How To Be a Responsible Traveller in South America
We share a few tips on how you, and us all, can travel responsibly through South America
Responsible tourism is something that Viva Expeditions holds close to its heart.
Viva has always travelled in a responsible way. We try and step carefully ensuring the protection of revered popular destinations from the Amazon to the Okavango Delta, whilst benefiting all the people we visit. Without the incredible places we visit and the people who live there, we wouldn't be here today!
To us, being a responsible tourism operator means
- We use local guides and office staff to maximise local employment opportunities. Local guides also ensure you benefit from the intimate knowledge, passion and culture of the country you’re visiting.
- Where possible, we use locally owned and operated boutique hotels to maximise the economic return to the local community.
- Since October 2019, Viva Expeditions has been working with Kiva (a well-known microfinance organisation), that provides hundreds of loans to local businesses all over South America and around the world. Viva donates $5 on every paperless booking, to support small businesses operated by women in South America, where our own Viva story began. Click HERE to read more about Viva's Chola Dollars.
- In Antarctica, our sister organisation is an Associate Member of IAATO, the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (www.iaato.org). The association has set forth stringent guidelines and rigorous operational protocols to ensure that travel to the region is not only safe but also that all the necessary precautions are taken to minimise the impact on the environment and wildlife. We share this commitment to the region.
- As proud members of the Rainforest Alliance, we recognise tourisms unique economic opportunity to benefit the environment and communities. Further to this, we are focused on positive action. We believe the best way to protect our environment is to travel and reconnect with it.
We also help you, our travellers to support these efforts and travel responsibly by sharing educational articles and information that empower you to travel lightly.
Enjoy the articles below and if you have any questions, please get in touch!
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