As members of AITO we recognise that in carrying out our work as a tour operator we have a responsibility to respect other people's places and ways of life. We acknowledge that wherever a tour operator does business or sends clients it has a potential to do both good and harm, and we are aware that all too often in the past the harm has outweighed the good.

All tourism potentially has an environmental, social and economic impact on the destination involved. We accept, therefore, that we as a tour operators should aim to be responsible in all our dealings on each of these three levels. To help us to do so we have proposed a set of guidelines intended to help companies we deal with, customers and local suppliers recognise their common responsibilities to:

For a number of years now AITO has been aware that the biggest environmental impact of travelling is in fact the flight: for example on a trip to India, each passenger is responsible for releasing nearly 2 tonnes of the global warming gas Carbon Dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.

Many AITO operators support ‘carbon balancing’ initiatives. A number of organisations calculate the amount of CO2 generated on a flight and give the traveller the opportunity to offset their CO2 emissions by investing in projects which lower carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Examples include reforestation programmes where CO2 from the atmosphere gets absorbed by the canopy, providing low energy light bulbs to poorer households, developing community-based hydro-electricity and new cooking fuels.

We encourage clients to follow suit and fly 'climate neutral'.

Pax Travel supports the Reduce My Footprint (RMF) programme that helps you estimate your carbon footprint and take action to reduce it by funding carefully selected projects in destinations. For further information visit www.reducemyfootprint.travel

Language: hello, thank you & goodbye!
Know some lingo! Learning a few words of the local language is a great way to break barriers: greet shopkeepers, waiters, drivers, clerks, etc. It is equally important to say your thank-yous and goodbyes.

Local Customs: another time, another place
Religious customs and local traditions vary enormously around the world and play a large part in the local way of life. It is important to familiarise yourself with the local people’s dress codes and thought patterns, and recognise them; the local concept of time is also likely to be less hurried than your own. Remember – you are the visitor, and by showing respect you will be respected and appreciated yourself!

Packing
Keep your packaging down to a minimum and avoid disposable goods. Waste disposal facilities can be limited and recycling non-existent in many parts of the world. Eco-friendly soap gets our thumbs-up.

Gifts & Presents
You may make special friendships and experience generous hospitality when abroad. Gifts that are evocative of your home country such as postcards and photographs make ideal presents – check with your 'handy hints' leaflet for any specific tips about the area you are visiting.

Souvenirs & Shopping
Avoid buying souvenirs that exploit wildlife or threaten endangered species. Buying local souvenirs helps the local economy; whilst it is often customary and even fun to haggle, stop once you have got a reasonable price: the low price you achieve may only be due to the desperation and poverty of others.

Wildlife and Animal Welfare
Avoid disturbing wildlife and damaging their natural habitats. Take care not to touch coral reefs and do not feed animals or fish. Stay quiet when viewing animals on safari.

One of the joys of travelling is the spectacular variety of wild plants and shells you will see. These should remain in their natural environment, so avoid picking any. It is also illegal to import some plant species. Items from ancient civilisations may still be found or bought in countries such as Peru and Turkey. Although they may appear discarded or available to buy, leave them where you find them.

Begging
Don’t give out sweets or money, especially to children. Giving will only teach them that begging is rewarding and can undermine parental authority. It is far better to interact with children. Cat’s cradle, frisbees or simply exchanging drawings or photos can be more fulfilling and fun for both you and the children. Though begging is the sole source of income for many of the world’s poor you may wish to consider that giving money to charities can often offer more long term help to a far greater number of people.

Litter
To state the obvious, the world is full of it and you don’t want to add to it yourself! Beyond that, however, it’s up to you to decide how strongly you should feel about other people’s litter: many walkers, for example, are happy to pick up litter along the trail. It’s your call. Remember, however – many countries do not have adequate litter collection, never mind recycling or waste reduction schemes; so the less you create, the better. Where plastics are not recycled, you might consider taking a water bottle or filter and purifying your own water; this, of course, needs to be weighed against the fact that drink sales can play a vital part of the local economy.

Photos: think before you click
People in colourful local dress always make good subjects for photographs, but think before you snap. Many people, for whatever reason, do not like being photographed. Always ask permission before taking photographs.

Water: pollution & usage
If it is necessary to wash in streams or rivers, do not use detergents or other chemicals. There are a number of eco-friendly soaps available for travellers. Remember, it may be someone’s drinking water further downstream. Use water sparingly. To reduce detergent use in hotels, please don't send all your towels to be washed everyday. Most hotels now indicate that you should leave used towels separately from unused ones before you leave each morning.