responsible tourism

Welcome to the world's biggest industry. By the year 2010 it is forecast that more than one billion people will take an overseas holiday - and you may be one of them. The impact of tourism has already been immense and it will increase. The travel industry can bring many benefits to local communities, including an injection of cash and employment for local people, preservation of native habitats and indigenous wildlife, and cultural exchange. However, without care, tourism can also have a negative impact: destruction of natural habitats; diversion of scarce resources; disturbance of wildlife; and the violation of tribal peoples' rights.

At Charity Challenge we aim to set responsible tourism standards within the industry.

Charity Challenge has been officially recognised for our efforts in the developing world, making a positive contribution to communities in desperate need. Highly commended in the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2007, in the category of Best Tour Operator for Poverty Reduction, we were commended for our work helping to raise in excess of one million pounds for Habitat for Humanity Great Britain through our house building communitychallenges in Sri Lanka, South Africa, China and India. The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, now in its third year, aims to recognise individuals, companies and organisations in the travel industry that are making a significant commitment to the culture and the economies of local communities.  Today, communitychallenge participants have helped to build more than 400 houses, in five countries across three continents, helping those often living without access to running water, electricity or proper sanitation facilities. 

We were also commended for our work by Queens Award for Enterprise in the field of Sustainable Development, for our communitychallenge application with the following feedback:

“The company, which provides a series of inspiring team challenges that develop and motivate staff, aimed at providing assistance to the developing world and fundraising for charity, is to be commended on producing an application that shows evidence of a thorough and committed understanding of all aspects of sustainable development, both within the company itself and in its core business activities.  It is clear that sustainable development is at the heart of the business. The examiners were thoroughly impressed with the company’s commitment to social sustainability; in this rapidly expanding market, it represents outstanding performance and is an example to others.” 

"I would like to compliment Charity Challenge for the sensitive way that the local community benefit from the financial aspect of tourism such as the water supply and education system in Tanzania." 

room for improvement

We are supporters of Tourism Concern and are constantly looking for ways to improve our operations to further benefit the local communities in which we operate. As such, we welcome your thoughts on any ways you feel we can improve our responsible tourism.