A responsible approach to travel

Tourism is one of the most important and largest industries in the global economy and employs more people worldwide than any other. For those of us privileged enough to travel we take on a responsibility to aid people relying on tourism for their daily needs and to treat their home and country with respect. At on the go tours we believe travel should be a rewarding experience for you, as well as for the local people we encounter and that preserving the natural state and beauty of the areas we pass through is essential.

We operate a 10 day - Eco Egypt tour that combines touring at some of Egypt’s best-loved sights and the chance for participants to help the environment and people of Egypt, with special initiatives including spring-cleaning the Nile and more.

At all our destinations, we aim to ensure that the benefits of tourism reach the right places, by employing local tour leaders and frequenting where possible locally owned hotels, shops and eating establishments. We employ only local guides not just for their local knowledge but to help provide much needed employment. We believe that this helps to foster a sense of national pride, as well as ensuring our money reaches the local community.

The responsibility lies not just with the tour operator but also with the traveller and we provide the following framework to encourage our passengers to be responsible travellers.

We focus our responsible tourism initiatives in several key areas:

Change for Children

A few Rupees, Yuan or Egyptian Pounds, it all adds up. on the go provide passengers with an envelope to donate their unwanted local currency, to our Change for Children initiative in Egypt, India and China. We also donate half the proceeds from our eco egypt tour.  This money is put to good use, purchasing clothes, educational supplies and other much needed items for underprivileged children.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has constructed 2,500 war cemeteries and plots, erecting headstones over graves and where remains are missing, inscribing the names of the dead on permanent memorials. In order to support this noble cause, on the go tours makes a donation to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on your behalf for every ANZAC package booked.

TCD Trust - Tourist Community Development Trust

The TCD Trust is a non-profit trust set up in South Africa which consolidates the fundraising and social investment efforts of companies within the South African tourism industry. Playing a leading role in community involvement, TCD trust works on range of sustainable projects. For every one of our passengers travelling to South Africa, on the go makes a donation to the trust.

Climate Care

Possibly the single most environmentally harmful impact of travel is the CO2 emmissions from international flights. on the go are proud to work with Climate Care, encouraging all our clients to offset the harmful CO2 emissions of their international flights and for all flights that we take ourselves, we make an appropriate contribution to Climate Care.

TOFT - Travel Operators for Tigers

on the go tours are members of TOFT, pledging a contribution for each of our clients that travel on a wildlife tour in India with us. Travel Operators for Tigers campaign is aimed at those within the nature travel industry and all visitors to India’s wildlife parks, advocating and supporting a more responsible use of national parks and tiger reserves, in order to save the forests of India and its tigers.

AITO: 3 RT (Responsible tourism) stars

Through our active involvement with a variety of organisations promoting better practise in tourism, the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) has awarded us three RT (Responsible Tourism) Stars. on the go tours works very closely with AITO, which has produced Responsible Tourism guidelines based on a number of important objectives for its members.

Green tourism and responsible travel are key concerns for AITO and its members. Each potential member's sustainable tourism credentials are examined before they may join, to ensure sustainability and that local cultures and the environment are treated with the utmost care and respect. As members of AITO we recognise that the destinations we provide holidays to, are the life blood of the industry and that they need protecting with a responsible travel and sustainable tourism policy.

AITO is the first tourism industry association to incorporate into its business charter a commitment to responsible travel and green tourism. Sustainable travel guidelines for its members based upon 5 key objectives:

• To protect the environment – its flora, fauna and landscapes
• To respect local cultures – traditions, religions and built heritage
• To benefit local communities – both economically and socially
• To conserve natural resources – from office to destination
• To minimise pollution – through noise, waste disposal and congestion