Ethical Tourism

You may have heard that Lloyds Travel & Cruises recently decided to team up with The Travel Corporation (TTC) to host a live, online event. We wanted to take a moment to tell you a little bit more about the TTC group of companies and how they are striving to make travel matter through The TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit initiative with more than 55 ethical tourism projects across 26 countries and counting. 

The Travel Corporation 

The TTC family of brands encompasses 40 award-winning brands including Trafalgar, Contiki, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, Highland Explorer Tours, Lion World Travel, and more. They specialize in 9 different travel styles: Guided, Next Gen, Luxury Travel, River Cruising, Luxury Hotels, Family, Tailor-Made, Safari & Adventure, and Sightseeing. They also engage in travel and tourism-based activism through the non-profit, The TreadRight Foundation.   

The TreadRight Foundation  

For over 12 years now, The TreadRight Foundation has been asking one simple question: How can we make travel matter? TreadRight was formed to ensure our impact on the planet we call home, the people we visit, and the rich wildlife we find there, is a positive one. TreadRight is currently involved in over 55 ethical tourism projects across 26 countries and counting. 

Watch “How We Tread Right” on YouTube for a synopsis of The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) new 5-year sustainability strategy. 

The TreadRight Foundation and How We Tread Right (HWTR) focus on 3 major areas of activism and conservation: people, wildlife, and planet. Here are just a few of their ongoing projects: 

  • Green Bronx Machine: Grows healthy students, schools, and communities through school-based urban agriculture in the Bronx neighborhood in New York.  
  • Make A Difference Leadership Foundation: Develops academically talented scholars with leadership potential into future leaders for South Africa. 
  • Proyecto Tití: A multi-disciplinary on-site conservation program dedicated to conserving the critically endangered cotton-top tamarin in Colombia. 
  • Surfrider Foundation: Fighting to preserve, protect and restore coastal environments in Australia through different conservation-based campaigns and initiatives.  
  • Cristina Heeren Foundation of Flamenco Art: a private, non-profit entity that aims to promote the teaching and conservation of flamenco dance in Andalusia and Spain.  
  • Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco (CTTC): Employs more than 500 individuals from the Cusco, Peru region while encouraging the continuation of the 10,000-year-old Andean textile tradition. 
  • Manitobah Mukluks Storyboot School: Helps revive the heritage art by creating partnerships with elders and artisans who fashion mukluks and moccasins the traditional way in Canada. 
  • And many more…! 

How You Can #MakeTravelMatter  

Ethical tourism should always be on your mind, whether you are traveling upstate to visit grandma or flying across the world for an exotic 2-week vacation. Here are 5 things you can do today to #MakeTravelMatter: 

  1. Respect Local Wildlife– Follow all wilderness instructions and signs, do not disturb them in their habitat, and give them plenty of space while taking pictures or enjoying the view.
  2. Clean Up After Yourself– Never leave trash where it doesn’t belong, always recycle where possible, and avoid leaving “marks” by walking off-trail, et cetera. 
  3. Donate to a Cause– There are plenty of travel and tourism-oriented charities, like The TreadRight Foundation and their many projects, that you can give your time or money to.  
  4. Pick Low Carbon Footprint Travel– Try a bicycle tour instead of one by car or bus; research the best eco-friendly cruise lines; or even just carpool to the airport. 
  5. Ask Us About Eco-friendly Vacation Packages– We would be happy to help you find a smart, responsible trip that lets you see the world and feel good doing so. Contact us anytime