At The Private Travel Company we are committed to making our business more sustainable and responsible. We believe that by taking measured steps to build corporate and social responsibility into every aspect of our business, we can reduce the negative effects of the travel industry on our environment, and accentuate the positive impact of tourism by working to preserve the destinations we love for future destinations.


What we're doing
We have already taken steps to make our UK office more energy efficient, to reduce the amount of paper we use and increase the amount we recycle. We have also recently begun to provide our clients with information on how to travel more responsibly. We work with a number of suppliers in the Middle East, Indian Ocean, Far East and Africa who are engaged in good sustainable practices, and we are working hard to highlight their excellent work and to encourage others to follow their lead. We support the Kudakudhinge Hiya appeal in the Maldives and we are also now working with the industry charity The Travel Foundation.


What you can do
There are a number of things you can do when you are on holiday that will help benefit local people and protect their environment, such as:

• Buying locally...
By buying locally made souvenirs, or eating and drinking in locally owned bars and restaurants, you will both contribute to the local economy and have a more authentic experience of your holiday destination.

• Removing all packaging before you go on holiday...
By removing the packaging from items you take on holiday you will help to reduce the pressures on local sanitation services and landfill. Many developing countries are currently unable to cope with high levels of waste, and do not have recycling services like we do in the UK.

• Turning off lights and air conditioning...
Decreasing energy consumption wherever possible will reduce the pressures placed on local supply and help ensure you have power when you do need it.

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Insider's Guides
For some useful background information on responsible tourism issues in the Indian Ocean and the Far East, as well as practical tips on what you can do to make a positive difference, we recommend The Travel Foundation's 'Insider's Guides', which are available for the following destinations:

Sri Lanka • Thailand



Kudakudhinge Hiya
For everyone who travels with us we will be pleased to make a donation to the Kudakudhinge Hiya appeal in the Maldives. This worthwhile charity was established to provide a safe and secure environment for orphans and vulnerable children who have been deprived of any other means of primary care. Currently, Kudakudhinge Hiya has the capacity to house 45 children, and donations will go towards much needed additional resources and expanding its capacity to 60 children.

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Climate Change
As greenhouse gas emissions cause the Earth to heat up, holiday destinations around the world are increasingly threatened by issues such as rising sea levels, damage to coral reefs and drought. The challenge we face as travellers is to balance the environmental impact of tourism with the immense benefits it can bring to these destinations and the people who live there. One way to reduce your footprint is by helping to fund emissions reduction projects through a credible carbon offsetting scheme.

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