Climate Emergency Declaration
The world of tourism is considered one of the high contributors to emissions affecting climate change. This also means of course that changes brought about in Tourism Practice will also influence positive change the most. We are committed to making that change and will collaborate actively to make this measurable, and positive. At Ethical Travel Portal, we work with several hand-picked partners around the world, renown for their best practices in...
The Gift of Presence
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Why homestays are the best way to experience authentic Filipino warmth and hospitality The following post is written by Tom Graham, co-founder of MAD Travel, an Ethical Travel Portal partner. It is an edited extract from his book, “The Genius of the Poor,” which recounts the author’s one-year journey living in the communities of a local NGO, Gawad Kalinga. Last year, the venue for my Christmas celebration was a glitzy night club...
How to be a responsible tourist?
Travel is about discovering new places and meeting new people. We urge our travelers to be responsible tourists and act accordingly. When visiting a destination, a traveler should be concerned about the protection and preservation of places, cultures and environments. We believe every visit can, and should be, of mutual benefit for host and guest. Before you travel Read as much as possible about the country you are going to visit. Ask...
7 reasons for travelling with us…
1 The Experience Back to the roots and off the beaten tracks. Most of our holidays take you off the beaten track and give you an insight into local people's heritage and the culture and daily life of the community that you are visiting. It doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your beach or a sightseeing trip into the cities. Rather it is about uniqueness, authenticity and getting a glimpse into...
Meet Local Expert | Douglas Johnston, Galashiels, Scotland, UK
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Douglas Johnston grew up in Galashiels in Scotland and feels such affinity for the area that he chooses to continue to live in his village. He has been a guide with a local agency for over 19 years. Since then, he has also become an ops supervisor and PCV trainer. Douglas still guides tours, showing others his passion for his beloved Scotland. This is displayed through the way he prepares...
Meet Local Expert | Stig Frislid Torset, Norway
Stig is a self-employed certified local guide in Oslo who partners with Ethical Travel Portal for local walks in Norway's capital. His local knowledge is superb as he constantly contributes to creating better experiences for the travellers, in a mindful way. As a result of doing this, he gets outstanding feedback from travellers. His knowledge about history, culture and tradition is huge. His walks are also based on him providing a...
Meet Local Expert | Bojana Sekulic, Montenegro
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Guided hiking tours are my way to support my local community making sure that the tourists from all over the world have a unique experience. After gaining my degree in economics at the University of Montenegro in Podgorica, I did various office jobs. One of the jobs I did was in a tourist agency, where we worked on various EU projects, developing new national and regional products for the market. That...
Meet a Local Expert | Michael Borio, Bavaria, Germany
For Michael Borio, being a tour guide is not only living a passion through the work he does, but it is also much more. It is a personal commitment and his life mission to contribute to the sustainable development of the region, creating a deeper understanding of history and culture of Bavaria by engaging visitors on all levels. First is his rich knowledge of history, geography, culture, art, economy and contemporary...
Meet a Local Expert | Barbara Zeintlinger, Austria
My story of becoming a guide starts when I went to Greece, where I worked as a tour manager, but I fell in love with the country, the culture and the people. I loved to travel, and I wanted to do it as a job, professionally. Becoming a guide was the way to do it. In addition, I was extra motivated as this truly changed my life, in more than...
We love being Reviewed
Reviews and Feedback form a very important part of learning in companies, and we truly value it when travellers send us their honest opinions. All feedback is good, and there is always something t0 learn. Reviews also help us in marketing, as more and more travellers around the world rely on reviews on various platforms to search for companies that deliver great experiences and excellent service. You can review us on the...