Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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3
While much of the focus of eco-tourism is about reducing impacts on the natural
environment, ethical tourism concentrates on ways to preserve and enhance local
economies and communities, regardless of location. You can embrace ethical tour-
ism by staying at a locally owned hotel or shopping at a store that employs local
workers and sells locally produced goods.
Responsible Travel
(www.responsibletravel.com) is a great source of sustainable
travel ideas; the site is run by a spokesperson for ethical tourism in the travel indus-
try.
Sustainable Travel International
(www.sustainabletravelinternational.org)
promotes ethical tourism practices, and manages an extensive directory of sustain-
able properties and tour operators around the world.
In the U.K.,
Tourism Concern
(www.tourismconcern.org.uk) works to reduce
social and environmental problems connected to tourism. The
Association of
Independent Tour Operators
(
AITO;
www.aito.co.uk) is a group of specialist
operators leading the field in making holidays sustainable.
PACKAGES FOR THE
INDEPENDENT TRAVELER
Package tours are simply a way to buy the airfare, accommodations, and other ele-
ments of your trip (such as car rentals, airport transfers, and sometimes even activi-
ties) at the same time and often at discounted prices.
One good source of package deals is the airlines themselves. Most major airlines
offer air/land packages, including
American Airlines Vacations
(
&
800/321-2121;
www.aavacations.com),
Delta Vacations
(
&
800/221-6666; www.deltavacations.
com),
Continental Airlines Vacations
(
&
800/301-3800; www.covacations.com),
and
United Vacations
(
&
888/854-3899; www.unitedvacations.com). Several big
