The Travel Corporation (TTC) has unveiled a Make Travel Matter Pledge to celebrate World Tourism Day today (September 27).
The company said the pledge to help protect people and the environment is the next step in a “long-standing commitment to sustainable tourism and conscious travel”.
The TreadRight Foundation – a sustainable tourism initiative from TTC’s brands, which include Trafalgar, Uniworld, Insight Vacations and Contiki – is urging travellers to join it in making the pledge.
The Make Travel Matter Pledge has been inspired by Debbie Remengesau, the first lady of island country Palau, who introduced the Palau Pledge.
Brett Tollman, chief executive of The Travel Corporation and founder of The TreadRight Foundation, said: “Our Make Travel Matter Pledge is another step on our journey and an impactful one as it further solidifies our commitment to helping protect the destinations we work with, its communities and local wildlife.
“As responsible travellers, TreadRight’s ethos has become part of our company’s DNA and what we stand for, and we share our pledge with our guests as well as partners in hopes they will join us.”
The Make Travel Matter Pledge:
I will make my travel matter – for our planet, for people and for wildlife.
When I explore this planet, I will do my best to tread right.
I will refuse single use plastics when I can and recycle what I cannot avoid.
When possible, I will offset my travels.
When I meet new people, I will honour their home as I do my own and do so in the spirit of diversity and inclusion. I will purchase locally made items wherever possible and pay a fair price.
When I experience wildlife, I will do so in nature.
I will not ride animals that ought not be ridden, nor support animal cruelty in any way.
Together, we will tread right upon the earth – and we will make our travel matter.
Pictured: Peruvian man playing flute in the village of Pisac, in the Sacred Valley near Cusco.