Introduction
What is responsible tourism?
For communities living in popular tourist destinations, such as the Pacific, tourism can offer much needed opportunities for social and economic growth. There are, however, a growing number of concerns about the possible and actual negative impact on local people and environment from tourism.
Responsible tourism is about tourists making environmentally friendly, sustainable, ethical and respectful choices when travelling and minimising the negative impact of tourism.
The Responsible Tourism Code does not endorse particular tourism and travel ventures but rather encourages tourists to take responsibility for their own choices and behaviour when travelling to the Pacific. The tourism and travel industries have an important role in promoting the code to their clients and modelling the choices recommended in the Code.
Who can use the Responsible Tourism Code?
The Code is free to download and use and can be distributed by anybody.
Tourists may like to carry the Code with them when travelling.
The travel and tourism industry can include the code in their own promotional material.
We hope people use the Code as a guide in making their travel decisions but we also see the Code as a starting point for something more - encouraging people in Aotearoa to discuss and debate the issues of tourism and development.
Who is behind the code?
The Code has been developed by Dev-Zone. Dev-Zone hopes the code contributes to their organisation mission of change for a just world. The Code is supported and endorsed by the Pacific Island Association of Non-Governmental Organisations, a regional network of NGOs in 22 Pacific Islands countries and territories, and south-pacific.travel, the intergovernmental regional tourism body for the South Pacific.