Responsible Tourism in Odisha

“BETTER PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE AND BETTER PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO VISIT.”

What is Responsible Tourism?

Responsible Tourism was defined in Cape Town in 2002 alongside the World Summit on Sustainable Development. This definition, the cape town declaration is now widely accepted and was been adopted by the World Travel Market in 2007 for world responsible tourism day..

The genesis of responsible tourism lies in the growth of tourism as a global industry that sustains local economies, employs millions and connects the world. As with all expansion of human activity, tourism brought in its wake some potentially damaging consequences, which include rampant development, ugly pollution and destruction of natural resources. To combat this without negatively affecting economies that depend on tourism, and instead to help them prosper in the future as well, Responsible Tourism came about, first as a nascent initiative attempted by lone crusaders in scattered pockets of the world, till it grew over the last quarter of a century into a movement that not only inspires and informs but delivers bang for the tourist buck at the same time.

Responsible Tourism is about making better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit. Responsible Tourism requires that operators, hoteliers, governments, local people and tourists take responsibility, take action to make tourism more sustainable.

The Cape Town Declaration recognizes that Responsible Tourism takes a variety of forms, it is characterized by travel and tourism as below:

• Minimizes negative economic, environmental and social impacts;
• Generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of host communities, improves working conditions and access to the industry;
• involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life changes;
• Makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, to the maintenance of the worlds diversity;
• Provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues;
• Is culturally sensitive, engenders respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence.

Behavior can be more or less responsible and what is responsible in a particular place depends upon environment and culture.

What Travel Holidays committed for responsible tourism in Odisha

• We provide sustainable alternative sources of livelihood for the erstwhile reformed poachers and their families.
• We retain the core objective of involving the past poachers and hunters in income generating by engaging them as local guide and tour escort.
• We support local craftsmen, weavers, dancers, musicians and performance artists to maintain their traditional cultures. We give special importance to revitalizing traditional folk art forms that have been neglected and in danger of slipping into oblivion.
• We encourage local people to protect endangered species such as migratory birds in Mangalajodi Lake which happens to be extremely sensitive to outside disturbances. It continues to be a thriving breeding habitat and we have been trying our label best to protect it at all costs.
• We do not allow the tourists to disturb the nests and eggs, by boats or on foot, disturb the nesting birds in Chilia Lake, Bhitarkanika National park and Rusikulya River where large numbers of Olive Ridley Turtle comes for mass nesting.
• We do not encourage Introduction of activities which disturbs the delicate ecological balance like excessive tourism which will disturb the ecological balance of the wetland habitat and also lead to overuse of resources
• We continue to discourage motor boats which not only makes noise pollution but also spill oil that endanger the eco-tourism.
• For short distances we use bicycles. We like to avoid main roads where possible and take the less travelled country roads through paddy fields and villages.

WHEN I TRAVEL…

HERITAGE & CULTURE

• I respect local customs and traditions
• I participate in local festivals
• I try local cuisines
• I cherish folklore