RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
Millennials in Travel is committed to improving our world through the power of tourism. Travel is a transformative experience for both the travelers and the community hosts; it is essential to support and protect the people and places we visit for the future generations. Millennials in Travel understands the importance of putting philanthropy and sustainability at the forefront of our industry and actively implement efforts in our chapters, FAMs, and the industry overall. By prioritizing responsible travel, we hope to be a catalyst for change within our industry, global communities and our planet.
organizations we support
In order to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability, Millennials in Travel has partnered with the organizations Pack for a Purpose and One Tree Planted. Each Millennials in Travel Exclusive FAMs contributes to one or both of these organizations.
Pack for a Purpose’s mission is to positively impact communities around the world by assisting travelers who want to take meaningful contributions to the destinations they visit. Pack for a Purpose’s goal is to assist travelers who want to say thank you to the people and places they visit, or who simply want to expand their generosity beyond their own communities. The supply lists for destinations are provided directly by the local community-based projects that receive and use the supplies, enabling travelers to make informed decisions and to take items that meet the needs of those who will be using them. Click here to directly support this cause.
One Tree Planted is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to make it simple for anyone to help the environment by planting trees. Their projects span the globe and are done in partnership with local communities and knowledgeable experts to create an impact for nature, people, and wildlife. Reforestation helps to rebuild forests after fires and floods, provide jobs for social impact, and restore biodiversity. Many projects have overlapping objectives, creating a combination of benefits that contribute to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. To become more involved, click here.
WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM?
The World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.” Sustainable tourism relies on the support of the three pillars of sustainable tourism: environmental, sociocultural, and economic sustainability. It requires taking care of the people, environment, economies, and cultures of the places we visit.
environmental
Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity.
sociocultural
Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance.
economic
Ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation.
Millennials in Travel is mindful of these pillars and we aim to incorporate these goals into all that we do. Whether it’s implementing initiatives for our FAMS or specific, chapter-level events; raising awareness throughout the community; or promoting education and development for our members and industry as a whole, we underscore the importance of responsible travel.
Millennials in Travel Charleston chapter volunteering at a beach clean-up.
Millennials in Travel brought supplies to a local school on a FAM to Peru.
The Sustainable Development Goals are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere. Millennials in Travel wants to help bring awareness to tourism brands and companies that are making positive change through programs and initiatives in supporting these goals. Every month, we’ll be showcasing a tourism company that has had an impact in a blog post. Below are a some upcoming brands:
For more information on ways you can get involved or bring attention to companies who are having a positive impact, please contact
Caroline Chang, Sustainability & Philanthropy Manager.