Responsible Tourism...

Sustainable travel

We're working with a range of experts on the ground to protect the places you travel to. In Africa we work with hotels that support animal welfare and school projects, while our local partner in Sri Lanka, Jetwings, has won international awards for their work in education with the Jetwing Youth Development Project.

But we know that a difference can be made not only with local initiatives abroad but also offering alternative ways to get there. Air travel is inevitably a significant part of our holiday industry and, as such, when flight planning in the near future, we will be researching the carbon emissions of the airlines we use in order to give you the information you need to make an informed environmental choice.

We are also keen to promote alternative means of travel that will contribute to a more sustainable present and future. Take our excursions or add-ons for example: we've started looking for tours that are good for communities, promote local culture and traditions and help conserve the natural environment. You can now join coach tours in China and India, and walking safaris in Kenya and Southern Africa.

You can help too

We believe that we should all try to give something back, as well as taking away some incredible memories. Here are some things that you can do too, to make a positive difference:

• Wherever possible, we will take you to local markets and restaurants where you can support the local economy by buying local produce.
• Be sensitive to the customs and traditions of the local people.
• Respect habitats and the natural behaviour of wildlife.
• Do not buy products made from endangered species.
• Save water & energy - take a shower rather than a bath, re-use towels, and turn off air-conditioning and lights when you leave your room.
• Donate a pound to the World Care Fund which supports environmental and community projects around the world.

Sustainable forestry

The papers supplied for our brochures are recyclable products. They are made from trees grown in forests managed in a sustainable way. The logging and manufacturing processes conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin.

Working alongside the Federation of Tour Operators, we are leading the way and have started auditing our hotels with regards to their environmental and social impact. For the future, we will be able to recognise which are the most sustainable according to the Travelife sustainability system. So far, we are delighted to have found examples of actions in hotels, like reducing the amount of energy and water they use, using locally produced food and making sure the people who work there have fair working conditions. The best performing hotels are given a Bronze, Silver or Gold Travelife award. Look out for these in the future.

International hotel chains such as Six Senses, Shangri-La, Anantara, Hilton and Sandals have made considerable efforts towards the environment, water management and local community, but, for now, we have chosen some of our hotels that we feel are making a considerable effort in this area and stand out for a particular innovative angle.

We have particularly selected:

Katathani Beach Resort, Thailand - This hotel has already achieved the Travelife Gold Award for being at the forefront of sustainability, introducing water conservation, energy efficiency and waste reduction projects, as well as local community social welfare programs in the aftermath of the Tsunami.

Shamwari, South Africa - For their work with the Born Free Foundation, which aims to provide long term care for big cats that cannot be returned to the wild and education for visitors and students, particularly those from less privileged backgrounds.

Pinewood Village, Kenya - For dedicating the entire resort for three days every June to ‘Diani Rules’, a charitable organisation whose proceeds go to the Kwale Eye Clinic. We do hope that our continuous efforts to promote sustainability will encourage more hotels to aim for Gold Travelife Awards in the next few years.

The following hotels are also dedicating efforts towards local communities, the environment and animal welfare:

TURTLE BAY BEACH, Kenya
BANDOS, Maldives
KANDOOMA, Maldives
LE TOUSSEROK, Mauritius
LE MERIDIEN ILE MAURICE, Mauritius
EDEN RESORT AND SPA, Sri Lanka
JETWING BEACH, Sri Lanka
EVASON HUA HIN, Thailand
KANDABURI RESORT & SPA, Thailand
ANANTARA GOLDEN TRIANGLE RESORT & SPA, Thailand
TANJUNG RHU RESORT, Malaysia
SHANGRI-LA RASA RIA RESORT, Malaysia
BALI TROPIC RESORT & SPA, Bali
MELIA BENOA RESORT, Bali
MANGO BAY, Barbados
FAIRMONT ROYAL PAVILION, Barbados
GRAND PINEAPPLE BEACH RESORT, Antigua
JOLLY BEACH RESORT, Antigua
ST JAMES'S CLUB, Antigua
ALMOND MORGAN BAY, St Lucia
THE BODYHOLIDAY, LE SPORT, St Lucia
COCONUT BAY BEACH RESORT & SPA, St Lucia

World Care Fund

Thomson Tailormade are committed to providing great holidays now and in the future. So we're working hard to protect the environment and support local communities in the places you love to visit.

The rules are simple - give a pound to the World Care Fund and we’ll match it. Your money goes towards projects that help make up for the impact holidaymakers have on the environment, and look after communities around the world. Click here for more details...

Just a Drop

Just a Drop is a charity that raises money to build wells, install hand pumps and carry out health and sanitation programmes to give them and their families clean, accessible water.

The Travel Foundation

The Travel Foundation is a charity that cares for local communities in our favourite holiday destinations by helping locals set up their own tourism businesses.