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Responsible Tourism

HELPING TO CREATE A GREENER AND HAPPIER ECUADOR

As is true throughout the world, in Ecuador tourism has both positive and negative impacts on the local environment, nature and people. Growth in tourist numbers brings more money into the economy of this developing country but at the same time puts an increasing strain on the very same forests, animals and people that tourists come to see.

We therefore believe that it is the responsibility of all tour operators and agencies here to promote and encourage eco-friendly practices amongst their clients and employees, as well as taking an active role in enhancing the positive impacts that tourism can have in Ecuador.

At HAPPY GRINGO we take the following steps to support local communities and the economy, protect the environment, and recycle waste:

	ECO-TOURS - we actively promote the very best eco-tourism projects in the country such as Kapawi and Yachana rainforest lodges, and the Bellavista cloudforest lodge. We have also designed our own special 1 week Responsible Traveller tour that visits the best of the smaller, less known eco-tourism projects in the Ecuadorian Andes, and from which we donate US$25 per person to a local charity.

	RECYCLING - although Latin America is sadly lagging behind when it comes to recycling we did successfully recycle paper, glass, aluminium and plastic waste from our office in 2007. Unfortunately the recycle bins have since been removed by the local council after the pilot scheme ended but we remain active in campaigning for their return. We continue to actively recycle paper in our office.

HELPING POOR COMMUNITIES - we collect used clothes in our Quito office for donation to the small farming community of Porvenir de Mocha, to whom we have also donated spanish childrens books to their school library, and encourage volunteers to contact Voluntarios de Occidente (VDO) to help directly in this community.

Since 2007 we have also funded the Christmas Gifts campaign for the Porvenir de Mocha community and helped to organise their childrens Christmas party.

We have also donated tours as prizes for the fundraising events of the Bruce Ecuador Street Children Project and for Andean Bear Conservation.

All of your donations and support to these wonderful causes are very welcome!!!

LEAVING NO FOOTPRINTS - we inform all of our Galapagos clients about the important National Park Regulations and encourage them to always understand, respect and help protect the fragile ecosystem that they are visiting - local guides often forget to do this and tourists therefore cause damage to the environment due to lack of awareness.

Both John and Eva (the founders of Happy Gringo) are members of the Galapagos Conservation Trust through whom they have also adopted a sea-lion pup and baby tortoise.

To further our green initiative we are also off-setting the carbon emissions of our Happy Gringo minivan used in daytours as well as the electricity use of our office. CanopyCo, an Ecuadorian based organization, are doing some fine native tree reforestation and development work in Ecuador - see their link below. If you would like to offset the impact of your trip to Ecuador or Galapagos then please ask us for further information.

SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY - we support by employing skilled local people at highly competitive and fair wage rates. At least 75% of our office staff and 100% of our drivers, guides, accountants, lawyers and cleaners are native Ecuadorians. We also work together primarily with Ecuadorian suppliers and tour operators.

We are always open to new ideas and initiatives about responsible travel and sustainable tourism so please contact us if you have any thoughts or brainwaves that you think might help.

We also recommend the following links for further information about travel-related conservation:

	Galapagos Conservation Trust - an excellent organisation raising awareness and funds for conservation in the Galapagos National Park. Donate directly or adopt a tortoise!
	Rainforest Alliance - raising funds to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods in poor and remote areas of the world.
	CanopyCo - a great little site that allows you to offset the negative effects of greenhouse gas emissions caused by your travels with the positive effect of planting trees in Ecuador.