The Power of Responsible Travel

On April 7^thCBT Vietnam welcomed nearly a hundred aspiring jetsetters and travel enthusiasts for “The Power of Responsible Travel”. This event featured two of our films including  When the Villagers Left .  There were also talks from five outstanding speakers who shared stories, advice and aspirations for the future, in regards to “responsible travel”. These guest speakers included:

• Mark Harosowksi – Moving Worlds
•  Dr. Peter Williams – Simon Fraser University
• Lo May Ly – From Sapa, Vietnam
•  Erin Butler – G Adventures; and
• Andrew Motiwalla – Discover Corps

This event was a huge success and we were so glad that so many members of our local community were able to come support our project, while taking the time to learn about what they can do to travel responsibly.

So, you may be asking: What is responsible travel? Responsible travel/tourism is a concept that has been defined in different ways by different organizations. Some of these definitions include that responsible travel and tourism is:

 “Travel that aims to minimize tourism's negative impacts on the environment and maximize the positive contributions tourism can make to local communities.” 
– The Centre for Responsible Travel (CREST)

 “An approach to the management of tourism, aimed at maximising economic, social and environmental benefits and minimising costs to destinations. Simply put, Responsible tourism is tourism 'that creates better places for people to live in, and better places to visit.” 
– The City of Cape Town

“About creating more meaningful experiences for travellers by connecting them to the local culture and the natural beauty of host communities around the world.  It is also about ensuring the communities hosting travellers benefit from tourism – through building skills, creating jobs and opportunities – all while protecting local natural and cultural integrity”. 
– The International Centre for Responsible Travel Canada

 

So, what can you do to be a Responsible Traveler?

- Choose businesses that take initiatives to protect our environment

-Choose business that employ local people and create jobs for women

-Be a conscious shopper and purchase goods from local businesses

-Chose businesses that respect human rights

-Take action to protect the local natural environment (save water and recycle when possible, do not litter ect.)

-Do not participate in activities that put wildlife at risk

-Observe and respect the local culture and customs

-Research and choose your volunteer travel experiences wisely

-Learn as much as possible about your destination before you arrive!

We would like to thank our wonderful community members again for attending our event and we encourage everyone to learn about how they can use “the power of responsible travel” to create positive social, economic, and environmental benefits for our world.

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T-minus 4-days to Vietnam!

I sit here today in anticipation for this incredible trip that Kyle and I will embark on in less than a week!

These last four months have been a whirl wind of trip prepping, regular meetings with the team, working our day jobs and all the while trying to rock our studies. I have a few more tasks to complete, but it feels awesome that all this intense preparation will be worth it once we have arrived in Vietnam, where we will actually get down to business in Hanoi and Lao Chai.

Neither Kyle nor I have ever been anywhere in Asia before, and we are both so excited that we have the opportunity to experience Vietnam for the first time together. I am also super eager to immerse myself in a completely new culture.

However, with a new culture comes the risk of culture shock. So, I am currently trying to mentally prepare myself for the shock of a new environment but from what people tell me the culture shock may be inevitable. I am now starting to believe my best plan of action is to just try and relax and enjoy this adventure! Although, to keep a bit of the homesickness at bay, I’m bringing a few things with me that will remind me of my life in Vancouver. Check them out in the picture below!

A few of my favourite things. 

Keep an eye out for my next post upon arrival into Hanoi to get our first impressions of the country. Until then, wish us luck on our 24 hours of travelling from Canada to Vietnam!

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So I'm back. What now?

Sam is pictured standing in middle of the back row with her fellow CapilanoU student volunteers.

I have been travelling pretty extensively for the last ten years. Whenever I had the opportunity I would save, plan, pack and go. Before the Vietnam trip I hadn't travelled for a year so one could imagine how excited and honoured I was wen I was selected as a student volunteer. With a full course load and working two new jobs I jumped right in!

An informal meeting in the Lao Chai.

Looking back on this past winter; the hours I stressed over not doing enough for the project, working too much, and my studies, at the time it felt like the end of the world. The experience of barely seeing the light at the end of the tunnel can be daunting.

Well, I did it! I reached the end of the tunnel, and damn it was awesome! Vietnam was amazing. Not only am I walking away with a new outlook, I have developed a new sense of humility and a incredible appreciation for the access to opportunities as a Canadian.

Some of the amazing women in Lao Chai. 

The women in the village taught me more than I could have ever brought to them as a member of the CBT Vietnam team. I owe them more then words can ever explain, and the only way to do right by them is to bring this knowledge and personal change and use it in the future. As my 440 Paper (the final graduating paper for my Tourism Management Degree) comes around I plan to use this and start my next chapter. I hope to find a female mentor with experience in community development, learn from her, and research a subject around females in tourism.

Looking forward to new challenges, opportunities and experiences. Thank you CapilanoU, CBT Vietnam, and the PATA Foundation. 

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Work, work, work!

Yesterday we had an exciting day again! Taryn and Louise met the Footprint family for the first time and we all had lunch together (some duck for good luck - viet?) in a restuarant that overlooked the Red River.

Following that meeting we had a great meeting with Ngoc Anh from HOU. We're all looking forward to working together in Sapa next week! In addition to working with Hanoi Open University, we are very happy to accept the invitation to attend this years graduation ceremony starting tomorrow!

Today we'll be working on honing our activity and lesson plans, and staying hydrated in the 38 degree humid heat of Hanoi - we are definitely not in Canada anymore!

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Hong Kong!

Taryn and Louise have arrived in Hong Kong! We are really excited - the airport is beautiful and the trip so far has gone well. We're really looking forward to our second - relatively short - flight to Hanoi! We'll be arriving in about 4 hours, and can't wait to connect with the rest of our CBT Vietnam team. Missing Jen and Kim already :) Sorry they couldn't join and wishing the best to you both!
More updates and details to come from Hanoi - the Graduation and our first days experiencing Vietnamese culture - here we come Vietnam!

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