Promoting Responsible Tourism

Educational Travel for School Groups Worldwide

It is important for ITS to understand that it is not only about providing an unforgettable experience for the visitors. It is equally important to ensure the people and environment being visited are also provided with a positive experience. There are a number of ways ITS work to establish this balance between those visiting and those being visited.

How do ITS promote Responsible Tourism?

ITS is a destination management company for international and local schools. Our company works hand in hand with schools to provide an educational and life learning experience for young people. In providing an opportunity for school groups to travel, we are providing an experience of a lifetime to explore and learn about new cultures, flora and fauna, history, language and much more.

What we do:

ITS work closely with all our in-country associates to ensure both we and they operate in accordance with our Responsible Tourism Standards:

• ITS employ local operators, guides and suppliers in the destinations we travel

• ITS attempt to maintain small-group sizes to limit negative social and environmental impacts.

• On some of our tours we encourage the use of official homestays which we have established, but maintain the importance of sharing the opportunities to the whole community rather than specific homes on a regular basis

• Training and employment opportunities are provided to local guides when working with young people

• We use local contractors for transport and if possible use public transport

• ITS have established community service projects in many of our destinations: Tanzania, Kenya, Cambodia, Jerusalem, Nepal, Vietnam, Laos, Turkey, India, Thailand and Ghana.

• ITS oversee donations and project work to ensure any funding is channeled to the right people and places

• We maintain links with all of our projects and promote sponsorship by our school groups to remain for a substantial period of time, returning on an annual basis.

• Our groups visit local craftspeople and are encouraged to buy from local sources

• All of our groups are educated in how to behave when visiting our destinations: respecting the flora and fauna, correct waste disposal, cultural and religious understanding, water conservation, language and interacting with the local people.

• Instead of staying in large foreign-owned all-inclusive resorts or hotel chains, we aim to support the local economy by staying in small-scale hotels where possible, otherwise, the best feasible option is employed.

• In an effort to reduce paper use in our office, all of our correspondence and communication is done electronically with minimal paper use.