Supporting local businessesBy responsibletravel.com Bookmark or ShareWe at responsibletravel.com feel that responsible tourism really does make a difference – travellers booking responsible holidays are supporting local businesses as well as helping local communities and minimising impact on the environment. For example, read an account of Justin's trip to Zambia. Similarly, the wide choice of holidays offered by responsibletravel.com are aiding travellers to make informed decisions on which holidays to take. Safe in the knowledge that their holidays are making a positive difference, travellers are not only enjoying some of the best holidays that the world has to offer but they are also making a difference to the tourism industry as a whole. Many of those who have already taken a responsibletravel.com holiday have let us know their opinions on how the trips are run by writing reviews. But here’s a chance to see the other side of responsible holidays. We've asked some of our operators what responsibletravel.com membership has meant to their business. You can read their unedited comments below... 
Amanda Stafford from Dolphin Connection, who offer marine wildlife adventures, encounters with whales, swimming with dolphins and witnessing the abundant life in the ocean in the Azores and Bahamas, says...
60% increase in bookings, increasing visibility of the company and the support of having a “parent” company shining a light on the way forward with similar values. The RT team are a great bunch of people who are motivated, passionate and fully engaged with what they do. They are people who have a vision for the future that is about creating a beautiful world to be in. I think the company is at the forefront of changing value systems, not only in tourism but in how people relate to the world and each other. This company is making a difference and is a great support to uphold the similar values of my company. I find I speak to other promoters/agents with a lot more authority on the value of responsible/ethical eco tourism and demand they take a look at their policies and to become more aware of the issues. This is all part of the growing impulse to “be the change”. Also RT attracts clients who for the most part are a joy to host, they tend to be open minded, respectful, kind. They are people who want to give something back to our beautiful environment, have vision and purpose and care about future generations. They also seem to have a greater capacity to enjoy themselves!! It is great for like minded people to find each other and be inspired. RT is narrowing the gap between old style tourism and the “new face of tourism”. The ethical values are rapidly growing in popularity encompassing a friendly and caring approach that has low impact and contributes something back to the local environment and communities visited by the tourist. I have found the RT team to be very available to offer suggestions re clarity of policies, how to increase bookings and sharing various tips that work. The Responsible tourism awards are a particularly effective way of communicating some of the projects out there that are transforming tourism environments and alerting people to what is possible. This in turn really inspires action in others. I am inspired by the new trend towards businesses having an ethical stance and having RT as a promoter of my dolphin swimming holidays empowers us to hold our beliefs for sustainable tourism and make money at the same time. As each company makes new values visible, it increases a growing momentum for those values to grow in business. 
Tara Low from Footsteps Eco-Lodge, a small family run eco lodge in the Gambia determined to make a difference, says...
Responsible travel has been pivotal in our business becoming the success it is today. The highlight of working with responsible travel has been invaluable support and assistance without which our lives would have been a lot harder. The main benefit for Footsteps has been the generation of new business without which we would not still be here and also the help given in a time of crisis which could have been a lot more difficult. Working with responsible travel has been an experience and a learning curve. Many of our eco policies were ok and we have not had to have too much advice from RT in that regard. They have however helped with difficult customers and when customers are a little sceptical helping to put them at ease all which makes my life just that little bit easier. 
Ivana Grzetic from Adria Avanture, the only adventure tour company originally from Dubrovnik, who share their love for their home town and its lovely country side with their guests, says...
Great, it is like being a part of a big family of world wide responsible people. When the picture of our Dubrovnik country side walking guides appeared on the front page of responsible travel magazine. Responsible travel is great support to small businesses like ours, not only increasing our sales but also increasing our own standards and responsibility to both travellers and the local communities. We at Adria Avanture from Dubrovnik and Elaphite islands would like to thank the responsible travellers for helping us keep Adriatic a clean sea by using sea kayaks instead of motor boats. 
Christalla Vassiliou from Kontoyannis, a family run business of Cyprus holiday accommodations trying to make a difference in an ever changing world of commercialism and identity loss, says...
It meant we could survive in a very competitive market while at the same time preserving the heritage of our country. We have been able to preserve our family house and give employment to the local people. Ours is an exceptional village in the it has survived the test of time and won. Old values have been preserved and new values have been added to the rich tapestry of an island full of history and culture. Through Agrotourism we have found a way to nurture the village and preserve its rich history dating back for centuries. Our grandfather was a very wealthily landowner in the region which was rich in employment as there were mines in the area for years but it was tough for anyone to make a decent living in Cyprus so most of the family emigrated to survive but the next generation decided to return to its roots. The fact that the general trend is now going away from the package holiday and the arrival of the internet made it possible for people to create their own adventure, visit authentic destinations and experience the local way of life which in turn made it possible for us to offer a unique destination. It has in fact meant that we can now look to preserve another house in the village and also look towards another project which will employ yet more local people in our orchard. It makes it possible for more of the youngsters to stay at home to work.... They are Responsible in every way, not only the environment but also in their dealings with the traveller and the property owner. It's brought to our attention the fact that there is an choice and it is possible to travel anywhere in the world and make a difference. Excellent support, we always receive good leads. We feel we can contact Responsible travel any time for advice, information and ways to increase our bookings. Actually it has helped us realize that the way forward is through a Responsible attitude to the environment. Most people nowadays, care what happens to this planet. 
Liz Lord from Space Between, a small company offering flexible options for the best of accommodation and adventure holiday packages to the Mercantour and beyond, says...
We were very pleased to be introduced to RT in the early days (met with Paul several years ago) – for a small business RT offers credibility and a much wider reach that we would be able to afford. The pleasure of welcoming Jennifer here and the capability of being to discuss future options readily. Being recognised as being 100% RT in all aspects. Good quality of enquiry which leads to a >8% conversion rate. We work hard to get back to our enquirers straight away and be as flexible as possible. We are keen to introduce people to this fantastic area and introduce them to some of the personalities that we work with. Our expansion plans will allow us to be more and more green. We are also expanding to other areas where there is easy access and unspoilt nature a stone’s throw away. 
Serkan Cetin from Journey Anatolia, a small operator specialising in cultural tours and small boutique hotels in Turkey, says...
Responsibletravel has given serious exposure to our modest and 'off the beaten track' activities that otherwise would have been engulfed by the mainstream's stronghold on marketing channels. Membership has meant our small, specialist products, that we believe in so much, have been able to reach a far wider audience than we could have imagined. The highlight of working with responsible travel is the results they achieve for is in terms of enquiries. Also the ever friendly, attentive and committed staff feel more like friends than business associates and are simply great to deal with. The online user interface and website is well organised and very efficient.
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