You can still stay in your comfort zone.

There has recently been an increasing trend in travel (versus tourism), especially amongst the younger generation.

More and more people are participating in volunteer abroad projects through programs such as International Student Volunteers (ISV) and the Peace Corps.

The average age for a Peace Corps volunteer is 28 years old and at least 90% have at least an undergraduate degree.

International Student Volunteers is a similar, though much shorter program for college students to participate in. It involves only two weeks of service followed by two weeks of being a responsible tourist during an adventure tour.

However, the Peace Corps and even International Student Volunteers is an extreme example of practicing social responsibility in tourism.

Websites such as responsibletravel.com offer alternative ways to travel responsibly. It offers categories for types of travel (i.e.: honeymoon, adventure, cultural, luxury, short breaks, etc.) in order to satisfy your travel needs.

I recommend exploring different avenues such as responsibletravel.com that offer deals and itineraries while still promoting eco-tourism. This site coordinates lodging at eco-friendly lodges and hotels that will help sustain the local economy in the country that you would like to visit.

I stayed at a family-owned hotel, called Casa Bonita, while in the Dominican Republic. Certain family-owned hotels such as Casa Bonita are even more beautiful than resorts because it is in a quiet, isolated city and still offers great amenities.

Here are some pictures I took of Casa Bonita during my stay in August:


(Photos by Sapna Patel)

Practicing responsible tourism does not have to mean foregoing a relaxing vacation. It does not require volunteering or even living like the locals if that is not what you want during your vacation. It can simply mean spending your hard-earned money at a local business and on local food.

Maybe the next time you plan a vacation, you will choose to utilize websites such as responsibletravel.com in order to become a responsible traveler.


Sources:

http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=about.fastfacts

http://www.responsibletravel.com/

http://www.isvonline.com