OUR COMMITMENT TO LOCAL CULTURES AND COMMUNITIES

We work with local communities, establishments and individuals to promote sustainable and fair tourism opportunities that help local economies while at the same time minimizing negative environmental and cultural impacts.

Each of our Community Development Project involves several groups of workers, artists and families, providing then sustainable employment and allowing them to build personal financial security; all of the materials, gears and overall necessities are bought on local stores and markets. These establishments employ local people and source food and beverages locally. All of this benefits the local economy.
20% of the cost of our Voluntourism trips is invested directly into the specific humanitarian project.
20% of the cost of our Adventure&Discovery trips is invested directly into a Community-Based Development Projects Fund.
We strictly employ local workforce, at a good and fair wage. Many are provided with meals and accommodation as part of their employment package.
We support local business to enhance our impact on the community.
We encourage our Guests to buy souvenirs such as arts, crafts and clothes locally as well as eat and drink in locally owned bars and restaurants.
Local resources, as locally owned goods and services are used throughout all of our trips.
Money spent on locally produced goods and needed services support both income and employment to the communities that we visit.
We support local artists groups by scheduling shows and performances for the visiting travellers.
Giving something back is essential: as part of our commitment to local communities, our non-profit association distributes baby-kits, food provisions and anti-mosquitoes nets to families and people in need. When possible, these actions are performed together with our travellers groups, as to allow a deeper interaction and understanding.
All activities enjoyed by guests are authentic and representative of the local community: we encourage our groups to participate in local festivals and events that will enhance their cultural awareness of the local realities.

We are well aware of the impact that tourism can have in remote places and on small isolated villages and communities, where ancient and therefore precious cultures are still alive and nurtured.

Tour leaders and local guides constantly inform and advice Guests on local rules and traditions and social conventions to which they should be sensitive, such as:
BEGGING – Try to avoid giving out money, candies and small objects. Our actions are towards a real and lasting education for children and people in need, consigning gifts, goods and materials to the leaders of the village or family we are visiting, for a fair and proper distribution.
PHOTOGRAPHS – Always ask permission to photograph local people and respect their decision.
RELIGION AND DRESS CODES: Respect local beliefs and customs, as a proof of higher understanding and willing to share and interact.

These are the reasons why all group sizes for our scheduled tours and missions are between 2 and a maximum of 8 persons. That lead to less impact both on the environment and the people that we visit as well as allowing for more supervision, advice and explanations, alongside an effective chance of understanding and integration with a different culture.

One of our tour-leaders and where appropriate one or more local guides accompanies the participants towards the discovery of local communities and accomplishment of their humanitarian action. Volunteers are given information on arrival about cultural differences they may experience while on a project and also ways in which to deal sensitively with these differences.

We do believe that Inspired Travel means experiencing the place, its people, its cultures, traditions, foods and ways of life. All of our actions and trips aim to create precious links among travellers and local communities, who mutually benefit from the soulful moments spent together.