Following on from the TTG Sustainable Travel Heroes workshop on how to be a more responsible traveller and “do less harm”, the latest session – led by Intrepid campaign manager Lucy Wildman and head of impact Rochelle Turner – took these learnings one step further.
Read on to discover how travel agents can play an integral role in championing positive impact travel products that not only benefit local communities and the environment, but also increase customer satisfaction, thanks to the unexpected, enriching travel experiences they offer.
Agents are key to change
Positive impact travel begins before clients even set foot in a destination – it starts with the product.
“This is where agents can play a really important role, as you can help people choose the organisations that help places thrive,” says Turner.
Some positive impact examples that agents should look out for in the suppliers they work with include: having local guides and staff who are paid fairly; companies that take direct action in protecting the environment; companies with strong animal welfare policies; opportunities for women within the company, and authentic cultural heritage that is celebrated and protected.
Iberostar ensures people are at the heart of its positive impact Wave of Change moment – not just employees and stakeholders, but also local communities. One example is Iberostar’s partnership with the Grange Pen Fish Sanctuary in Jamaica, training and employing locals to work as marine wardens and coral gardeners, helping to revitalise its important yet fragile ocean ecosystem.
Positive impact = enhanced experiences
Travellers are always wanting to maximise the value of their holiday experience. Often, sustainability isn’t thought of as the immediate answer, but this is where agents can help with conveying the right message.
“These are not the bucket-list sites and activities that you would think of – they are probably something a client wouldn’t have even considered when booking,” says Wildman.
She also tells agents these experiences are often unexpected, make travellers think differently and create memories that they’ll tell friends and family about. Agents can showcase positive impact experiences when in conversation with clients by leaning into the special stories that often surround them.
On Intrepid Travel’s India's Golden Triangle itinerary, customers can combine seeing the Taj Mahal with a visit to an incredible social enterprise in Agra. Sheroes Hangout is a cafe that serves delicious local delicacies, but more importantly, supports acid attack survivors by providing them with employment, funding legal aid and by building a community to end social isolation.
Read more about inclusive travel in India with Intrepid
Understanding community tourism
“Community tourism ensures that local communities have full ownership and management of the tourism experience, so economic benefits of tourism stay within the community,” explains Wildman.
This type of tourism helps travellers get an authentic taste of local community heritage, cultural practices and natural resources, creating an immersive, enriching experience. Agents can easily research into suppliers to find out if they support these types of experiences.
Community tourism varies greatly across the world, but what these experiences do have in common is that they benefit the community as a whole: from boosting the economy and protecting the surrounding environment, to supporting the empowerment of women and preserving local culture.
Intrepid Travel partners with community projects such as Da Bac Community-Based Tourism, a social enterprise in Vietnam that offer homestays, trekking and authentic cultural experiences. It. has also teamed up with MEET (Mediterranean Experience of Ecotourism) across a range of European itineraries, supporting local communities and conservation through various projects.
Iberostar has set up Aruba's first sanctuary for the endangered shoco owl – an endemic species and a national emblem for the island. Local people have been employed as ‘Shoco Ambassadors’ to help care for this vital nesting ground and educate guests staying at the five-star JOIA Aruba on Eagle Beach.
Nurturing nature
Did you know, more than 80% of the value of global tourism is dependent on nature? With a figure like this, it’s important to acknowledge that tourism can cause ecosystem disturbance, wildlife exploitation and emit greenhouse gases.
However, tourism can also be a force for good and give back to nature. This can be done through funding nature conservation schemes, scientific research and community-based tourism projects.
Turner explains that 60% of Intrepid's tours include trips to protected natural areas. “By having trips that include this, it means these areas are likely to stay protected, because there’s a financial incentive,” she says.
Intrepid Travel, in partnership with Sawadee, is undertaking a large-scale reforestation initiative in Kenya’s Mau Forest, restoring ecosystem health across 15 acres and offering local people employment. From July 2026, travellers on an Intrepid itinerary in Kenya can visit the project to learn about the forest ecology and cultural significance, and contribute to citizen science efforts on the ground.
Iberostar have replanted more than 19,000 mangroves in the Dominican Republic, essential for providing a natural barrier against coastal erosion. Guests are invited to go on a Walk of Change, following a path that includes the mangroves, a bird-viewing platform, and finishes at the Iberostar Coral Lab, a scientific research and coral conservation centre located directly in front of the Iberostar Selection Bavaro.
