Tom Aussems 6/21/22 Tom Aussems 6/21/22

Community-based tourism: how your trip can make a positive impact on local people

Community-based tourism can reap great rewards. Done well, it enables local organisations to protect precious habitats, preserve unique culture and empower grassroots employees, says Francisca Kellett from National Geographic.

Tom Aussems 4/18/22 Tom Aussems 4/18/22

Meet [the] cultural leader keeping Costa Rica's endangered Bribri culture alive

The Bribri leader explains how, in her village of Yorkin, just upriver from the Caribbean coast, she’s brought back the Bribri language from the brink of extinction, creating a sustainable tourism destination in the process, says Jamie Lafferty from National Geographic Traveller.

Tom Aussems 4/7/22 Tom Aussems 4/7/22

How to Honor Indigenous Communities When You Travel

Today, [in what we now call the United States,] there are 546 federally recognized tribes. Here’s how to engage respectfully and thoughtfully with Indigenous cultures […], says Iona Brannon from AFAR.

Tom Aussems 4/4/22 Tom Aussems 4/4/22

A 105-Year-Old Tattoo Artist Is Teaching Girls to Ink for Independence

Filipino tribal tattooist Fang-od Oggay has built an economy on the back of skin art. Lynzy Billing from Atlas Obscura paid her a visit.

Tom Aussems 3/17/22 Tom Aussems 3/17/22

Greenland Is Approaching Tourism Slowly – And Taking Lessons from Iceland

As the changing climate alters livelihoods across Greenland, the territory needs travelers more than ever, says Stephanie Vermillion from Condé Nast Traveler.

Tom Aussems 3/14/22 Tom Aussems 3/14/22

Reviving Travel: [9] Stories of Innovation from Destinations and Tour Companies

Around the world, travel destinations and tour providers have been busy […] reinventing themselves. Through a mix of individual and corporate efforts, well-deserved attention is falling on the most important aspects of travel – those areas that are ultimately responsible for tourism's healthy future, says Kristin Henning from Travel Past 50.

Tom Aussems 2/10/22 Tom Aussems 2/10/22

5 Tour Operators That Are Working Toward a More Sustainable Travel Future

More and more tour operators provide their customers with authentic experiences […], allowing travelers to not only connect with people living in the places they visit but to better understand their daily lives and cultures, says Shane Nelson from TravelAge West. And perhaps more importantly, many of these encounters offer […] clients a chance to spend their vacation dollars on community-focused and sustainable tourism products.

Tom Aussems 1/28/22 Tom Aussems 1/28/22

This Colombian Tour Company Wants You to See the Medellín Beyond “Narcos”

On its Medellín community tours, Impulse Travel wants to showcase the city’s vibrant, uplifting culture, Jennifer Flowers from AFAR reports.

Tom Aussems 12/20/21 Tom Aussems 12/20/21

Hawai‘i Is Not Our Playground

For years, Hawai‘i has been packaged as a picturesque paradise. A place where […] travelers could forget the worries of home. The problem? Hawai‘i’s land, history, and people are often ignored or trampled. Chris Colin from AFAR reports on the locals who are pushing back.

Tom Aussems 11/8/21 Tom Aussems 11/8/21

The World’s Oldest Rainforest Was Just Handed Back to Its Indigenous Owners

The world’s oldest tropical rainforest has been given back to its traditional Indigenous owners in a historic deal with Australia’s Queensland state government, says Gavin Butler from VICE.

Tom Aussems 11/4/21 Tom Aussems 11/4/21

Sustainable tourism – now is the time to change the way we travel

The pandemic has altered how we think about tourism. Chris Haslam from The Times assesses the impact of our holidays on the environment, and knows the organisations and initiatives that will help you make informed choices

Tom Aussems 10/18/21 Tom Aussems 10/18/21

Are We Doing Vacations Wrong?

Radicalize your travel by being a better guest in someone else’s homeland, Bani Amor from YES! Magazine suggests.

Tom Aussems 10/7/21 Tom Aussems 10/7/21

Community development through tourism in Northeast-Uganda

Through sustainable tourism, Kara-Tunga aims to improve livelihoods of the indigenous communities and preserve cultural heritage in the Karamoja region.

Tom Aussems 9/30/21 Tom Aussems 9/30/21

Decolonizing Travel: Going Ethically to Under-Resourced Countries

Traveling is more at our reach than ever, and while we can all agree on the positive aspects of that, it also makes it necessary to place real thought onto our privileges and duties as travelers, says Mavi Parra from Passion Passport.

Tom Aussems 9/13/21 Tom Aussems 9/13/21

Meet the Travel Company Lifting Up Local Businesses

Over the pandemic, says Emily Buder from Here Magazine, entrepreneurs Alexis Bowen and Craig Zapatka co-founded Elsewhere, a new travel company that puts destination welfare and authentic experiences first.

Tom Aussems 9/9/21 Tom Aussems 9/9/21

Ways to Support Small Businesses When You Travel

As travel transitions from wanderlust wishes to booked flights, we have an opportunity to make a difference simply by the way we plan our trips. In all corners of the world, businesses have been hit with pandemic-related revenue losses […]. The good news, says Kristin Braswell from AFAR, is that we can help.

Tom Aussems 9/2/21 Tom Aussems 9/2/21

Airbnb [and] UNESCO Partner [up] to Promote Cultural Tourism – Starting in Mexico

According to Sustainable Brands, the initiative will promote destinations and experiences outside the traditional tourist circuit – engaging local tourist communities, integrating the creative and cultural sector into local tourism value chains, and contributing to the development of responsible tourism.

Tom Aussems 8/26/21 Tom Aussems 8/26/21

Post-Covid, Safari Companies Rethink Who Should Stay at Their Lodges

Some operators are turning the classic business model on its head in hopes of increasing margins and better funding their conservation work. But doing so is a risky move all its own, says Mary Holland from Bloomberg.

Tom Aussems 8/19/21 Tom Aussems 8/19/21

How Do I Know If a Tour Company Actually Supports Local Communities?

In [their] Ethical Traveler advice column, [Condé Nast Traveler tackles] the tricky moral dilemmas and questions that arise when traveling during a pandemic.

Tom Aussems 8/18/21 Tom Aussems 8/18/21

How a lodge in KwaZulu-Natal works for a better life for all […]

Since the days of the former tourism boasting about the growth of global tourism almost 20 years ago […], the local tourism industry has grown to become one of the largest employers in South Africa. Angus Begg from the Daily Maverick highlights the role of a particular establishment that has set somewhat of a benchmark in the area, if not the province: Three Tree Hill in Hambrook village.

Let’s reinvent travel.