Tapping into Asia's sustainable and responsible tourism product
With ever more sustainable and responsible trip options available in Asia, Debbie Ward speaks to the experts to present traveller trends and new product in the region
Lush landscapes, teeming marine life and diverse cultures are the very things that draw visitors to Asia, so the need to protect them by travelling responsibly is especially important.
“The Asia Pacific is particularly rich in unique cultural heritage, and community-based tourism plays a large part in responsible tourism [there],” says Chris Crampton, chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association.
He also believes sustainable offerings, protecting both planet and communities, are gathering pace in the region, and highlights initiatives such as Thailand’s Elephant Care Master Plan and destinations including Sri Lanka and the Philippines marketing slow travel and cultural immersion.
Tour operators are responding to customer demand for responsible experiences while also pushing the agenda themselves, with plenty of new tour choices for 2022. Here, we highlight some of the tour operators and tourism boards making strides in sustainable and responsible tourism in Asia, with relevant product to book.
MAXIMISE THE POSITIVE
The Japan National Tourist Office is working to shift visitors beyond the usual hotspots, particularly in peak season. Jun Jinushi, executive director of its London office, says: “Consumer insight has shown us that efforts towards sustainable tourism must be implemented across the entire community if tourism is to recover in a way that minimises its negative effects and maximises positive ones, for example, sustaining and revitalising areas of a culture or country in need of preservation.”
Solar-powered Treeful Treehouse eco-resort in rural Nago, Okinawa (pictured above) opened in August, where four private rooms with outdoor verandas are nestled in the jungle canopy and connected to a communal hub.
Trekking, kayaking, paddle boarding and yoga are offered locally, and the resort has rebuilt a watermill as part of its community commitment.
Book it: Prices for the Treeful Treehouse start from around £985 per night for a room sleeping up to three people. treeful.net
CONSERVE AND PROTECT
“We’re seeing how some of Asia’s most beautiful natural attractions have been revived and refreshed by the absence of tourism during the pandemic, and there’s an increasing aspiration to conserve and protect these once travellers return,” says Premier Holidays’ product manager John Parker. “The pandemic has also, of course, caused suffering to communities who rely on tourism income and there’s a strong desire to give back.”
Premier’s clients now seek low-impact walking and cycling tours and activities with community benefits. It has introduced more responsible excursions and notes many Asian hotels adding sustainable experiences.
For a Thailand holiday at eco-focused hotels, the operator suggests five nights in a cottage at Keemala in Phuket, then four in a suite at Zeavola in the Phi Phi islands. New, for an extra £119, is a day on the ethical Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Volunteer Programme, assisting with cleaning and food preparation.
Book it: Premier’s tailor-made Thailand trip is priced from £1,779pp including flights, all transfers and B&B accommodation. trade.premierholidays.co.uk
TIME TO RECONNECT
Indus Experiences supports local charities and conservation initiatives in India and uses like-minded partners such as Rare India boutique hotels, which promote “sensitive destination discovery”. It is also happy to discuss responsible travel training with agents.
Yasin Zargar, the company’s managing director, says longer trips in Asia can help clients travel responsibly. “Less frequent, longer trips seem set to gain in popularity as travellers seek to reconnect with the planet and nature, immerse themselves in their destination and gain a deeper understanding, while reducing their carbon footprint.”
Among new Indus Earth Sciences trips for 2022 is A Plant Hunter’s Trail in West Bengal and Sikkim, led by an ecology, conservation and horticulture expert.
Book it: A Plant Hunter’s Trail costs from £3,795pp for 16 days, including flights, transfers, accommodation, most meals, talks and expert guided tours, plus a donation to the South London Botanical Institute. indusexperiences.co.uk
ECO-INITIATIVES
Inside Travel Group believes operators’ emphasis on sustainable travel has positively influenced ground operations. “There are initiatives we’re seeing across Asia and probably more so in south-east Asia, where they are arguably needed more,” explains PR and partnerships manager James Mundy. The group appointed a responsible tourism and sustainable travel co-ordinator in 2019, and all bookings from 2021 onwards have been carbon-neutral.
Malaysia and Borneo are new destinations for InsideAsia. Alongside sustainable wildlife experiences, the operator features projects such as Borneo’s Kiulu Valley Farmstay, which has pioneered a creative community recycling scheme.
Its adventurous Borneo to be Wild tailored trip includes a stay with the Murut people at a community eco-tourism project in Sapulot.
Book it: InsideAsia’s 13-night Borneo to be Wild trip is priced from £2,521pp, excluding international flights. insideasiatours.com
SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES
Singapore has set out a Green Plan with an eye on a net-zero emissions future. Among other initiatives is the Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) creation of a Passion Tours brand to promote local excursions with positive impact.
“Our Passion Tours help to support local communities, and visitors can truly immerse themselves in our culture in a more responsible way,” explains Michael Rodriguez, STB area director for northern and southwestern Europe.
On its Progressive Singapore From Farm to Table tour, clients will visit frog, mushroom, fish and organic vegetable farms to meet sustainable bioscience engineers, farmers and chefs.
Alternatively, daily Bike and Bites tours of Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India introduce visitors to local food specialities. It costs around £49 (letsgobikesingapore.com)
Book it: Passion Tours’ Progressive Singapore From Farm to Table tour costs from around £162pp. woknstroll.com.sg
HIGH-END SUSTAINABILITY
Intrepid Travel has introduced a Premium range with more than 70 new trips available from January 2022, including 22 options in Asia.
“With our aim to become a world leader in sustainable, experience-rich travel, we identified that many of our customers were seeking a higher end sustainable product,” explains chief executive James Thornton. “We saw Intrepid Premium as an opportunity to build a new style of tour that ensures local communities benefit from high-value tourism. We wanted to show a premium product can also deliver on a premium purpose.”
The operator’s Premium Vietnam and Cambodia tour covers Hanoi to Siem Reap. Signature experiences include photography coaching at Angkor Wat, and clients will also dine at three training restaurants, which support marginalised youth. Most accommodation is locally owned and tours are fully carbon-offset.
Book it: The 13-day Premium Vietnam and Cambodia tour costs from £2,625pp, excluding UK flights. intrepidtravel.com
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