Responsible Travel
About Us |
Responsible Travel
High Places takes its responsibilities to sustainable
and responsible tourism seriously.
We are aware that every trip has an impact and we do all we can to ensure that
this is sensitive to the local environment and benefits the local community. We want
our clients to appreciate and respect other countries, their institutions, traditions,
religions and heritage and we are committed to creating positive long-term
relationships with the communities and places we visit.
To ensure we meet these aims, we work with local people, using local staff and
supporting locally owned accommodation. Treks and group logistics are organised
to have minimal impact on the environment: groups are limited (max 12); wood is
only used for fuel when other resources are not available; cleanliness of water
sources is protected at all times; trek leaders are rigorous in ensuring that all litter
is removed from campsites and properly disposed of.
We uphold these guidelines on Responsible Tourism:
Protect the environment - its flora, fauna and landscapes
Respect local cultures - traditions, religions and built heritage
Benefit local communities - both economically and socially
Conserve natural resources - from office to destination
Minimise pollution - through noise, waste disposal and congestion
High Places is a member of Tourism Concern
Tourism Concern's mission is to ensure tourism always benefits the local communities
they do this through a wide range of exciting and innovative projects. From working
with communities in destination countries to reduce social and environmental
problems connected to tourism, to working with the out-going UK tourism industry
to find ways of improving tourism so that local benefits are increased.
www.tourismconcern.org.uk
High Places supports the IPPG (International Porter Protection Group)
The IPPG works to improve the conditions of mountain porters in the tourism industry
worldwide. This means porters carrying for individual trekkers, organized groups,
climbing expeditions and those who supply lodges. High Places supports
the work of IPPG and endorses its five recommended guidelines.
www.ippg.net
Responsible office practices
We also believe in being responsible to the environment here in the UK. So we try
to minimise the impact on the environment here. A sample of some of our efforts
are listed below:
All stationary is printed on recycled paper
Our brochure is printed on paper from sustainable forests
Re-using or recycling office waste
Ensuring office equipment is turned off overnight
High Places continues to support community-based projects
in Peru and Nepal.