Tourism is the world's faster growing industry. Travelling to far places gives us a wonderful opportunity to experience the local people, societies and cultures that are so different from our own. But with the wandrous joy of travelling, comes the responsibility  of ensuring that we do not adversely affect those countries that we visit. In a nutshell, Responsible tourism is something world travellers should be all aware of, particulary in the country you visit. Responsible Travel is about ensuring the travellers to be safe. And Asia Explorer Travel is a promoter of responsible travel by the Cape Town declaration on the 14th of November 2007. Responsible Travel is a form of tourism that supports cultural and environmental protection, fair benefit sharing and the alleviation of poverty. Specifically, responsible tourism, according to the Centre for Responsible Tourism (www.icrtourism.org):

Responsible Tourism:

• Minimize negative economic, environmental and social impacts 

• Generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of host communities, improves working conditions and access to the industry

• Involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances

• Makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, to the maintenance of the world's diversity

• Provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural social and environmental issues

• Provides access for physically challenged people; and

•  Is culturally sensitive, engenders respect between tourists and hosts and builds local pride and confidence.