About us : International Development : General Holidays Information : Responsible Travel Policy

Wednesday 8 February 2012

Our Responsible Travel Policy

BTCV is a charity that aims to involve people from all ages and background to take practical action to manage and care for the environment. A key mechanism for achieving this is a world-wide programme of Conservation Holidays, which offer a unique opportunity to enable individuals to make a contribution to a sustainable future for the planet. This document brings together elements of a range of BTCV policy documents, relating to responsible travel.

All BTCV holidays have a conservation or environmental value as well as supporting communities and local people to manage their local environment. BTCV volunteers not only make a valuable contribution to the environment but also gain new skills and understanding of the local environment and culture from the experience. The focus of BTCV's work outside the UK is in assisting other organisations (governments, national agencies and NGOs, and community organisations) learn from BTCV's extensive experience and skills, and develop their own locally appropriate projects and actions. BTCV's International Conservation Holiday programme is designed to support wider development work with local partners ensuring the volunteer's contribution lasts beyond their specific action.

All BTCV volunteer activities outside the UK are provided to BS8848, Specification for the provision of visits, fieldwork, expeditions, and adventurous activities outside the UK. Self-declared.

Project development

All BTCV volunteer projects are carried out in conjunction with local partners, with BTCV providing technical, leadership and volunteer management input as necessary. Partnerships are initiated by BTCV's partners and volunteer projects used to complement and enhance wider development work.

Travellers code of conduct

BTCV volunteers all receive information packs before their holiday and are invited to call a dedicated customer advice team if uncertain on any aspect of their holiday. Volunteers are joined on all holidays by leaders trained to assist volunteers to get the most out of their holiday experience.

  • Information packs contain details of BTCV's partnership with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Know Before You Go campaign. Information also highlights any issues specific to a destination, for example reducing water consumption.
  • The holiday leader facilities a travellers code of conduct by offering examples of best practice and facilitating education on issues including minimising damage to local environment, culture, and economy relevant to each destination.
  • Group size is carefully calculated to ensure positive efforts of work completed are maximised whilst minimising impact of the volunteer group at each destination.

    • Environmental

    All BTCV projects make a direct contribution through practical activity to protecting or improving the environment.

    In addition BTCV conducts an annual environmental audit, which has established a benchmark from which all activities are monitored, and standards to which all offices are working to reach. Practical implementation is achieved by:

  • All paper being recycled
  • Using LPG vehicles where possible
  • Purchasing from companies with environmental policies and goods
  • Use of public transport where possible
  • Limiting travel by using electronic communications
  • Using energy saving devices

    • Information sheets before the start of the holiday and leaders during the holiday highlight relevant environmental issues and offer best practice examples to volunteers for example providing maps, timetables and offering a public transport destination as a pickup point. For non-UK holidays, non-flying routes are researched and suggested where possible. BTCV's international staff and leaders operate a policy of overland travelling to all European destinations.

    All holidays actively encourage volunteers to participate in local visits during their holiday. These often include an aspect of education on the local environment.

    Economic

  • Accommodation varies from community halls, to homestays or family owned pensions.
  • Where possible food is sourced from locally supplied produce and ideally from organic sources.
  • BTCV volunteers are encouraged to spend their relaxation time using local facilities and resources.
  • BTCV holidays are run to improve the local environment or recreational facilities, for example footpaths. This helps local communities develop and maintain their sustainable tourism infrastructure.
  • Innovative development work by BTCV includes engaging volunteers as 'tourists' in working with local planners to develop sustainable tourism infrastructure.

    • Social

  • Information sheets before the start of the holiday and leaders during the holiday highlight relevant social issues and offer best practice examples to volunteers, for example, use of fair trade products.
  • BTCV holidays are developed with local partners and community representatives where appropriate. This consultation serves to minimise negative impacts on local cultures. This is often developed through a more complete integration into the local community, by working alongside them to achieve a conservation objective.
  • All holidays actively encourage volunteers to participate in local visits during their holiday. These often include an aspect of education on social and cultural practices.
  • By working with other similar organisations around the world BTCV has helped established an accreditation system ensuring a system of good practice in all aspects of conservation volunteering from standards of health and safety to ensuring good practice in employment procedures.

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