Let’s reinvent travel.
Leisure Lab is a think tank and media lab to promote sustainable tourism, or as we like to call it BREAK-EVEN TOURISM. In this LAB REPORTS section we publish news articles and create inspirational travel stories to help bring about positive change in the way we travel.
I Trekked to Meet the Reclusive, Mystical Forest Spirits of Joli. They Weren’t Happy to See Me
The Yapom is a spirit clan that can shower prosperity on those they bless – or rain havoc on those who anger them. Ruth Dsouza Prabhu from Fodor’s Travel paid them a visit.
Rooting for Change: The UK's Small-Scale Farms Sowing the Seeds for a Sustainable Future
As the future of UK farming is being moulded by Brexit, climate change and the pandemic, it's traditional, smaller farms that are cultivating social and environmental benefits, and helping to regenerate the landscape, says Ellie Howard from SUITCASE Magazine.
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.
The world’s first booking platform that empowers travelers to positively impact the communities they visit
Platform enables travelers to positively impact the communities they visit with 45 new hotel choices, 20 new charities, voluntourism opportunities, a tangible positive impact report with every booking and more. Michal Christine Escobar from Hospitality Technology explains how it works.
From DIY pilgrimages to halal restaurant tips: how this travel blogger built a community of Muslim travelers
Elena Nikolova converted to Islam in 2009. Four years later, she channeled her wanderlust into a new endeavor: helping other Muslims travel the world. An article by Lonely Planet writer Juhie Bhatia.
52 Places for a Changed World
The New York Times highlights places around the globe where travelers can be part of the solution.
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.
How Adventure Tourism Could Help Protect Panama’s Wild Places
Stuart Kenny from Much Better Adventure Magazine speaks to Javier Romero, who has been guiding in the greenery of Chagres National Park for over 25 years.
How Iceland Is Rethinking Tourism for the Long Haul
Iceland wants visitors to plan beyond the long weekend and spread out across the island, says Julia Eskins from Condé Nast Traveler.
Tourists gone, Bali’s young entrepreneurs eye sustainable future
Young people on Indonesia’s famous resort island are finding new ways to make ends meet after the collapse of tourism, says Risyiana Muthia from Al Jazeera.
In Serengeti, Women Are Making History at the First All-female-run Safari Camp
Have a one-of-a-kind safari experience at the first and only all-female-run camp in Africa. Lavanya Sunkara from Travel + Leisure reports.
Amid a mass exodus, could ethnotourism save Dagestan’s mountain villages
Thousands of young people are fleeing Dagestan's isolated mountain villages in a bid for a better life in towns and cities, says Philipp Lausberg from The Calvert Journal. But can the region's rich culture be used to lure paying guests and livelihoods to these diverse enclaves – before it’s too late?
12 sustainable destinations we'd love to visit in 2022
As [a] sustainability editor, [Juliet Kinsman from Condé Nast Traveller is] always up for championing the destinations that are showing […] love for the wellbeing of the world. Whether powering their nations on renewables, or addressing specific environmental or community issues, these nations are making the planet a better place while inviting us to explore them in an eco-friendly way, with the widest-flung of open arms.
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.
The World’s Most Sustainable Cities
These 10 cities are leading the way in building modern, sustainable communities, says Jessica Jurkschat, an author at #TOGETHERBAND. Here’s how they’re creating a more resilient environment.
Long-stay, tailored, outdoor – what travellers want in 2022
Outdoor activities, green hotels, flexible bookings, long-stay packages and tailored trips are among the consumer travel trends […] for 2022, Kate Birch from Business Chief reports.
How to Travel with Meaning
If there is one thing the pandemic has stirred up within us, Mike Schibel from Big Wide World Magazine says, it is that desire to learn, to better ourselves, find new ways to step outside of our comfort zone, grow.
Interactive photos show what sea level rise in major cities could look like
New research by the independent organization Climate Central shows in striking images what the world would look like if no actions are taken to curb climate change.
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.
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