Bali and Java vacation in Indonesia

Planet

Tourism is steadily increasing in Indonesia, and we therefore want to ensure our groups are having a positive impact on the country, and are leading by example. We do this by recycling and re-using wherever possible, and ensuring that all waste is disposed of appropriately. We manage water consumption and reduce waste on this trip by encouraging people to bring along re-usable bottles and by supplying a large tank of fresh drinking water on our coach, available for refills.
Our in-country local partner has recently been awarded with a Travelife certification for their commitment towards responsible tourism. In order to earn this accreditation, they have had to demonstrate that they are responsible across all areas of their business from office staff and electricity use all the way to fair-pay, equal opportunities and green initiatives. On the road the Tour Leader must ensure that any local interaction is handled in a responsible way, making sure both parties benefit from the experience. Water and waste management must also be handled responsibly, by encouraging the use of multiple-use bottles and central water tanks on buses, along with ensuring litter is disposed of appropriately and recycled where possible.
As a travel company we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key, and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage.

We use a local operator to provide our accommodation and transport. We travel mainly on inter-island ferries rather than flying between the islands, this way we minimize the impact of our carbon emissions. We stay, wherever possible, in smaller, family-run hotels rather than the larger all-inclusive resorts that are common in the Caribbean.

We also eat out in local restaurants in the evenings, thus spreading our vacation spending through the local community. We also use different local agents on each island so that all the revenue for the tour is not going to one operator on one island. The local guides that we use, particularly in Dominica, which is commonly known as 'The Nature Island', are incredibly knowledgeable about caring for their environment, and they are keen to ensure that visitors leave no trace whether in the forests or on the coast.

After the devastating hurricane that hit the islands in 2017, particularly affecting Dominica, the island is starting to rebuild and desperately needs the injection of money that tourism can give to their economy. We have been working with our local supplier to ensure that they are ready to start welcoming visitors again, in a sustainable way.

In addition to the above, we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage. As well as this, we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.

As a company we support Cool Earth. Protecting rainforest is one of the most effective actions to tackle climate breakdown. CoolEarth work with indigenous communities empowering them to conserve their forest; keeping CO2 locked in.

People

In order to really be a benefit to the local people in the areas we travel to, we use an entirely local crew, the hotels we use are locally owned and we eat out at a variety of small restaurants and street stalls, thus spreading their spending wealth. We also think this gives you a better experience as you get more personal service, get that bit closer to local life and are able to sample the best of the fantastic local cuisine. After all, street food in Indonesia is one of the absolute highlights of any visit!
This trip combines some of the stand-out highlights of Java like Borobudur and Mount Bromo with some visits to some of the more rural parts of Indonesia. When visiting the rural villages we get a chance to meet the local people, learn about their traditions and daily life and interact with them in a manner which is both insightful yet respectful. We are always very sensitive to the impacts of visiting rural communities. Local people benefit from this form of tourism as it injects vital income directly into the local economy, provides education and increasing exposure about the fragile environment and ecosystem of Indonesia and provides job opportunities within the tourism sector.
One of the reasons we prefer to use local tour leaders is they can give a real insight into the local culture; anything from learning about the education system, to making sure we don’t fall foul of any taboos. It is our policy to generate business and employment opportunities in the countries we travel to by employing local people. All our leaders in Indonesia are locals and we’ve trained them all too so they are comfortable in their work and you get great service.
As a company we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of the UK travel industry body AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.