What Does it Mean to Travel Ethically?

Ethical tourism and responsible travel mean thinking about the consequences of your actions as a tourist or visitor on the environment, local people and local economy. Many places in the world and Sri Lanka really benefit from tourism and for some communities the tourist trade is the main source of income and jobs. As tourists and visitors it is our job to be respectful & responsible!

How Can I Travel Ethically?

Support Local

Support the local tourist economy by staying in a locally owned guest house, villa or hotel as opposed to large corporate hotel chains.
If you enjoy your stay and experience leave glowing fair reviews on google and trip advisor to help promote their local business.
If you feel something wasn’t right during your stay, don’t post on social media, bring your grievance to the management and give them a chance to solve the problem and improve their service.

Pay a Fair Price

We all love a good deal, but when booking your next holiday or break away remember, and be conscious of the current global situation. Sri Lankan toursim has suffered two catastrophic blows to the industry in the last 14 months. A race to the bottom on prices and haggling with property owners can be even more detrimental to the tourist economy. Try to remember when booking that owners and managers have been paying their staff for the past 3 months with no income – similar to the same time period in 2019.

Be Respectful

When travelling or visiting a new place, always remember to be respectful of your surrounding environment. Make sure to always pick up your rubbish in public spaces. Property owners go to great expense to ensure beautiful decor in their villas, enhancing your experience. Make a special effort to be respectful of this and treat it as if it was your own home, this will ensure the next time you visit the property it will be as beautiful as the first time.

Tip the Staff

Often it is the wonderful staff looking after you for the duration of your stay that make it so special. Make an effort to leave them a fair tip for their hospitality when you are checking out. Many staff rely on tips to supplement their salaries in order to properly care for their families.

Enjoy Wildlife From A Distance

Sri Lanka is filled with exquisite wildlife, and you are sure to encounter many surprises on your trip. When you come across wildlife and animals on your trip many are endangered, make sure to view from a distance, give them space to be and always remember not to touch.

Extra Tips:

• Consume Alcohol Responsibility
• Dress Appropriately for your Surroundings
• Dine Consciously
• Be Kind to People and the Environment
• Photograph Respectfully – Always ask permission when taking a photo of someone especially children
• Do not remove wildlife from their habitat