Arrivals to Laos by flight decreased during this period, however the numbers here are a little misleading, only 300 vistors to Vang Vieng in the month of May. This figure must be inacurate and well below estimates! Secondly in parts of Laos year on year figures rose dramatically as Backpackers staying away from Bangkok and Thailand streamed over the border to Laos,
in reference to: Tourism sector battling through major downturn | Lao Voices (view on Google Sidewiki)Thursday, 8 July 2010
Friday, 2 July 2010
Southern Laos and the Bolaven Plateau
Looking to into visiting Southern Laos? Thinking of going to the Bolaven Plateau well there is a great new eco-resort that has just opened up in on the Plateau about 35km outside Pakse. The resort is set in a lush surroundings surrounded by coffee and tea plantations.
The climate is cool as you are about 1,000m in elevation on this volcanic plateau. There are numerous waterfalls around the resort but just actually you don't have to travel far to the closest one, you are right by it. From your bungalow just walk down the steps to Tad E-Tu waterfall here you can swim relax and enjoy the refreshig water. There are also short treks you can do from Tad E-Tu resort.
For more information about reservations or tours to the Bolaven Plateau contact us at Xplore-Asia.
The climate is cool as you are about 1,000m in elevation on this volcanic plateau. There are numerous waterfalls around the resort but just actually you don't have to travel far to the closest one, you are right by it. From your bungalow just walk down the steps to Tad E-Tu waterfall here you can swim relax and enjoy the refreshig water. There are also short treks you can do from Tad E-Tu resort.
For more information about reservations or tours to the Bolaven Plateau contact us at Xplore-Asia.
Friday, 25 June 2010
How to get to Siem Reap from Laos or Thailand
Well here is an interesting post for those interested in heading slightly off the beaten track, Xplore-Asia, through its Laos office has been looking for alternative ways to travel from Laos to Cambodia and we have found an extemely easy way to travel via Chong Sa Ngam. This border crossing is not new but not used very often.
It lies about 40 minutes from Sisaket in Thailand and the road is completely sealed on both the Thai and Cambodia sides. From the border it takes only one and a half hours to reach Siem Reap the distance is about 120km!!!
What does this all mean well certainly if you are travelling from towns in Isaan such as Ubon, Surin or Sisaket you would be looking at only about 3 hours drive to Siem Reap isn't this great!!. If you are coming from Pakse which the Xplore-Asia Laos office did the trip took about 6 hours. How did they travel well to start it is about 44km from Pakse to the Thai border at Chong Mek taking about 1 hour with Visa Proceeding (Thai Visas are free and on arrival). Then it would take about 3 hours or 200km hours to get to Chong Sa Ngam you would need to go through Ubon just directly south via town called Det Udon. After a couple of stops and toilet break and crossing the border it is only another 120 km to Siem Reap passing Banteay Srei temple on route. A new route and completely sealed all the way. Xplore-Asia (Laos) is now offering transport from Pakse - Siem Reap on this route as an alternative to traveling the route via Kampong Cham which take over 15 hours!
This poses well if traveller's are looking for alternatives to the flight from Pakse to Siem Reap. Or for those who would like to include a little of Isan in there tour program! Isan Northeastern Thailand is stunning and the people are great, eco-resorts like Kong Jiam are a perfect hideaway, and there are also some great temples to visit as an introduction to the Khmer Empire.
On another note the actual route the Khmer's travelled from Wat Phu Champasak in Laos to Siem Reap is actually only 240km and plans are underway to complete this road so in a few years the route from Pakse to Siem Reap may only take about 3 hours watch this space!!!
For more information Contact Xplore-Asia
It lies about 40 minutes from Sisaket in Thailand and the road is completely sealed on both the Thai and Cambodia sides. From the border it takes only one and a half hours to reach Siem Reap the distance is about 120km!!!
What does this all mean well certainly if you are travelling from towns in Isaan such as Ubon, Surin or Sisaket you would be looking at only about 3 hours drive to Siem Reap isn't this great!!. If you are coming from Pakse which the Xplore-Asia Laos office did the trip took about 6 hours. How did they travel well to start it is about 44km from Pakse to the Thai border at Chong Mek taking about 1 hour with Visa Proceeding (Thai Visas are free and on arrival). Then it would take about 3 hours or 200km hours to get to Chong Sa Ngam you would need to go through Ubon just directly south via town called Det Udon. After a couple of stops and toilet break and crossing the border it is only another 120 km to Siem Reap passing Banteay Srei temple on route. A new route and completely sealed all the way. Xplore-Asia (Laos) is now offering transport from Pakse - Siem Reap on this route as an alternative to traveling the route via Kampong Cham which take over 15 hours!
This poses well if traveller's are looking for alternatives to the flight from Pakse to Siem Reap. Or for those who would like to include a little of Isan in there tour program! Isan Northeastern Thailand is stunning and the people are great, eco-resorts like Kong Jiam are a perfect hideaway, and there are also some great temples to visit as an introduction to the Khmer Empire.
On another note the actual route the Khmer's travelled from Wat Phu Champasak in Laos to Siem Reap is actually only 240km and plans are underway to complete this road so in a few years the route from Pakse to Siem Reap may only take about 3 hours watch this space!!!
For more information Contact Xplore-Asia
Saturday, 5 June 2010
Cambodia's Best Kept Secret - Sihanoukville
Welcome to this weeks blog
Cambodia is well known for its Angkor Temples, The Mekong Delta and its turbulent history however, not so much is known about its 'Jewel by the Coast' Sihanoukville, a beautiful beach resort, fast becoming a world class beach destination.
Sihanoukville is located on Cambodia's west Coast near to the border with Eastern Thailand and very accessible both from Siem Riep home to the Angkor Wat complex and the capital city Phnom Pehn. This makes for a very interesting range of combinations and touring programs throughout the region.
One of the most popular itineraries to consider begins in Bangkok (Thailand), then flying to Siem Riep to visit the Angkor Wat complex, travel from Siem Riep to Phnom Pehn either by air, road or by boat along the river into the Capital City and then finally by road to spend a relaxing few days at the beach in Sihanoukville. For more adventurous travelers options available include cycling through Cambodia and combining with Eastern Thailand and crossing the border to get to Sihanoukville.
The resort itself, began life as a port town, established back in the 1950's. Since then the area developed and has started creating a world class beach destination.
Today there is a variety of accommodation to choose from including five star hotels on Sokha beach to mid range in town and beach hotels, and budget guesthouses, particularly on Weather Station Hill.
The main attractions in Sihanoukville are the beach and its relaxed pace of life, the beaches are very beautiful indeed, bright sands and clear waters waiting for you to sunbathe on and swim in.Watersports including snorkeling and scuba diving are widely availble with boat trips to nearby islands and interesting activity to consider whilst here.
Like every beach resort, choices for dining are vast and Sihanoukville offers a large variety of choice, with fresh seafood, caught daily a particular specialty including crab, prawns and ocean fish.
With the influx of foreign tourism, more westernised eateries have arrived offering familiar cuisine including Australian, German, British , Indian and Italian restaurants, making the resort a good choice for anyone.
Sihanoukville at night, offers plenty to see and do, good choice of restaurants and plenty of bars with many smaller bars staying open until the early hours, especially in the Weather Station Hill area, downtown Sihanoukville . Some of the most popular are the beach bars on Ochheuteal, ‘Serendipity’ and Victory Beaches.
Sihanoukville has remained Cambodia's best kept secret, it is still a very relaxing, traditional style beach destination, not spoiled by over commercialisation, meaning that it retains its unique Cambodian Charm and hospitality.
Next time you choose to visit South East Asia and Indochina, consider booking a combination itinerary with Sihanoukville as your beach destination or take a tour which incorporates the area, Xplore-Asia are able to tailor-make this for you, so extending your beach stay is always an option with us!
Friday, 28 May 2010
Artisans De Angkor Siem Riep Cambodia
Welcome to this week's Blog.
Cambodia is a destination rich in history, culture and religion. It has been through turbulent times in the past, with the French occupation and the Khmer Rouge revolution however, Cambodia, has managed to retain its identity and culture. Nowhere more is this exhibited, than at Artisans de Angkor, a European Union sponsored business program, producing traditional local handicrafts for sale, across Asia and around the World.
Artisans De Angkor is in Siem Riep, home to the finest examples of Khmer architecture in the country, including Angkor Wat which is the main attraction that visitors to the area come to see.
A trip to Artisans de Angkor, is well worth including in your tour to the area, as it will open your eyes and provide a real-life insight, into the nature of the handicraft making business. The company employs graduates from the nearby 'Chantiers-Écoles de formation professionnelle' a professional training school that was set up with the aim to provide skills and training to unemployed people between the ages of 18 and 25, particularly after the reign of the Khmer Rouge, to make sure Cambodian arts and culture survived and could be showcased in the future.
Artisans de Angkor was then set up to provide the graduates with an employment opportunity, providing them with sustainable employment and income for themselves, their families and their local areas.
The best way to see Artisans de Angkor, is to take a fully guided tour, with the help of your fully knowledgeable guide, you will be shown around the whole process of producing fine local handicrafts including 100% fine Silk products, such as scarfs, bags, purses, wallets, cushion covers and excellent Silk woven paintings.
Also, Artisans produces a variety of lacquer ware products including statues, ornaments and containers, and amazing stone sculptures, all which you are able to purchase and take home as a souvenir of your visit to Cambodia.
Purchasing a souvenir or two from Artisans de Angkor, contributes to the sustainable employment and income of the regions people and keeps the fine arts and cultural heritage of Cambodia continuing, for now and into the future.
Please visit our website for details of tours that include Artisans de Angkor and the Cambodian region in general.
www.xplore-asia.com
Cambodia is a destination rich in history, culture and religion. It has been through turbulent times in the past, with the French occupation and the Khmer Rouge revolution however, Cambodia, has managed to retain its identity and culture. Nowhere more is this exhibited, than at Artisans de Angkor, a European Union sponsored business program, producing traditional local handicrafts for sale, across Asia and around the World.
Artisans De Angkor is in Siem Riep, home to the finest examples of Khmer architecture in the country, including Angkor Wat which is the main attraction that visitors to the area come to see.
A trip to Artisans de Angkor, is well worth including in your tour to the area, as it will open your eyes and provide a real-life insight, into the nature of the handicraft making business. The company employs graduates from the nearby 'Chantiers-Écoles de formation professionnelle' a professional training school that was set up with the aim to provide skills and training to unemployed people between the ages of 18 and 25, particularly after the reign of the Khmer Rouge, to make sure Cambodian arts and culture survived and could be showcased in the future.
Artisans de Angkor was then set up to provide the graduates with an employment opportunity, providing them with sustainable employment and income for themselves, their families and their local areas.
The best way to see Artisans de Angkor, is to take a fully guided tour, with the help of your fully knowledgeable guide, you will be shown around the whole process of producing fine local handicrafts including 100% fine Silk products, such as scarfs, bags, purses, wallets, cushion covers and excellent Silk woven paintings.
Also, Artisans produces a variety of lacquer ware products including statues, ornaments and containers, and amazing stone sculptures, all which you are able to purchase and take home as a souvenir of your visit to Cambodia.
Purchasing a souvenir or two from Artisans de Angkor, contributes to the sustainable employment and income of the regions people and keeps the fine arts and cultural heritage of Cambodia continuing, for now and into the future.
Please visit our website for details of tours that include Artisans de Angkor and the Cambodian region in general.
www.xplore-asia.com
Saturday, 15 May 2010
The Sapa Valley Region of Northern Vietnam
Welcome to this week's blog!
Located an overnight train ride from bustling Hanoi is the remote region of Sapa Valley, home to beautiful mountains and valleys, many minority hill-tribes and fascinating street markets. An escape to Sapa is highly recommended for those looking to see real life and culture in Vietnam.
Sapa is an old French Colonial Hill station nestled amongst the highest mountain range in Vietnam, Hoang Lien Son close to the Chinese border. Sapa is well known for its outstanding natural beauty and the variety of hill-tribes people that live in the area. As a destination it offers many adventure outdoor activities, cycling and trekking are the most popular of these.
For those seeking the ultimate adventure, consider a three day trek to the summit of Fansipan, standing at 3143 meters, it is the highest peak in Vietnam, affording breathtaking panoramic views into neighbouring China. Travelling to the summit, is not the hardest trek in the world, so if you are fit and healthy and have plenty of energy, consider making this trek to the roof of Vietnam, where you'll be amongst the clouds.
Hill-tribe visits and home-stays are a very popular activity in the Sapa region. One of the most well known hill-tribes in the area is the Black Hmong minority, who frequent the villages throughout the area. They have their own culture and customs and many tourists enjoying visiting and learning about their ways of life, by taking a tour or even arranging an overnight home-stay. You will learn about farming techniques, how their wonderful garments are made and be treated to traditional hill-tribe fare and music, a fascinating experience, allowing you to immerse yourself in how simple life can be!
Home-stays are an ideal choice if you wish to have a real life experience of how these people live and work their daily lives and the people of the Hmong tribe and other minority groups are very welcoming to foreigners visiting them. Another aspect of local culture not to be missed is a visit to one of the numerous, hill-tribe markets. Each market has its own unique feel and is generally a place for the locals to get together to sell their wares and to socialize with friends and family, perhaps even meet a partner!
The largest of these markets in Bac Ha market, 80 Kilometres from downtown Sapa in the Lao Cai region, this market takes place every Sunday under the gaze of the nearby mountains and the border with China. In-fact, tribes people from all over the region and even from over the chinese border come here to barter and trade. This is very common at all of the markets in the Sapa region, a real cultural experience, where horseback is the mode of transportation of goods for sale.
A Hmong culinary specialty you may wish to try is Thang Co Blood Porridge, made from a mixture of pony and goats meat, slow cooked to produce a fine 'blood soup' served in a large hot-pot. This dish is a popular staple of the hill-tribes people in the region and is shared by everyone, using chopsticks to dip the succulently cooked meat into a spicy dip and then eaten, normally accompanied with bread, instant noodles, vegetables and herbs.
It is best to try this dish at one of the restaurants in the Sapa area, as opposed to experiencing it at one of the markets, like Bac Ha, here you will see the locals socialize , eat and wash the soup down with wine! Thang Co is very popular among the locals and warms the body in a region where temperatures and plummet dramatically in the evenings.
Cycling, trekking and even traveling by motorcycle are all very popular ways to explore the Sapa Region. Generally tourists take an overnight 9 hour rail service from Hanoi to Lao Cai, the main town in the region and then a 90 minute journey by road and dirt track to get to Sapa itself.
For a short break to visit hill-tribes and trek, 3 to 4 days is the recommended amount of time for a tour here, for the more adventurous there are various treks, cycling routes and home-stays that can be arranged for those wishing to spend longer, and a perfect combination with the Sapa Region would be Hanoi and a cruise around stunning Ha-long Bay, well known for its limestone cliffs, commonly referred to as the Gullin of Vietnam!
So consider visiting the Sapa region as part of a tour to Vietnam and indeed Indochina, Vietnam offers a fantastic mix of history, culture, outstanding natural beauty and stunning beaches, more than comparable to other Asian destinations such as Thailand and Malaysia. You would also be supporting Responsible and Sustainable tourism and growth throughout the region as a whole.
Xplore Asia offers a variety of escorted and tailor-made tour options, please visit our website and contact us for more information and to design your personalized tour.
www.xplore-asia.com
Located an overnight train ride from bustling Hanoi is the remote region of Sapa Valley, home to beautiful mountains and valleys, many minority hill-tribes and fascinating street markets. An escape to Sapa is highly recommended for those looking to see real life and culture in Vietnam.
Sapa is an old French Colonial Hill station nestled amongst the highest mountain range in Vietnam, Hoang Lien Son close to the Chinese border. Sapa is well known for its outstanding natural beauty and the variety of hill-tribes people that live in the area. As a destination it offers many adventure outdoor activities, cycling and trekking are the most popular of these.
For those seeking the ultimate adventure, consider a three day trek to the summit of Fansipan, standing at 3143 meters, it is the highest peak in Vietnam, affording breathtaking panoramic views into neighbouring China. Travelling to the summit, is not the hardest trek in the world, so if you are fit and healthy and have plenty of energy, consider making this trek to the roof of Vietnam, where you'll be amongst the clouds.
Hill-tribe visits and home-stays are a very popular activity in the Sapa region. One of the most well known hill-tribes in the area is the Black Hmong minority, who frequent the villages throughout the area. They have their own culture and customs and many tourists enjoying visiting and learning about their ways of life, by taking a tour or even arranging an overnight home-stay. You will learn about farming techniques, how their wonderful garments are made and be treated to traditional hill-tribe fare and music, a fascinating experience, allowing you to immerse yourself in how simple life can be!
Home-stays are an ideal choice if you wish to have a real life experience of how these people live and work their daily lives and the people of the Hmong tribe and other minority groups are very welcoming to foreigners visiting them. Another aspect of local culture not to be missed is a visit to one of the numerous, hill-tribe markets. Each market has its own unique feel and is generally a place for the locals to get together to sell their wares and to socialize with friends and family, perhaps even meet a partner!The largest of these markets in Bac Ha market, 80 Kilometres from downtown Sapa in the Lao Cai region, this market takes place every Sunday under the gaze of the nearby mountains and the border with China. In-fact, tribes people from all over the region and even from over the chinese border come here to barter and trade. This is very common at all of the markets in the Sapa region, a real cultural experience, where horseback is the mode of transportation of goods for sale.
A Hmong culinary specialty you may wish to try is Thang Co Blood Porridge, made from a mixture of pony and goats meat, slow cooked to produce a fine 'blood soup' served in a large hot-pot. This dish is a popular staple of the hill-tribes people in the region and is shared by everyone, using chopsticks to dip the succulently cooked meat into a spicy dip and then eaten, normally accompanied with bread, instant noodles, vegetables and herbs.
It is best to try this dish at one of the restaurants in the Sapa area, as opposed to experiencing it at one of the markets, like Bac Ha, here you will see the locals socialize , eat and wash the soup down with wine! Thang Co is very popular among the locals and warms the body in a region where temperatures and plummet dramatically in the evenings.
Cycling, trekking and even traveling by motorcycle are all very popular ways to explore the Sapa Region. Generally tourists take an overnight 9 hour rail service from Hanoi to Lao Cai, the main town in the region and then a 90 minute journey by road and dirt track to get to Sapa itself.
For a short break to visit hill-tribes and trek, 3 to 4 days is the recommended amount of time for a tour here, for the more adventurous there are various treks, cycling routes and home-stays that can be arranged for those wishing to spend longer, and a perfect combination with the Sapa Region would be Hanoi and a cruise around stunning Ha-long Bay, well known for its limestone cliffs, commonly referred to as the Gullin of Vietnam!
So consider visiting the Sapa region as part of a tour to Vietnam and indeed Indochina, Vietnam offers a fantastic mix of history, culture, outstanding natural beauty and stunning beaches, more than comparable to other Asian destinations such as Thailand and Malaysia. You would also be supporting Responsible and Sustainable tourism and growth throughout the region as a whole.
Xplore Asia offers a variety of escorted and tailor-made tour options, please visit our website and contact us for more information and to design your personalized tour.
www.xplore-asia.com
Monday, 3 May 2010
Responsible Travel and Tourism
Welcome to this week's Blog
Our theme this week is Responsible Travel and Tourism.
Many hotels, resorts, attractions , tour operations and industry suppliers claim to be eco friendly and promote Responsible Travel & Tourism, but really is everyone doing enough to justify their claims?
These days we live in a world where development in an environmentally friendly way is of the upmost importance. Tourism in the past has been seen to have had both positive and negative impacts on the world's environment as a whole, whilst creating much needed infrastructure and employment this has sometimes been done at the expensive of the natural environment.
Nowadays, because of the global warming issues we currently face, we as an industry are recognizing this and waking up to the reality, that we all must change our outlook and act with responsibility, hence this week's title, Responsible Travel and Tourism.
There are many ways you the traveler can act with responsibility on your holidays and be friendly to the environment, firstly, travel in a more eco friendly way, consider cycling, hiking and trekking as alternatives to buses, cars and trains for shorter distances. Try to choose hotels which offer eco friendly programs, where they promote the use of re-cycled materials throughout the hotel and have eco friendly programs. Some hotels have even gone as far as having their room designs based completly on recycled materials, being used to decorate and facilitate rooms and furnishings.
Responsible Travel is also about supporting the local economies and environment of the people and the places in which they live by bringing a sustainable income to the regions. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the hill-tribe villages throughout Asia and Indochina.
These people have had their own ways of life for generations such as the Black Hmong in the Sapa Valley in Vietnam. By respecting their ways, we can learn alot from these tribes people, as they too have to live off of the land and what the land naturally gives them. Encouraging purchases of souvenirs produced locally by these people, also acts responsibly, as it supports their own sustainable growth and development of their local economy.
Trying adding to your holiday adventure, by including a tour that visits Hill tribe villages, handicraft workshops, or take on the experience for yourself, and stay a few days with the locals, on one of the many authentic Home-stay programs available.
Choose a tour where the operator has a firm commitment to Responsible Travel and Tourism and their programs reflect this, such as the Mekong Discovery Trail in Cambodia, which runs tours through the Cambodian Jungles, alongside the Mekong River from the Laos Border all the way to Phnom Pehn. This program was set up to bring a sustainable income to the people in the region through tourism, and Xplore-Asia is actively involved within the operation and training for the program in this region.
Tree planting programs in Southern Laos are another aspect of Responsible and Sustainable tourism development on-going in the Indochina region. Both Cambodia and Laos offer outstanding cycling and trekking experiences too, allowing you to contribute to responsible tourism, first hand.
Choosing your operator is of paramount importance, one which cares for the environment and offers tours that actively reflect this. Now you can select your operator easily by referring to 'green travel market' a website that list Responsible Travel and Tourism operators throughout the world.
This website has been set up as part of a program organized by the Non-profit making organization 'Sustainable Travel International' whose main goal is to provide unbiased information, industry training, assistance and accreditation to the Responsible Travel and Tourism Industry as a whole, providing a recognized logo worldwide, to assure you the traveler, that the hotel, tour, product that you have bought, is up to standard and satisfies the quality and guidelines laid out, to be classed as a Responsible Travel and Tourism Operation.
Xplore-Asia has proudly recently been accepted by’ Sustainable Travel International‘as a valid organizer of Responsible Tourism Tours and programs, and over the coming weeks and months will be contributing to the development of STI’s programs with submissions and will also be listed on the Green Travel Market website, where you will find more information on Green and Responsible programs in general.
www.xplore-asia.com
Our theme this week is Responsible Travel and Tourism.
Many hotels, resorts, attractions , tour operations and industry suppliers claim to be eco friendly and promote Responsible Travel & Tourism, but really is everyone doing enough to justify their claims?
These days we live in a world where development in an environmentally friendly way is of the upmost importance. Tourism in the past has been seen to have had both positive and negative impacts on the world's environment as a whole, whilst creating much needed infrastructure and employment this has sometimes been done at the expensive of the natural environment.
Nowadays, because of the global warming issues we currently face, we as an industry are recognizing this and waking up to the reality, that we all must change our outlook and act with responsibility, hence this week's title, Responsible Travel and Tourism.
There are many ways you the traveler can act with responsibility on your holidays and be friendly to the environment, firstly, travel in a more eco friendly way, consider cycling, hiking and trekking as alternatives to buses, cars and trains for shorter distances. Try to choose hotels which offer eco friendly programs, where they promote the use of re-cycled materials throughout the hotel and have eco friendly programs. Some hotels have even gone as far as having their room designs based completly on recycled materials, being used to decorate and facilitate rooms and furnishings.
Responsible Travel is also about supporting the local economies and environment of the people and the places in which they live by bringing a sustainable income to the regions. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the hill-tribe villages throughout Asia and Indochina.
These people have had their own ways of life for generations such as the Black Hmong in the Sapa Valley in Vietnam. By respecting their ways, we can learn alot from these tribes people, as they too have to live off of the land and what the land naturally gives them. Encouraging purchases of souvenirs produced locally by these people, also acts responsibly, as it supports their own sustainable growth and development of their local economy.
Trying adding to your holiday adventure, by including a tour that visits Hill tribe villages, handicraft workshops, or take on the experience for yourself, and stay a few days with the locals, on one of the many authentic Home-stay programs available.
Choose a tour where the operator has a firm commitment to Responsible Travel and Tourism and their programs reflect this, such as the Mekong Discovery Trail in Cambodia, which runs tours through the Cambodian Jungles, alongside the Mekong River from the Laos Border all the way to Phnom Pehn. This program was set up to bring a sustainable income to the people in the region through tourism, and Xplore-Asia is actively involved within the operation and training for the program in this region.
Tree planting programs in Southern Laos are another aspect of Responsible and Sustainable tourism development on-going in the Indochina region. Both Cambodia and Laos offer outstanding cycling and trekking experiences too, allowing you to contribute to responsible tourism, first hand.
Choosing your operator is of paramount importance, one which cares for the environment and offers tours that actively reflect this. Now you can select your operator easily by referring to 'green travel market' a website that list Responsible Travel and Tourism operators throughout the world.
This website has been set up as part of a program organized by the Non-profit making organization 'Sustainable Travel International' whose main goal is to provide unbiased information, industry training, assistance and accreditation to the Responsible Travel and Tourism Industry as a whole, providing a recognized logo worldwide, to assure you the traveler, that the hotel, tour, product that you have bought, is up to standard and satisfies the quality and guidelines laid out, to be classed as a Responsible Travel and Tourism Operation.
Xplore-Asia has proudly recently been accepted by’ Sustainable Travel International‘as a valid organizer of Responsible Tourism Tours and programs, and over the coming weeks and months will be contributing to the development of STI’s programs with submissions and will also be listed on the Green Travel Market website, where you will find more information on Green and Responsible programs in general.
www.xplore-asia.com
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