures) throughout our entire operation, ensuring that the economic benefits of tourism are shared in an equitable way.
Our itineraries are designed to offer authentic interaction with the local population, customs and culture. We provide opportunities to learn and understand more about the culture and customs through our arrangements with local operators and guides. Respecting the sanctity of customs and cultural sensitive locations is also a critical part of our approach.
Our Country Policies
For each trip we provide an overview of the sustainable tourism considerations relevant to that destination, a summary of the nature conservation challenges that region or country faces and a statement of the policies that we are following in order to make a difference. We hope that this will enable you to make an informed choice about your trip and be aware that positive benefits will arise by choosing to travel with Wilderness Journeys.
Our Nature Conservation Projects
We work in close association with the Wilderness Foundation UK who are a dynamic wilderness conservation organization. The Wilderness Foundation is dedicated to preserving the planet's last remaining wilderness. Central to the work of the Wilderness Foundation is the belief that only by experiencing wild places at first hand, will individuals truly understand and appreciate the continued value of wild places in our modern society; this is a philosophy we share at Wilderness Journeys. Please see www.wilderness-foundation.org.uk for further details of their work.
In partnership with the Wilderness Foundation, Wilderness Journeys has set-up an Environment & Community Fund which provides direct financial support and consultancy advice to several conservation and tourism development projects around the globe. Through this Fund, we contribute around £5,000 ($10,000) per year to these projects over and above the many local conservation contributions our journeys to various wilderness destinations entail. Details of these projects and the further local initiatives we support through our trips can be found in the relevant country statements on sustainable tourism.
