Our Conservation Foundation

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		Our Conservation Foundation
		As part of our commitment to care for the environment, and the people and places we travel to, we have established The Leading Travel Companies of the World Conservation Foundation. The Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that supports the protection of culturally and ecologically sensitive areas around the world. Our group of companies is donating US $1 million per year to fund these much-needed conservation, community and sustainable tourism projects that will create a better world for future generations to enjoy.
	The Foundation was established as a joint initiative of leading travel companies – AAT Kings, Brendan Worldwide Vacations, Busabout, Contiki Vacations, Eastern Trekker, Evan Evans Tours, Haggis Adventures, Insight Vacations, Shamrocker Adventures and Trafalgar Tours. Foundation objectives The Leading Travel Companies of the World Conservation Foundation objectives specifically aim for: Conservation and protection of the environment, wildlife and cultural heritage sites for future sustainable tourism; Relief of poverty and the improvement of the conditions of life in socially and economically disadvantaged communities through community involvement in sustainable tourism; Promotion of sustainable tourism as a means to achieve economic growth and regeneration. To ensure every dollar goes to people and places in need, each project is carefully vetted by the Foundation’s Members of the Board. The Foundation projects In the first year, 2008, the Foundation will support a minimum of three projects with total contributions of US$1million. Conservation projects around the world are currently undergoing a stringent process of evaluation and the projects TLTC will support will be announced in 2008. What is Sustainable Tourism? Sustainable tourism considers the environmental, economic and socio-cultural impacts of the tourism industry and works to meet the needs of the present tourists and destinations while protecting and enhance opportunities for the future. Essentially sustainable tourism aims to: 1) Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity. 2) Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance. 3) Ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation. Sustainable tourism should also ensure a meaningful experience to tourists, raising their awareness about sustainability issues and promoting sustainable tourism practices amongst them. Climate Change & Carbon Offsetting The Leading Travel Companies of the World are also offering passengers the opportunity to travel carbon neutrally which helps slow climate change by paying a contribution to these independent organisations that will undertake projects on their behalf to lower the carbon in the atmosphere. For more information on carbon offsetting in your region visit:- Australasia – www.climatefriendly.com/leadingtravel United States - https://sustainabletravelinternational.org/offset/index.php?c=45 UK - http://www.cleanerclimate.com/leadingtraveluk Europe - http://www.cleanerclimate.com/leadingtraveleuro South Africa - http://www.cleanerclimate.com/leadingtravelsa Canada - http://leadingtravel.planetair.inboxfactory.net