Global tourism and travel has changed in the past decade to offer varied new options that help both host-country nationals and visitors alike. A growing group of consumers want their travel to be less invasive and more beneficial to host community locals and environs. At the same time, they want to better understand the culture and realities of the places they visit.
An umbrella term that encompasses this new mindset and mode of travel is "responsible tourism"—a bit of a catch-all concept that includes an array of challenges and alternatives to mass tourism.
Responsible tourism is based on ethics and human rights—from protection of service workers and labor rights for mountain porters to programs against exploitation of women and children in tourism prostitution and campaigns against tourist trade in endangered species.
It also means support for community-based travelers’ programs—homestays, guest cottages, ethno-museums, and educational programs that bring tourist dollars directly into communities. Agro-tours, like fair trade coffee tours, are a good example.
Other forms include voluntourism, anti-poverty tourism, and ecotourism.
