MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® aims to provide guests with in-depth insight into local communities, cultures and conservation; supporting projects with a positive impact and providing an enriched touring experience.
That 95% of all tours now include at least one MTM Experience, shows the operators commitment to embed opportunities that connect guests directly with the people and organisations working to protect local culture, communities, wildlife and the environment.
New MTM Experiences for 2027/28 are:
– Menindee Lakes and Kinchega National Park - guests join a local Indigenous guide to learn about Barkindji cultural heritage, from creation stories and ancestral knowledge to the traditional uses of native plants. Featured on the new nine-day Outback New South Wales Adventurer (ONSW)
– Ōamaru Penguin Conservation Centre - in New Zealand on the nine-day Southern Wonders tour, guests are introduced to kororā, the native little blue penguins, and guided on a colony walk while learning about the centre's important conservation work
Ben Hall, AAT Kings Group CEO, said: "Travel can be a powerful force for good, but it's also about creating a richer experience for the traveller. When you meet the people protecting a native species, learn directly from local communities or hear the stories and traditions that have shaped a place, you come away understanding far more about the destination.
“These connections have become an important part of the way our guests discover Australia and New Zealand, and this is something we’re committed to developing, by ensuring that 95% of our tours include these elements.
"For travel agents, it's a powerful story to share with customers who increasingly want to know that their holiday can support the places they visit while giving them experiences and stories they'll remember long after they return home."
An early booking sale with up to £650pp runs until 30 Sept.
The A-LISTERS program contains dedicated trade materials including sales guides, flyers, assets and new episodes of the A-LISTERS podcast. www.aatkings.com/en-gb/resources/alisters
