Since the COVID-19 Pandemic, TRAVEL, as know it, has changed and so have our priorities in choosing who we travel with, how and where we holiday.

At the heart of our brand has always been that we offer events and experiences that are sustainable, environmentally responsible and ethical. Now is the perfect time to cut through the online noise, shop around, to become more conscious planners and responsible travellers. We also explain some new terms you may not have heard until now. Just like motel came from motor and hotel, we have the next round of ‘must know’ terms ready to take over from glamping, staycations and bleisure.

SANITAGGING
Welcome to the age of sanitised travel – now our bags have to be sanitised and then labelled to confirm the cleaning process.

MOTHBALLING
You know those pictures you see of planes abandoned in the dessert. Well they have been put out to pasture and by leaving them somewhere dry they are less likely to rust.

TRAVEL BUBBLE
Is an agreement with between cooperating countries to allow citizens to travel freely to help stimulate tourism and the visitor economy.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY
A closed loop where operations aren’t wasteful and supply chains are ethical. This involves using traceable suppliers and goods that are reused or repurposed and then put back into the economy, rather than buying goods, using them and then disposing of them.

COMMUNITY TOURISM
Look for holidays that consider the wellbeing of people in a less well-off destination and that prioritise involving locals in decision-making while having direct positive social and economic impact through employment or ownership. The Management of the Rwandan Mountain Gorillas is a great example of how this works for the local villages.

ANIMAL WELFARE
Wildlife should be left to be wild, and operators should not compromise the natural behaviour of any animals. Riding elephants for example is not in their best interests.

BIOPHILIC DESIGN
A love of nature and craving to get closer to it for wellbeing. Look for operators who set the stage, so guests are immersed in nature in a way that also lets them benefit from the healing power of the wilderness.

CARBON EMISSIONS
The measurement of the volume of greenhouse gases (GHGs) being released. Tourism contributes about 10 per cent of the world’s total emissions so look for tour operators that have responded by increased awareness of their activities, ones that are setting new standards in eco travel.

CARBON FOOTPRINT
The total amount of greenhouse gases produced by an individual or business, usually represented in tonnes of carbon dioxide. Flying is the single biggest contributor to our personal carbon footprints.

BIODIVERSITY
In the natural world, every ecosystem is perfectly balanced and works in harmony to contribute to our planet’s overall health. Those working hard to preserve and cultivate biodiversity deserve our support so terms like ‘Rewilding’ are good.

CERTIFICATIONS
Accreditations from third-party assessments signify that an operator has conformed to a standard of practice.

CARBON NEUTRAL
When businesses measure the amount of carbon they’re responsible for releasing and then balance this out with an equivalent amount, usually through the purchase of carbon credits.

CONSERVATION
This movement is about protecting natural resources, safeguarding biodiversity and promoting the benefits of ecosystems. It’s also about teaching responsible management of energy, water and waste, land-planning and carbon-impact reduction.

DISASTER TOURISM
Despite the negative-sounding name, it can be fantastically beneficial for tourists to intentionally book a trip to an area that has been affected by a natural disaster or where a situation has caused people to otherwise stop visiting. Our Bushfire impacted communities fall into this category.

ECO HOTEL
An environmentally friendly property that demonstrates ecological sustainability and whose accommodation makes a valuable contribution to the environment or to a community.

ECO-TOURISM
Giving back to the environment through a holiday is a great way to support conservation – ‘Take only photographs, leave only footprints.’

FOOD PRINT
Diets based on local and seasonal plants have a much lower food print than flying in exotic ingredients or growing goods not meant for that region.

GREENWASHING
Brands are getting smarter at appearing more sustainable than they really are. This term originates in hotels suggesting guests reuse towels as a way of saving the environment, implying that the hosts care about the planet when in fact their motivation is to reduce laundry and housekeeping costs. Do your research!

NONESSENTIAL TRAVEL
To travel by land, sea or plane you must prove that it’s for an essential reason such as being a medical worker.

OFF-GRID
Self-sufficient hosts who harness the power of renewable energy to manage accommodation and travel experiences.

OFFSETTING
Carbon emissions are calculated and then offset through schemes where the carbon output is being countered by paid-for ‘reductions’ made in emissions at another location.

OVERTOURISM
All-too-popular destinations are victims of their own success, as the crowds do more harm than good. It’s smarter and more sustainable to visit these places in low season.

ZERO WASTE
Sending nothing goes to landfill by reducing our reliance on things, reusing, recycling and repurposing all we can, and prioritising a closed loop in terms of supply.

PLASTIC
Millions of tonnes of plastic enter our oceans every year, and 80 per cent of it comes from the land. So single-use plastic is out, bioplastics are offered as substitutes, however disposable packaging made from plants instead of fossil fuels is optimum.

PROVENANCE
This term relates to the origin of goods. The sustainable option is to always choose natural, local or seasonal, make a move away from mass-produced.

RENEWABLE ENERGY
Energy generated from solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, hydropower and ocean resources, directly or indirectly.

VOLUNTOURISM
This is great when it’s done well. Do you research to ensure your noble attempt to eliminate poverty, conserve wildlife or provide aid after a humanitarian disaster is the best way forward? Scrutinise whether a situation is best for all involved as commercial exploitation is sadly present on this type of trips.

PERMACULTURE
Biodynamic farming processes are being more talked about, with producers explaining why they have chosen permaculture over pesticides and why worm farms are a winner at mulching organic waste.

WATER
An important consideration when away from home is whether you’re a burden on local utilities – especially somewhere with water in limited supply. Are you heading to a desert island where seawater needs to be desalinated using diesel generators? There’s much to consider.

CITIZEN SCIENTIST
Data collection can be the most time-consuming part of conservation, and travellers taking part in field research can be a great way to contribute.

UNDERTOURISM
What you do when you head to places that will benefit from your visit. Bhutan’s ‘low-volume, high-value’ policy has helped the country thrive through a less-is-more approach to tourism.

GUERRILLA HUMANITARIANISM
This is hands-on holiday activism, such as beach clean-ups or distributing essentials to those in need.