Responsible Travel Policy

"One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things"
Henry Miller

At Real World Journeys we believe that travel, if done responsibly, can be hugely beneficial for both travellers and their hosts. For us, journeys can be sources of inspiration, learning, a break from our everyday lives, and may even lead to personal change. But what about the people we visit, who welcome us into their country, homes and lives? How can we make sure that we give back as much as we receive? How can we avoid contributing to some of the worst impacts of mass tourism: namely, tourists' money not benefiting local people, negative cultural change and environmental damage?

These are questions that we take seriously. Our approach to travel is founded on the belief that we can benefit host communities economically. By employing local people and using local services we provide work and income which is often hard to find in a developing country like Morocco. We are sensitive to and respectful of local culture: we create opportunities for cultural exchange and learning on a personal level. Environmentally, we minimise our impact on some of the more fragile places we visit: we are careful in our use of water in the mountains and desert.

We have developed our own Responsible Travel Policy in accordance with these principles. We hope it answers some of the questions and concerns you might have. We believe that in travelling responsibly we can all have more fulfilling, and fun, journeys.

Cultural Exchange, not Change

On our journeys we travel in small groups, stay for longer in communities and share our creativity. This opens up unique opportunities for meaningful cultural exchange, learning and friendship. For example, on our weaving trip, women weavers pass on their traditional skills to guests and we share our knowledge with our hosts, giving them the opportunity to try out new techniques and designs. Working side by side, we not only exchange skills and techniques, but also knowledge and understanding about our very different lives. Moroccans are very family-oriented and we encourage you to bring photographs of your families and loved ones to foster cultural exchange.

Our travellers are treated as guests, not tourists, and we feel a little knowledge of Moroccan culture and customs goes a long way to show our appreciation of our hosts' hospitality. We and our local guides are always on hand to advise on Moroccan etiquette, for example: how to dress suitably; when it is appropriate to take photographs of people; how to tip and, of course, barter; and how to say a few words in Arabic and Berber. Moroccans are polite and hospitable, and appreciate it when guests are sensitive to their culture. Just a little effort will lead to a more culturally rewarding experience for us all.

Benefiting the local economy

So much of the tourism industry revolves around major and trans national transport and hotel chains, which can take profits out of countries, rather than contributing to much needed national economic development. We make sure that our trips benefit the local economy by working with local people and using their goods and services. For example, we use local drivers and guides and we stay in family-owned guest houses and artisans' homes, where our food is bought from nearby farmers. We always pay people fairly for their work. Not only do local people benefit from more work, but we also benefit from a more personal experience.

Environmental Protection

On our trips we visit beautiful, but fragile, environments. In the mountain villages and desert camps we visit water is a scarce and precious resource, and waste disposal is not to the standard we enjoy at home. We want to protect these environments so that our hosts can continue living, working and welcoming other guests who come after us. We therefore put into practice some simple, environmentally friendly policies to minimise our 'footprints' throughout our journeys. For example, we recommend using hygienic hand gel and wipes to clean hands and freshen up in areas where water is scarce. We 'pack out' non bio-degradable waste to nearby cities where they have better disposal facilities, and we encourage travellers to take batteries back home.

There has been a lot of debate recently about, especially air, travel's contribution to climate change. We give our clients the option of using alternative transport to reach their destination. If you would like to know more about how you can minimise your impact by 'carbon offsetting', you're welcome to follow the links below:

http://www.climatecare.org - (for UK travellers)
http://www.nativeenergy.com/travel/ - (for US travellers)

Sustainability

We have established firm business partnerships and friendships with the local people and communities we work with and are committed to working with them over the long term. By being both culturally sensitive and environmentally friendly we are sure that we will be invited back to enjoy Moroccan hospitality for many years to come.

Responsible Travel Policy

(For more details, please see 'Travellers' Notes' for individual trips)