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Responsible Travel
Our aim is to inspire young people to travel responsibly and become active global citizens of the future.
Our Promise
Just as our life changing journeys have developed the thousands of students who have travelled with us over the last twenty years – we too have grown. We have reviewed, researched, questioned, and ultimately adapted to an ever-changing world.
We are incredibly proud of the work we have achieved over the last two decades, to ensure our programmes have always benefited our participants, the communities they are visiting, and the planet – but it’s time to go further.
We do not doubt others may have louder voices, bigger budgets, and flashier campaigns, but what we’re in no doubt of, is our dedication and commitment to getting this right. We know we’re not perfect, we recognise there is work to be done; but we also know that real, meaningful change cannot happen overnight.
Of all the journeys we’ve taken, possibly none are more important than this one, as we follow our own guiding principles of innovation, collaboration, and kindness, to become an altogether more sustainable organisation.
What do we mean by sustainable?
The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) states that sustainable tourism should:
- Maintain a high level of tourist satisfaction
- Ensure a meaningful experience
- Raise awareness about sustainability issues
- Promote sustainable tourism practices
At Outlook we are committed to re-shaping our offering to teams to guarantee every expedition meets these criteria. Through ensuring our service-learning opportunities are meaningful, justified, and beneficial, for both our teams and the communities we visit; by making the most of our UK Leadership Development Phase to educate our teams about their role as responsible travellers – and ultimately global citizens; and by addressing our environmental impact and looking at innovative ways in which we can mitigate this.
How are we going to do this?
In 2015, world leaders agreed 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that would lead to a better future for all; tackling poverty, inequality, and climate change by 2030. We understand the impact tourism can have on these goals – both directly and indirectly. We have reviewed the products we offer to align and contribute to these goals going forward, ensuring our visits leave a positive impact on the host communities, the planet, and our teams.
The very nature of the travel industry means we cannot hide from the reality that our experiences come with a carbon footprint. But by working with like-minded organisations to navigate these challenges we are committed to finding genuine solutions. Our first step on this journey was declaring a Climate Emergency with Tourism Declares and becoming one of the founding signatories and launch partner of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism.
Next, we needed to take stock and understand our own carbon footprint, so we can take steps to reduce it. So we appointed a sustainability partner - Positive Planet - to help us along the way.
And so, the journey continues…
We know the road ahead is long with obstacles to navigate along the way, but we’re excited about the future and helping to make it a better one for all. Join us on our journey by keeping up to date with our progress and reading related articles over on our journal.
