What does “responsible travel” mean on Responsible Travel?
On Responsible Travel, “responsible travel” means holidays designed to support local people and preserve nature, with the claim that this makes the trip more enjoyable rather than less. The site was founded in 2000 and describes itself as the world's first and largest responsible holiday company. Its stated idea is that holidays supporting local people and places bring you closer to both.
The core idea
The homepage carries the line: “Our holidays are more enjoyable because they do good. They support communities & preserve nature - which gets you closer to both.”
So the proposition is not sacrifice. It is that community benefit and nature protection are part of what makes a holiday good, not a tax on it.
Founder Justin Francis OBE frames it in his welcome message: “Our idea is that holidays that support local people and places bring you closer to both and are more enjoyable.” He also points to customer reviews as evidence that travellers agree.
How it shows up in the holidays
The site lists around 6,000 holidays and over a thousand wildlife trips across more than 120 destinations. The responsible angle appears in the holiday types and in individual trips rather than as a separate category.
Relevant holiday types listed on the site include:
- Locally run — trips operated by local businesses
- Wildlife — nature-focused trips, including conservation work
- Volunteer travel — trips with a volunteering element
- Flight free — holidays that avoid flying
- Rail and Overland — lower-emission travel styles
- Accessible — trips designed for travellers with access needs
- Vegan & vegetarian — plant-based food options
Featured trips show the pattern in practice. For example:
| Holiday | Responsible element |
|---|---|
| Borneo small group tour | Two weeks immersed in the wildlife and culture of Sabah and Sarawak |
| Southern Madagascar tour | Lemurs, baobabs and beaches, with time off the beaten track |
| Maldives conservation cruise | Snorkelling in search of whale sharks while assisting local conservation experts |
| Cycle the Douro Valley | Cycling and wine tasting through a UNESCO wine region |
| Self drive South Africa | Independent travel through Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route |
The Maldives cruise is the clearest example of the model: travellers take part in conservation work alongside local experts rather than simply visiting a protected area.
Why the site says it matters
Two claims run through the homepage:
- Supporting local people and places brings you closer to them. The benefit is framed as belonging to the traveller as well as the destination.
- Doing good makes the holiday more enjoyable. The site does not present responsibility as a compromise on quality.
The founder’s welcome also notes that around 200,000 customers have travelled with the company, and invites readers to check reviews for confirmation.
What this means if you are choosing a holiday
If you want a trip where community benefit and nature protection are built into the itinerary, the site’s filters for Locally run, Wildlife, Volunteer travel, Flight free and Rail are the fastest way to narrow the 6,000 holidays. If you mainly want a conventional beach or city break, the responsible framing is still present but less central to the trip itself.
The site can be contacted by phone on 01273 823 700 after 9am to plan a holiday with its travel team.