SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL - 1% FOR THE PLANET

Sustainable Travel International Globalization has worked to increase accessibility of destinations around the world that the average traveler would never have imagined visiting 30 years ago. Now, anyone can go anywhere they desire with a simple plane flight and maybe a connecting train or bus. Small native villages are exposed to tourism just as much as the big urban centers of the world.

Unfortunately, more tourism to these once unknown destinations isn’t always the best thing for the local community. That is where Sustainable Travel International saves the day. They have a very clear and active goal in helping travelers tread lightly and give back while on the road: “Promoting responsible travel and ecotourism, supporting sustainable development, and helping travelers and travel providers protect the cultures and environments they visit.” 



Current Priorities of Sustainable Travel International:

· Education and training: Travelers, hospitality-related businesses, and other stakeholders need to be educated and trained to help establish sustainable travel as the norm rather than the exception. Everyone should be taught the importance of giving back and supporting socio-cultural sustainability.

· Sustainable Tourism Eco-certification Program (STEP): Sustainable Travel International has led by example but is working to create a set of standards and certification programs to promote more businesses that are doing the same thing. STEP will soon be a unique indicator that travelers can use to determine what service provider is following the sustainable travel principles.

· Travelers’ philanthropy: It is important that the travelers go above just reducing their impact on the local environment and culture and give back financially to programs that are working to promote sustainability as well. Sustainable Travel International has partnered with Global Giving to give travelers an option for giving directly to projects that will have a major impact on the local community and environment. Over 90% of the funds go directly to the project instead of general operating expenses that most inefficient charities run on.

· Empower destinations: The tourism industry needs to take a new approach to how they operate and think more about the sustainability and future of their resources. Although it will be one of the most difficult aspects of the industry to change, Sustainable Travel International has taken the task head-on since 2002 by providing results-driven strategies and support to help empower destinations to promote sustainable tourism in their area.

While corporations around the world are struggling to reduce their negative impact on the environment and local communities, Sustainable Travel International has been leading the tourism industry in the right direction. The term “social responsibility” has been thrown around a lot in board meetings everywhere but there are very few companies who actually take that term to heart. It isn’t easy standing up for what is morally right, especially since that usually is not the easiest and cheapest way to conduct business. But, Sustainable Travel International excels when it comes to core values and morals, and the world of travel will forever be positively changed because of them.

Now every time a traveler steps off an airplane, they will be more cautious about treading carefully, supporting local businesses, and giving back to offset their small but significant amount of impact on the environment.

1% For the Planet has an equal appreciation for helping reduce our footprint on the planet and we wanted to lead by example in the textiles industry by giving back. Our business is based on socially responsible principles and all of our products are sourced from quality farms that care for the animals and land they work with. But, we feel it is important for us to give back even more, because even we still need to offset some of our footprint. We decided to participate in the “1% For the Planet” program that helps to financially support great organizations like Sustainable Travel International. Every time you make a purchase we automatically give 1% of the total sale to “1% For the Planet,” who then directly forwards it to the organization of your choice. We have picked three different organizations that we firmly believe are doing great things for our planet and when you check out you will be able to choose which one you would like your one percent to go towards. A dollar goes a long way in these organizations and now with the tough economy they need the financial assistance more than ever.

By shopping at AlpacaCollections.com, you are supporting Sustainable Travel International and the decrease in every traveler’s carbon footprint.