Responsible Tourism
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Travelling that means the world to us
Simon Grove Head of Tailormade Explore:
“One of my proudest achievements is being involved in the Mufindi orphanage project. Over 5 years ago, on a barren patch of land in rural Tanzania, I listened to an idea from our local supplier on how he was hoping to build an orphanage to benefit the entire community. Following on from this Explore supported the concept financially and so construction began. Last year I returned to Mufindi, seeing the final construction of one of the buildings and meeting some of the children who live there. We continue our support and watch the project develop”
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There is no doubt that travel can bring many benefits to the traveller and the countries visited such as learning about different cultures and contributing to the local economy. Sometimes though the impact can be negative - local people may be exploited and their environment damaged for instance. It is therefore essential that we do everything possible to eliminate the negative impacts of tourism and travel as responsibly as possible. As a company we have implemented a comprehensive responsible tourism policy that encompasses as aspects of our operations, both here in the UK and overseas as we passionately believe that:
- People who work for Tailormade Explore are treated fairly and paid a fair wage
- We learn about and respect the customs and culture of the country we are visiting so that we do not offend local people
- We ensure that local people benefit economically from tourism by employing them as guides, eating out in local restaurants and using locally owned hotels and ground agents wherever possible
- We support key local projects and charities offering direct financial assistance so offering a sustainable and long term benefit
Caring about
carbon emissions
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We reduce our carbon emissions by choosing sustainable options and working with our suppliers to improve environmental practice. In the case of flying we fully offset the emissions from all flights we book for staff and customers. We were the first large operator to take this bold step. Working with Climate Care, Explore are channelling over £300,000 annually into carefully selected projects worldwide which reduce global CO2 emissions. For details see www.climatecare.org
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JUST SOME OF THE CHARITIES WE SUPPORT
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Mufindi Orphanage Tanzania
Children are the biggest casualties of Africa’s AIDS/HIV epidemic, either through infection at birth or losing their parents to the disease. Our suppliers in the Mufindi Highlands continue their project to build a village for these children. Once fully completed it will care for around 70 local children in a family environment.
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Friends of Conservation
Founded in 1982 to prevent the degradation of the Masai Mara, FOC now runs conservation projects worldwide. It is committed to working with local people to promote a balance between their needs and those of the wildlife with which they share their natural habitat. Find out more at www.foc-uk.com
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Send a Cow – Ethiopia
Send A Cow helps the poorest members of the community grow sufficient food for their families and generate income by providing breeding livestock such as cattle, poultry, sheep and goats, plus sustainable crops like fruit trees. Find out more at www.sendacow.org.uk
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Sunshine Project – Egypt
The Sunshine Project in Luxor cares for abandoned children in a country where unwanted children carry a great stigma, affecting them for the rest of their lives.
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Galapagos Conservation Trust
Whilst we're keen to take you to the Galapagos, we're doubly keen on conserving the islands for the future. As part of our continuing support, Explore has joined the Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT), a non-profit organisation that protects this unique environment. Find out more at www.gct.org
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The Gorilla Organisation
Explore supports the Gorilla Organisation which is working to support all of Africa's mountain and lowland gorillas. In Uganda the organisation has a variety of pioneering projects which enable local people and gorillas to live alongside each other, including providing alternative incomes to the use of forest resources, education and inclusion of local people in conservation initiatives. Find out more at www.gorillas.org
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OUR AWARDS
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RT 5 Star Award
Awarded for our commitment to responsible tourism, the AITO 5 star is the highest achievable rating in this category.
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Best Company
Being at the forefront of responsible travel is also about being committed to all staff, including those working in the UK. It was therefore great news recently when for the first time Explore was recognised by the Sunday Times as being one of the UK’s best companies. This award is based on a survey (filled in anonymously!) by all of our staff and so further re-iterates our commitment to excellence throughout.
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