We define responsible travel as simply this: Being socially and culturally aware (and personally conscious) when you travel, understanding your environmental and economic effect of the places you visit, and striving to make that affect a positive one that benefits the host destination and population.

The problem is, a lot of people have a hard time grasping this concept, as there are many misconceptions out there that make responsible travel seem like an extreme or unrealistic effort. For example....

To travel responsibly, you have to travel backpacker style. Low budget, cut corners, and be as basically human as possible. Or, that you can never fly on a jumbo get because of the carbon emissions.

However, it doesn't have to be an unattainable extreme. It can be as simple as making small changes in our human behavior and habits as travelers. It all starts with the right mindset and how we VIEW our journeys. Then comes action with how we CHOOSE to interact with different cultures, people and destinations we can consciously give back to.

2020-2021.

The year that the novel COVID-19 pandemic paralyzed economies, devastated communities, and confined nearly 4 billion (half of humanity) to their homes. Now, as governments, communities and individuals, we have the opportunity to do the right thing by rebuilding smarter and in a more conscious way heading into 2022.

IT'S TIME TO RESET AND RE-IMAGINE.

Environmentally

Many of the world's most incredible places that travelers dream of visiting in this world are at severe risk of disappearing due to climate change. Measuring your emissions and then reducing your carbon footprint through offsetting and simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference. As we work towards restoring and healing Mother Earth, ZI is committed lowering our footprint through carbon-neutral tours and trips. This includes purchasing carbon credits associated with a range of international reduction projects, partnering with eco-friendly transportation and hotel partners, and encouraging our clients to use water, fuel and electricity wisely. More so, we hope to inspire and encourage our travelers to continue living their own low-carbon lifestyle but giving them the tools to measure, reduce and offset their own emissions once they return home.

Culturally

Travel & Tourism has always been a sector for the people, by the people – relying on the wonders of Mother Earth to meaningfully change the lives of the people and communities it touches and inspire us to deepen our understanding of our place in this world. At ZI, we’re proud to be facilitating educational experiences that open the hearts and minds of travelers while promoting cultural sensitivity and awareness through all aspects of what we do. As we enter a new era of travel, these values are paramount to assuring the citizens of our increasingly globalized planet are able to understand and respect one another, ensuring that our future holds more peace and promise than our past.

Economically

Now more than ever, countries worldwide needs tourism and travel to support their local economies. Research by The World Travel and Tourism Council showed The Travel & Tourism sector suffered a loss of almost US $4.5 trillion in 2020, with the contribution to GDP dropping by a staggering 49.1% compared to 2019. The impact of travel resuming will be felt across the globe, from workers traveling across the world for in-person meetings, to parents being able to put food on the table and roofs over their families heads. We are committed to giving back to the destinations we visit by maintaining a healthy balance sheet to enable growth and leaving a positive impact.

TRAVEL HAS THE POWER TO PROVIDE RICH, CULTURAL EXPERIENCES, PROTECT PRECIOUS COMMUNITIES AND ENVIRONMENTS, AND, WHEN DONE RIGHT, CAN BE A VITAL FORCE FOR MAKING OUR PLANET A BETTER PLACE.

OUR DIFFERENCE.

What makes us the top choice for conscious travelers?

Hyperlocal

We keep each and every interaction, from our VTA sessions to guided tours, intimate, educational, and oriented around a well-defined community with its primary focus directed toward the concerns of the population in that community.

Responsible

We believe that every traveler is a steward of the world and that being a good one means being sustainable, respectful and conscious in how we choose to travel and interact with the destinations and communities we visit.

See the Whole Picture

Our team recognizes that most travel by its nature does not just involve industry businesses, but the destination as a whole—its ecosystems, natural resources, cultural assets and traditions, economies, communities, and built infrastructure.