Khiri Travel achieved Travelife sustainable tour operator certification in Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam in June. What lessons did we learn in the process? Why should other tour operators try it? To what extent is it Europe teaching Asia to be sustainable? Or can Asian cultures teach European operators about sustainability?
European tour operators are the most regulated in the world. The EU, individual governments in Europe, travel associations and sectional interest groups are increasingly insisting on outbound tour operator practices being “sustainable” and “responsible”.
Educated European travelers expect to come away feeling that their holiday, particularly to developing countries, genuinely helped the local population economically – and at the very least was neutral in terms of environmental, cultural and social impacts. Ideally, they want to believe their visit was a positive experience for all parties involved.