Young and responsible holidays: the best ideas for this summer

Perhaps the holiday season is over all inclusive. It’s time for connection, exchange and responsible tourism. Experience is the key word: that it leaves a beautiful memory to those who travel but that guarantees a positive impact even in the lands they welcome. From this need arise various proposals in remote countries but also in Europe and in Italy, for a conscious tourism and respectful.

The Utravel Club proposal for the under 30s

«During the last lockdown we interviewed all our travelers to understand who theirs were needs and desires», explains Carlotta Gaddo, co-founder of utravelthe corporate travel startup dedicated to young people under 30 of the Alpitour World Group. «The young people responded decisively: they asked to leave for experiences capable of real connectionof contact and relationship, with the clear desire to leave a positive impact on the places visited».

From this request in March 2022 theUtravel Club offer, which became a Benefit Company in 2023 precisely because of its commitment to generate positive engagement with people and destinations. “With the Club formula we have interpreted a tourism model that favors activities authenticbased on acircular economy which sees everyone as protagonists, who arrives and who welcomes». The idea of ​​Club travel is very simple.

«In every country there is a place for overnight stays and meetings that hosts boys and girls (18-29 years old) who, however, do not have a pre-established holiday package, but can freely choose the experiences to do, always counting on the support of the Guru, who provides information, suggestions and advice». Starting from the same base point, travelers can enjoy extremely different experiences and holidays. «The principle, however, is to build proposals through collaboration with organizations, non-profit organizations and local partnerswhich allow us to offer authentic experiences without too many cultural and language mediations».

Utravel Club destinations

The destinations are 18, but continuously increasing: from nearby Europe to Central and South America; from North Africa to the Maldives. Some travel examples? The first Club with a local Guru was born in Kenya, a 26-year-old boy who grew up with a local non-profit organization. Thanks to his work, those who choose this destination can visit markets and villages on board tuk tuk together with a Kenyan guide, but also learn how to carve wood under the guidance of expert craftsmen or help women to collect seaweed of the sea which they then use to make soaps. «The boys are enthusiastic about this exclusive experience and the women are happy to be helped», comments Carlotta. «Obviously the traditional cannot be missing Safariwhich however we organize in collaboration with ethical partners, attentive to the environment, animals and people».

In the Dominican Republic, the contact person is a local girl who accompanies those arriving to visit colorful villages and shops; to get to know the families who live in the countryside; to enjoy – with respect – the Caribbean sea. One thing not to miss? “The river bath, highly appreciated by the locals who spend the whole day here with music, food and drink. It is an experience that young people do not expect to experience in the Dominican Republic, but which allows them to really get in touch with the authentic customs of the place».

Another destination rediscovered by Utravel is nearby Fuerteventura, which especially attracts surf enthusiasts. And yet, beyond the more touristy coasts popular with sportsmen, «this island still has some unexplored areasespecially in the interior, which can grant unusual and unconventional experiences».

In October, however, the new Club in starts Morocco: a trip that based in Marrakech offers experiences in the desert – even at night – but also in the mountains, deep canyons, lakes, kasbah and oasis.

Backpacker

For those who love adventurous and group travel, Travels and Mirages declines the classic journey backpacker according to the criteria of responsible tourism. You travel in groups, by public transport, you sleep in hostels, exploring unusual and new places. A real vacation from backpackerscapable of generating enrichment and authentic experiences, but with the guarantee of a tour operator behind you.

Among the proposals: a week to discover the main cities of Brittany historic, land of druids and Celtic populations, which extends into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, between the Gulf of Biscay and the English Channel; or a beautiful journey along the route of theOrient Expresson the trail of the most luxurious train in Europe, re-routed however no longer in the company of businessmen and noblewomen, but on regional and ordinary trains, to have a direct window on the places, everyday life and people who live in this corner of Europe.

WWF Travel and research cruises

And for those who seek contact especially with the nature? WWF Travel offers holidays and stays with the utmost respect for the environment and the territories. A beautiful proposal, for young people but not only, is the search cruise. These are real sea expeditions, during which the male and female travelers are involved in activities of WWF scientific research for the protection of Mediterranean megafauna. A beach holiday that is also a sailing experience together with expert WWF researchers, to learn how to observe, identify and protect the cetaceans of our seas with strictly non-invasive methods.

Grouping in a rather informal situation, having fun, studying and doing scientific insights; but also learning to get out of the comfort zone because on the boat everyone is involved in the activities on board, such as cooking, tidying up, cleaning. There are no great limits to participate (apart from tolerance to the sea) but it is necessary to know how to be flexible, because planning at sea and with animals is variable and needs to be modulated according to the weather and sea conditions. Where do we embark? Discovering theTuscan archipelagoof the Ligurian seas and of French Rivieraor aroundElba island and at Pontine Islandsfor a navigation that lasts 4-5 days.

Migrantour: another point of view

But to do responsible tourism it is not necessary to go that far. Migrantour is a responsible tourism project that offers intercultural itineraries of visits to the cities conceived and accompanied by migrant citizens. The proposal to see cities, even one’s own city, from a new point of view, was born in Turin in 2009 from an idea of ​​Viaggi Solidali in collaboration with the NGOs ACRA and Oxfam Italia, to enhance the contribution of migrations to cultural heritage and promote intercultural exchange. Viaggi Solidali proposes i tours in Turin, Rome and Florencebut the Migrantour network reproduces the same model of visits also in other Italian and European cities, such as Lisbon, Ljubljana, Marseilles, Valencia, but also Naples, Catania, Bologna, Pavia and many others.

The pillars of responsible tourism

Responsible tourism is “implemented according to principles of social and economic justice and in full respect of the environment and cultures”: this is the definition of the Italian Association of Responsible Tourism AITR. In practice this almost always translates into few good practices:

• inform the group before departure, perhaps with a preparatory meeting in person, on the destination to visit;
• provide one transparent cost sheet with all the items of expenditure, so that the traveler has the possibility of knowing the distribution of the quotas and the percentage received from the host communities. We almost always travel with one common fund;
• collaboration with local partners (associations, NGOs..) and visits to local development projects to whom a travel quota is destined;
• choice of local and km0 services: local guide; public or locally provided transportation; overnight stay with family or in small structures, often family-run; traditional family meals or in authentic establishments;
• assessment post trip.