| Read up on the countries you plan to visit - the welcome will be warmer if you take an interest and speak even a few words of the local language |
| Think small when booking a holiday - for example bed and breakfasts, village houses and locally owned accommodation benefit local families |
| Travel like Gandhi - with simple clothes, open eyes and an uncluttered mind (Rick Stevens) |
| Ask to see your tour operator's responsible travel policy |
| Help the local economy of developing countries by buying local produce in preference to imported goods |
| If bargaining to buy an item, bear in mind that a small amount to you could be extremely important to the seller |
| Realise that often the people in the country you are visiting have different time concepts and thought patterns from your own, this does not make them inferior, only different |
| Instead of the western practice of knowing all the answers, cultivate the habit of asking questions and discover the enrichment of seeing a different way of life through others eyes |
| Use public transport , hire a bike or walk where convenient - you'll meet local people and get to know the place |
| Remember that man travels the world in search of what he needs and returns home to find it ( Moore
1916) |
| Use water sparingly - it is precious in many countries and the local people may not have sufficient clean water |
| Find out where the locals go when they have time off. Visit the main sites but get off the tourist trail too |
| Don't discard litter, take it home with you. Waste disposal is a major expense in poorer countries |
| Respect for local cultures, traditions and holy places earns you respect . For example, ask permission before you photograph local people - in some countries it can cause offence |
| Spend time reflecting on your daily experience in an attempt to deepen your understanding. It has been said that what enriches you may rob and violate others |
| Do not buy products made from endangered species , hard woods, shells from beach traders, or ancient artefacts (which have probably been stolen) |
| Pack small gifts from home as gifts for your hosts - ask your tour operator to ask the local community what would be of most use to them |
| If you really want your experience to be a 'home away from home' it is foolish to waste money on travelling |
| When you get home drop your tour operator a note to let them know how you got on |
| Enjoy the memories! |
WCL