Indian Passage believes the future of tourism lies in Responsible Tourism! Both, for the tourism industry and for those who live in India, it is important that the tourism activities and ventures are sustainable. To continue attracting tourists, the cultural and natural resources need to be respected and maintained. Responsible tourism is the only way to ensure that the stake holders and the community can gain the long-term economic and social benefits.

Also, the rising Indian Middle class & socially responsible Global community have lately started taking interest in volunteerism for the upliftment of the underprivileged. And, as is often said ‘Development’ sells, hence, a component of volunteerism when added to tourism, would attract many, especially international tourists, as ‘Pleasure with Purpose’.

There are many interpretations of the term 'Responsible Tourism', as are the number of people in the tourism industry. Responsible travel is about stake holders from the tourism and hospitality industry, making environmentally-friendly, sustainable, ethical and respectful choices, so as to minimize the negative impact of tourism.

Hence, Indian Passage is taking steps to build a network between NGOs, hoteliers and venture capitalists to promote, operationalise and market this concept. On one hand Indian Passage would work with NGOs and their deputed functionaries to provide training on hospitality and travel management, and on the other hand Indian Passage would market through its online platforms and marketing professionals to encourage tourist’s inflow in these destinations. Indian Passage will also sensitize hotel chains, travel operators on how to market the uniqueness of the responsible tourism iternaries and destinations with clients.

Indian Passage has already created links with grass root NGOs like Sankalp India, DRISHTI, and You and I foundation, Agragami, Udgam etc. Everyday, we are trying to rope in new NGO partners in exquisite and remote locations with a strong cultural identity. We are working out possible developmental activities at these locations like voluntary teaching, health care, trainings for local youths which will be conducted by the

Tourists apart from traveling. A typical responsible tour iternary would have these components,

1. A far flung destination, like a tribal district of Araku, AP or Purulia, WB or Baijnath, Tehri Uttarakhand, Lothal & Bhuj Gujarat.
2. Arrangement for home stays/ local houses with clean and decent arrangements
3. Local cultural performances
4. Guided tours to the interesting destinations around that place
5. The tourists contributing to the development of the area by taking classes everyday for 2/3 hrs during the stay in a local non-formal school/ providing help in healthcare delivery/ initiating a small entrepreneurship initiative (like SHG)/  providing vocational trainings to youth.

If you are interested to know in detail how your enterprise can start this initiative or would want us to draw a strategic plan for the same, please feel free to write/call our Responsible Tourism Specialist for further suggestions.