Sustainable Travel
We understand the need and importance of sustainability for the good health of the world. The concept of practising sustainability and building a green future requires the right mindset and conscious efforts, and businesses can have a significant impact on making this happen.
Tourism is a major sector that can immensely contribute to the green movement, and travel businesses can be its frontrunners. We analyse the requirements of our travellers and address how Travel Inn can positively imprint its social, economic, and environmental impact on the present and future generations. And, we achieve this without compromising the quality of our services.
From preserving the local communities to promoting local businesses, choosing to walk or cycle rather than using vehicles for sightseeing, saying no to animal cruelty, and spreading awareness among people about a sustainable environment is our model of responsible tourism.
OUR RESPONSIBLE TOURISM CHARTER
Being responsible in the way that we operate our holidays is very important to us here at Travel Inn. Travel Inn fully supports the principles of responsible travel and sustainable tourism and has been working hard to show that it is possible to provide an excellent quality service whilst being culturally sensitive and helpful to conserve the environment. However responsible travel doesn’t mean a compromise on the enjoyment of trip of your clients or the quality of their accommodation.
Ravi Kalra, Founder, Travel Inn
ECONOMIC RESPONSIBILITY
We ensure that the financial benefits of tourism are passed down throughout the entire company, including the office staff, guides, naturalists, and the wildlife communities in which we work. We promote hotels that employ staff from local communities. We encourage travellers to use more local restaurants.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
We reduce paper wastage in our office by not producing any form of paper brochures. All communications are done by email; we rarely print brochures (maybe once in 3-4 years).
We provide regular training for our guides and naturalists to ensure high standards of environmental care and responsible behaviour.
We have various office initiatives to reduce our impact on the environment and use of energy: we recycle all paper, wear thick jumpers in winter, use local suppliers whenever possible, encourage the use of public transport by staff, and strive for a plastic-free operation.
We undertake regular meetings to discuss Responsible Tourism and ensure that all staff are involved in the decision-making process and encouraged to contribute.
We provide regular training for our guides and naturalists to ensure high standards of environmental care and responsible behaviour.
We have various office initiatives to reduce our impact on the environment and use of energy: we recycle all paper, wear thick jumpers in winter, use local suppliers whenever possible, encourage the use of public transport by staff, and strive for a plastic-free operation.
We undertake regular meetings to discuss Responsible Tourism and ensure that all staff are involved in the decision-making process and encouraged to contribute.
WILDLIFE TOURISM RESPONSIBILITY
Travel Inn ensures that our lodge partners brief our clients about the National Park rules properly, as we are committed to creating environmental awareness, which helps provide a good wildlife experience to clients.
We work with environment-friendly wildlife lodges, follow ethical practices, and emphasize overall learning of wildlife, birdlife, environment, local cultures, tribal lives, and people around the Park. Our safaris are conducted by trained naturalists, who help prepare a checklist of sightings of mammals, birds, insects, plants, and trees as a responsible tourism initiative.
Our clients travel in well-maintained vehicles driven by experienced drivers who are sensitive to the fragile nature of the Park’s eco-system.
Our prompt payment policy ensures everyone in the chain is paid their wages timely, which keeps the ground staff happy, including park guides and drivers.
We work with environment-friendly wildlife lodges, follow ethical practices, and emphasize overall learning of wildlife, birdlife, environment, local cultures, tribal lives, and people around the Park. Our safaris are conducted by trained naturalists, who help prepare a checklist of sightings of mammals, birds, insects, plants, and trees as a responsible tourism initiative.
Our clients travel in well-maintained vehicles driven by experienced drivers who are sensitive to the fragile nature of the Park’s eco-system.
Our prompt payment policy ensures everyone in the chain is paid their wages timely, which keeps the ground staff happy, including park guides and drivers.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
We encourage our clients to act responsibly. Our professionally qualified guides and naturalists have a great passion for their work. Not only will they tell you about the history of the places you will visit but they will also be able to tell you about the culture and the local traditions and superstitions.
Our associate offices all across India employ local people and pay them a fair wage helping to put money into the local economy.
Our associate offices all across India employ local people and pay them a fair wage helping to put money into the local economy.
Travel Inn Initiatives
Over the years, we have realised that ecotourism constitutes an integral part of any travel experience. With concern for our environment and its preservation, we contribute to some of the conservation initiatives, a couple of which are listed below:
Travel Operators for Tigers
Travel Inn endorsed the TOFT agreement in December 2006 and is proud to join this elite club for the noble cause of saving tigers. Started in the United Kingdom by some of the responsible Tour Operators, the Consortium has joined hands with Indian Wildlife Tour Operators and some of the wildlife resort/camp owners in their endeavour to save the tiger and its habitat.
Adopt a Rare Bird
India alone has 8 critically endangered, 10 endangered, 57 vulnerable, and 52 near threatened species. Action on almost a war footing is required to save specific species and their habitats. Hence to meet the dual objectives of bringing awareness and raising funds for the conservation program, the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has executed a campaign titled Adopt-A-Rare-Bird. Travel Inn has extended its support to this campaign and has adopted two rare species – Malabar Pied Hornbill and Nilgiri Laughing Thrush.
Naturalist Training Programme
Travel Inn ran its first Naturalist Training Programme at Pench in 2005, which was attended by the naturalists employed at resorts and some local park naturalists. The Park Naturalist Programme is designed to establish a pool of knowledgeable individuals that magnify the abilities of the Extension Service and others to deliver a quality wildlife education programme.
The programme is designed to familiarise participants with basic knowledge about the landscape, natural history, and wildlife. Over ten days, trainees are schooled in a wide range of topics that integrate information about the forested landscape (basic geology, geomorphology, and hydrology), the habitats that make up the landscape, and the major groups of organisms that live within these habitats.
Say no to Bear Dancing
This campaign to save the sloth bears in India has been initiated by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) in partnership with the World Society for Protection of Animals (WSPA). Travel Inn has joined hands with WTI for “Say No to Bear Dancing” campaign. We are taking up this project to extend the awareness support as a part of our ongoing Responsible Tourism Initiatives. We plan to do the following to spread awareness about the conservation of sloth bears and take the campaign forward.
Image Credit: Hindustan Times
Change for Children
Travel Inn in association with its travel partner, On The Go Tours UK, helps to transform the lives of the underprivileged children of two adopted local schools in small villages in Abhaneri & Karauli, Rajasthan. In support of the local children in these villages, On The Go Tours provides all its travelers to India with a special envelope to place all their unwanted foreign currency. This money is then put to work by purchasing clothing, educational supplies, and other desperately needed items for underprivileged children in the care of these adopted schools.