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With the season for traveling to warm tropical destinations well under way, we at Sustainable Travel International (STI) have been as busy as ever.

Our number one goal is to help discerning travelers and tourism providers make responsible choices. And nowhere else is this more important than in developing countries. Numerous countries depend on tourism for their economic survival, yet many find if difficult to protect the environmentally sensitive areas that are so attractive to tourists. However, you can help! Begin by reading our "Tips for Responsible Travelers" below.

We also want to offer a special thank you to responsible travelers and Supporting Business members who have joined STI. Thanks to you, our global exposure is increasing rapidly as we move ever closer to our goal of assisting the travel and tourism industry's move toward sustainability.

We now have Supporting Business members from over 25 countries and our web site traffic almost doubled this month. So to all of you responsible travelers out there, be sure to check out our Eco-Directory, including this month's Featured Tourism Supplier below.

Yours sincerely,

Brian T. Mullis and Peter D. Krahenbuhl,
Co-founders

In this issue you will find:
1. Tips for Responsible Travelers
2. Featured Tourism Supplier
3. FREE Membership

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Let's face it. Everyone loves to travel. And we especially love to visit new, exciting and exotic destinations. However, it is difficult these days to be sure that the travel decisions we make aren't bad for the environment and local communities.

To assist consumers in minimizing their negative impacts and enhancing their positive impacts, we a STI are offering suggestions to help the discerning traveler enjoy their trip while supporting sustainable tourism. These "Tips for Responsible Travelers" are designed to assist conscientious consumers in making informed decisions when planning and engaging in their vacations.

One useful example from STI's "Tips for Responsible Travelers" involves researching and carefully evaluating the alternatives. STI suggests that consumers should ensure that any travel providers they're considering traveling with are taking steps to limit their environmental and socio-cultural impacts.

For example, in looking at the travel provider's marketing materials, determine if they have an environmental or sustainability policy. If not, consider posing some of the following questions in your correspondence with them:

Is the travel provider actively involved in supporting environmental and socio-cultural issues, particularly in the areas visited? Is the travel provider efficient in the use of natural resources, such as water and energy? Are locals benefiting financially from your trip, directly or indirectly?

These are just a few of many questions that consumers should pose to travel providers. To view a full copy of STI's "Tips for Responsible Travelers", click here.

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This month's featured travel provider lets its name speak for itself. Make a Difference Adventures (M.A.D.) is a UK-based tour operator whose premise is that every one of their trips actually supports a local community-based project in each of the destinations they offer. Brilliant!

These destinations include exotic locals across the globe, including Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Clients are offered the opportunity to spend a little time meeting and assisting the people who benefit from their holiday. In M.A.D.'s own words, it's "not about charity - it's about holidays that make a difference, to local people in the countries in which M.A.D. operates, as well as leaving travelers with life-long memories."

A percentage (currently between 5% and 10%) of each M.A.D. adventure is also contributed directly to a local NGO project that is encompassed within each trip offering. This way, clients may witness first-hand the benefits of their contribution to the community.

Also, in order to ensure a minimal impact on the places visited, the maximum group size on any M.A.D. trip is 12. M.A.D. believes this allows clients to become actively involved in the lives of the local communities without imposing "foreign" morals and values on them. We agree!

For more information, you can search for Make a Difference Adventures under "Culture" in STI's Eco-Directory.

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