Conscious Travel says it’s seen a demand for adventure travel over ‘fly and flop’ holidays including destinations where locals want tourists to come
Long gone are the days when holidays were just about just sitting in an all-inclusive holidays; nowadays, increasing numbers of Brits are seeking adventures and once-in-a-lifetime experiences on their getaways.
However, there’s a fine balance between exploring a new far-flung destination, without wanting to contribute to overtourism issues that many destinations are currently facing. (For example in the Canary Islands there have been anti-tourism protests, with locals calling for more support for infrastructure, including restrictions on holiday rentals).
That’s where companies like Conscious Travel come in. Founded by Nathan Stubbs three years ago, the company’s mission centres around ‘positive tourism’, organising trips for intrepid explorers who want experiences and time with locals, rather than just sitting on a lounger by a pool all day.
Ben Oakley, Travel Experience Executive at the firm, told the Mirror that they’re all about “finding places where tourists are welcome and people are getting really excited about it”. They also handpick local suppliers and boutique hotels when they’re creating itineraries for their clients, in a move away from big resorts and package breaks.
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He explained: “For us, the way we try to encourage and promote positive tourism is to be working with boutique hotels. They’re obviously a lot smaller and I think the guests get a better experience as well.
“It’s also about using good local suppliers. We’re making sure that the money that is being spent there is going to the right places. You know, there’s not a big player who is taking a cut of it. Ultimately, I think that’s a better experience for our clients as well as they’re getting really stuck in and involved with the locals. That’s going to create a lot more memories than a package tour, which is what we’re about essentially.”
Ben is no stranger to adventure travel, having recently spent six months travelling around South America and ticking a host of countries off the bucket list including Colombia, Argentina, Chile and Bolivia.
No matter what sort of getaway you’re on, there’s one thing he always encourages holidaymakers to do.
He explained: “We always encourage people who are doing a tour to get stuck in and speak to the locals. Even if you don’t necessarily speak the language, it’s amazing how much you can actually communicate with people and get involved. For example at local stores, it doesn’t cost much and it’s nice to buy little trinkets here or there, and chat to the locals.
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“Usually, it’s the experience that people have with others, rather than the place they’re going to see. We catch up with people and they say, ‘Oh we met these amazing people here, and their family was so cute and we had an amazing chat and they shared a meal with all of us’. They’re often the stories people talk more about than the amazing mountain views.”
When it comes to the types of trips that Brits are requesting, he has seen a shift in requests for boozy getaways and ‘fly and flop’ breaks, in favour of meaningful travel experiences. “It’s great for us, because it’s more exciting planning an adventure trip to the likes of Costa Rica or Norway!” he quipped.
Their team creates bespoke itineraries for clients whether for a honeymoon, long weekend or family holiday, offering various options depending on a person’s budget and ‘must-have’ experiences, and working with locals to find adventures that are off the beaten path. “When you’re actually working with people on the ground, every time you catch up, you’re learning a new thing about the country,” Ben added.
You can find out more on conscious-travel.co.uk.