RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS: How to Choose a Tour Operator or Travel Agent
Jim Sano, President of Geographic Expeditions, discusses some considerations travelers should bear in mind when choosing a tour operator or travel agent.
__Jim Sano’s formative years in responsible travel began as a ranger naturalist in Yosemite National Park. In ensuing years he went on to serve as a director for The Trust for Public Land, Mono Lake Foundation, The Natural Step, the Yosemite Restoration Trust, and World Wildlife Fund’s National Council. Along the way, he also led the 1983 American Mt. Everest Expedition; co-led the first western expedition to reach Gangkar Puensuum, the highest unclimbed mountain in the world; and co-led the first guided expedition to retrace Shackleton’s route across South Georgia Island._
Jim’s relationship with Geographic Expeditions took root when the company, then known as InnerAsia, asked him to lead a climbing expedition in Nepal in 1984; after a few years this blossomed into a full-time role at the company. Under his leadership Geo Ex has become widely recognized as one of the standard-bearers in sustainable travel. During his tenure as President, the company has served as sustainable travel consultants to the governments of Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Vietnam, Mongolia and Laos. GeoEx was also invited by Ambassador Richard Holbrook to advise the government of East Timor on sustainable development and by the World Bank to consult with their lending officers. Today the company offers travel services in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Polar regions, ranging from overland tours to treks and expeditionary voyages, visiting more than 120 destinations.
Don George: What role do tour operators and agents have in advancing sustainable travel?
Jim Sano: Tour operators and agents are a vital part of the sustainable travel mosaic. GeoEx’s first priority is to make sure we conduct our business at home in such a way as to minimize our impact on the globe. Secondly, one of the dimension on which we select our international partners is how they conduct their business. This entails checking under the hood to assess how minimum impact practices are being applied in the field, including accommodations, transportation, restaurants, quality of guides, and traveler education. GeoEx also makes it a priority to give back to the NGOs that are advancing initiatives to conserve special environments and cultures in the places we travel.
Knowing what you know about all the companies in the travel industry, what advice do you have for travelers who aspire to travel to do the right thing?
Frankly, sustainability is not top of mind for most travelers when selecting a provider for their vacation. Let me be blunt: If you want to do the right thing, first, you need to be prepared to pay a bit more, because it simply costs more to assess and implement minimum impact practices. Second, in doing your research on which company best matches your requirements, ask if the travel operator can provide you with a copy of their responsible travel program. And, look at what they are doing in the home office, in the field, and how they are supporting environmental and cultural conservation initiatives. For example, I wouldn’t expect everyone to know about what to look for in selecting a vessel in the Galapagos. However, knowing a travel supplier is even checking under the hood in the first place and can provide you with a list of a ship’s minimum impact features and practices is a huge step in the right direction. In effect, the tour operators and agents can assist you in conserving with your wallet.
What resources – and role models — would you direct people toward for further information and insight?
Many tour operators and agents have embraced sustainable travel and I encourage you to prowl around their websites for a description of their initiatives (for example, see GeoEx’s Responsible Travel page). Again, ask for specific details on sustainability initiatives that pertain to a specific trip. If they can detail these initiatives, that’s a good sign; if not, that would make me pause.
Third party websites such as Sustainable Travel International and National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations offer a wealth of background information.
Geo Ex has also produced a page called Why GeoEx? that we encourage travelers to consult; we believe that it’s vital for travelers to have this kind of information, encompassing broader areas of experience, service and safety as well as sustainability, before they choose an operator to entrust with their travels.
