Greatway Tour’s Responsible Travel Policy

We advocate green, healthy, sustainable and responsible travel.

We live in a wonderful world, full of beauty, charm and adventure. If you are willing to open your eyes to explore the world, you will find that this journey full of endless adventure and surprise. The diversity of the world brings us together, giving us the opportunity to explore, integrate and experience the beauty created by different people and cultures.

As travelers, respect for the world we live in and the diversity that makes us different will enhance your travel experience. Whether you go to tropical beaches, noisy cities, or quiet villages, you will definitely benefit from the trip and win respect among people.

We compile and distribute this "Responsible Travel Manual" for tourists, which will make your trip as beneficial and happy as possible, whether for yourself, for the people you meet on the road, or where you go.

No matter where we go in the world, responsible travel attitude is indispensable for us. In other words, we should travel in a way that is respectful and beneficial to the residents, culture and environment of the destination, which is also an important part of responsible travel. As the old saying goes, "let the Himalayas change you, not you change the Himalayas."

About travelers

- Respect for cultural differences

Knowing the traditional culture, customs, religion, body language and eating habits of the destination in advance, including the social environment, is the basis for respect and understanding, so that you can look forward to your future journey and avoid unnecessary conflicts.

The employment of local guides and the consumption of hotels, restaurants and shops run by local people can provide a variety of job opportunities for local people.

During the trip, try to know and understand the local culture and residents, contact and communicate with local residents, and learn a few simple local dialects in advance. This is the best way to start friendship.

We should understand the destination from various perspectives and avoid prejudice to the culture of the destination.

- Etiquette and dress

Try to wear clothes that meet the local standards and characteristics, and respect the local culture and etiquette. For example, when visiting or passing through African tribes, you should first obtain the permission of the local leaders or authorities, and do not enter at will. For example, in Muslim countries such as Iran, even in summer, the length of a girl's jacket should cover her hips. Try not to wear clothes that can expose her ankles, such as shorts, skirts, capris.

- Photography and video

People may be more sensitive to photography than you think, especially in some ethnic minorities or remote areas. Before taking photos, please try to get the consent of the subject. If they refuse your request, it is better to take back your camera and respect them!

In addition, please do not try to exchange money for photos, because it has proved that this will induce begging behavior of local residents. However, sometimes, being photographed by tourists is a source of income for some people, so it is very important to ask in advance. If you are lucky enough to be allowed to take photos, please try to send back some photos to them after the trip.

People like to see themselves in photos, so your shooting behavior becomes a two-way communication, rather than simply "asking" for a beautiful memory. When you visit again, remember to send your blessing.

- Handouts and donations

Please do not give money, stationery or candy directly to local children, because it will induce a "begging culture". Charity itself has established an unequal relationship between travelers and local residents. In this relationship, travelers are pure "givers". Charity behavior can only lead to the "recipients" begging for more material gifts with poverty, and can not help the recipients solve the poverty problem through their own efforts and the strength of the local community.

If you still want to help the local people by donating, you can provide long-term and effective help to the poor by supporting local charities or livelihood projects. Stationery such as pens and notebooks should be sent to students through schools or teachers, because only in this way can children know that they need to go to school to get these things. And giving gifts directly to those who are unable to buy, it's also very disrespectful to the parents of their children.

In addition, gifts can be given to the local residents in an appropriate way, or as return of the host's warm reception when visiting the residence. For example, Egyptians are crazy about Chinese balm.

About friendship

If you are lucky enough to receive a warm invitation from local residents, accept it boldly! This is the best time to promote mutual understanding. For example, taking time to drink tea and chat with them can give you a glimpse of the local people's daily life, learn about the local culture, understand the local people's attitude towards life, as well as a happy time and a series of laughter. In turn, it is also an opportunity for them to learn about you. Of course, don't forget to send back some photos when you go home, and don't make promises that you can't keep.

About travel destination consumption

Tourists can take economic benefits by patronizing local restaurants, supermarkets and buying local products, while avoiding the shortage of local goods caused by excessive purchasing.

Local cuisine is a must-have part of the trip! We strongly recommend that you try the local cuisine, which not only makes you feel more real about the trip, but also supports the local community; do not eat dishes made by rare animals or endangered species.

Buying souvenirs directly from the hand makers instead from local shops.

Don't buy goods made of rare animals and endangered species! The vast majority of these wildlife products are sold illegally. At the same time, your purchase will stimulate the local illegal wildlife trade. Please do not buy the following products: Turtle products, coral, snake skin, shatushi (made of Tibetan antelope skin), ivory products, etc.

Pay attention to the local laws on the purchase and export of antiques.

Be careful not to buy goods that may be made by child labor.

When it comes to bargaining, sometimes you can use your art of bargaining when shopping. But please also remember the following points: understand the local bargaining habits, buy goods at a reasonable price; but at the same time, pay attention to the suitable margin, because your own gain is often the loss of others; politeness, patience and firmness, rudeness will not only let you lose cheaper prices, but also lose friendship; Once you have agreed on the price, don't go back on it, only if you really intend to come back later.

About travelers and local environment

No matter where you go, travel will have a certain impact on the local environment. But you can try to minimize the impact and offset it by participating in projects that maintain ecological balance or even improve the ecological environment.

- Accommodation

When staying in a hotel during the journey, try to do the following:

Turn off the air conditioner, TV and fan when you leave the room or do not need to use electrical appliances. Try to cut off the power supply of the TV instead of maintaining it in standby mode.

In some countries, toilet paper and tampons are not allowed to be thrown into toilets because the local sewage treatment system cannot handle non excreta. Ignoring this may cause toilet blockage or even excreta overflow.

Choose environmentally friendly hotels, such as hotels that use renewable energy.

If not necessary, the towel provided by the hotel can be used many times without changing and cleaning every day.

- Means of transportation

Try to choose public transport. Using public transport facilities in some countries you'd better not to occupy seats or facilities for special people.

Turn on the air conditioning in the vehicle only when necessary.

- Water in travel

Save water at all times, even in countries with sufficient water resources, because water purification projects need to consume energy, excessive water use will lead to water level drop and cause further pollution.

Try to take a shower instead of a bath.

Don't let the water flow directly. When the water requirement is reduced, adjust the water output accordingly. Turn off the faucet when brushing teeth and applying shower gel shampoo.

During self driving travel, excessive car washing should be reduced. Vehicles should be cleaned before departure, and interior compartment and windows should be kept clean during travel.

- Garbage problem and waste reduction in travel

Travelers are advised not to use plastic bags provided by any store and reduce the frequency of using plastic bags for other purposes (such as garbage collection, waterproofing, etc.).

In most cases, drinking water is supplied during the trip. It is suggested that tourists bring their own water bottles to reduce the consumption of bottled water as much as possible, so as to reduce plastic bottle garbage.

When camping, try to use reusable food utensils instead of tin foil, plastic bags, disposable plates, cups and knives.

Dispose of garbage responsibly. If you are not sure that the nearby dustbin will be cleaned regularly, take the garbage to a place where it can be properly disposed of.

Don't litter cigarette butts, but put them into the dustbin or garbage bag. It is suggested that smokers should bring their own portable cigarette case. The film box is a small container which is convenient and easy to remove the smell.

Food waste (including apple cores, etc.) should not be thrown into the trees or overboard, but should be thrown into the dustbin. For example, orange peel can take 6 months to decompose completely in a suitable climate, which will affect the environment in a long time. In addition, food waste will poison wild animals and attract fierce animals to human activities. As a result, many national parks ban littering food garbage freely.

Travelers can collect garbage during hiking, scenic spots or other areas and dispose of it properly after the hike, making the local environment more beautiful than before.

When you take a boat, you should take the garbage to the shore for disposal. Don't throw it out of the boat or hide behind the rocks.

- Historic sites in travel

Do not touch the ancient inscriptions, because the grease, acid and dirt on your hands will corrode the inscriptions.

Do not turn on the flash when taking photos, because the light will damage the murals and other historic sites.

Don't pick up rubble, fossils or ceramic fossils, they're all part of the landscape.

Walk along the repaired path and don't run around.

Never climb or climb over historic sites or walls.

About wildlife

Note: Here "animals" refer to birds, marine animals, reptiles and other general animals, while "wild animals" refers to any animals that have not been domesticated, including elephants in cages and cetaceans in the aquarium.

It is suggested that the activities involving wild animals should be reduced as much as possible and precautions should be taken:

Do not watch animals after training unnatural entertainment performances, such as dolphin performance, circus animal performance, etc.

Do not swim with captive dolphins or other aquatic animals, which may cause harm to tourists and wildlife themselves.

Do not dress up wild animals as photographic props, such as dancing grizzly bears, performing monkeys and any act of holding animals for photos.

Do not make specific sounds to attract animals, such as clapping hands, whistling, or learning to sing birds. This will affect the animal's behavior and life patterns, and make them scared or even dangerous.

Don't touch wild animals. Human beings may be attacked by animals or infect each other with viruses. Most wild animals have unpredictable behaviors and are not used to being close to human beings. Therefore, frequent touching will cause great disturbance to animal habits and cause them to be unable to live normally.

Do not feed wild animals, such as throwing food out of the boat during sightseeing, using food to attract animals, or leaving food in campsites or picnics. Feeding will disturb the natural predatory pattern of animals and make them dependent instead of learning predatory skills. The animals who are used to being fed will run to the places where human beings live to steal food and invade crops and hunt livestock and poultry, causing a lot of trouble.

Don't pick flowers and plants, pick up fossils, stones and shells. The natural environment should be protected from damage, or there will be nothing left one day. Picking plants or parts of plants may threaten the life of the whole plant.

Don't buy unsustainable wildlife products, including corals, tortoise shells, ivory, hippo teeth, elephant fur, shells, wildlife fur and hardwood. These are endangered species. Buying these commodities will stimulate more wildlife hunting.

Travel Advices

- About hiking

It is recommended to be familiar with local laws and regulations on hiking. To avoid damaging the environment, the following general recommendations should be adhered to:

Where there is an existing path:

Focus on the trail; line up in the middle of the trail, even if the ground in the original environment is wet or muddy.

Where the path has not yet formed:

Walk in a scattered way to avoid repeated footprints forming trails; avoid the places where the traces of man-made destruction appear at the beginning; walk directly on the vegetation only when there is no other choice. When crossing a field or planting area, try to get the owner's consent and line up side by side and walk carefully along the edge.

- About camping

Camping has a very significant impact on the environment, travelers should try to reduce the damage to the environment. Choice of camp:

Centralized use of existing camps.

Control the scale of the camp and concentrate on the area without plants.

If you camp near the river, try to camp in the downstream of the water source of local residents to avoid polluting the water source.

Camp in the original area or wild trees, pay attention to regular replacement of the camp, to avoid the formation of large camping traces or trails on the land.

If there are dwellings or other campers near the camp, lower the volume.

- Outdoor toilet:

If there is no fixed toilet in the camp, dig a pit. Here are some instructions for toilet construction and tent use:

The pit must be dug at least 30 meters (100 yards) away from the water source and as deep as possible. Before digging on soft soil (such as sandy soil), pour some water on the ground to make the soil hard and prevent subsidence.

Bury feces after going to the toilet.

If possible, collect, incinerate and bury used toilet paper.

Dig as few holes as possible, fill one and dig another.

- Campfire:

Lighting fires only during celebrations or when necessary, because they consume natural resources, cause air pollution and plunder the local people's limited coal resources. There is no convincing evidence that campfires must be used for heating and lighting, and other methods can easily be found to achieve this.

If you need to open fire due to cooking, you can choose a prepared outdoor gas tank and stove head, because it is not sure whether the wood comes from rare species, and charcoal is not necessarily an environmentally friendly fuel.

If necessary, materials should be taken from the dead and fallen trees, and the branches should not be broken, because the branches that appear to have withered may only be dried out or go into dormancy.

Pay attention to control the fire.

Fire in a previous fire or a built fire site.

Only using paper products as ignition materials or burning in fire, materials containing a small amount of plastic will produce toxic smoke when burning.

Pay attention to fire hazards and comply with local fire regulations.

When leaving the camp, bury the ashes of the campfire to ensure that the campfire has been extinguished and the camp is restored to be clean and tidy.

- Garbage disposal in Camping:

Incineration: paper and cards.

Landfill treatment: vegetable and food waste.

Take away treatment: plastic, glass and cans.

Check all rubbish in the camp before leaving, including bottle caps and cigarette butts.

Find and use local recycling agencies. (Note: in national parks and some places specially stipulated by local laws and regulations, all garbage, including vegetable food, should be taken away. Foreign food waste may cause disease to animals and attract animals to approach the camp.).

- Camping water:

In ecologically fragile places, water should not be taken from the spring unless it is necessary.

If there is no solar water heater, reduce the supply of hot water for personal grooming because more fuel will be consumed.

Turn off the tap when soaping the shower.

Waste water, such as dishwashing water, should be dumped 30 meters (100 yards) away from the water source.

Do not use non degradable soap in lakes or streams. Degradable products should be purchased and used.

It doesn't pour into the oily water.

In a large container with water to wash dishes, it uses less water than washing.

- Travel safety

This may be the best time for those who love to travel. Visa open, convenient transportation, you yearn for a destination, the next step is just to set out. But no one can deny that with each departure, the unknown destination is waiting for us, in addition to the beautiful encounter, there are unexpected security problems. There is no absolute safety, but absolute caution must be taken. In order to reduce the unexpected situation during the journey, it is recommended to make the following preparations:

Try to avoid going to war-torn or unstable areas. Seeking stimulation or irresponsible independence will not do you any good. It is also irresponsible to your family and friends. Don't think anyone should pay for your actions, including embassies and consulates abroad.

Take appropriate health and safety precautions, both before and during travel.

Understand how to get medical treatment and assistance in case of emergency, and under what circumstances should the embassy or consulate in your country be contacted.

Get into the habit of buying travel insurance before you travel. Usually, a good travel insurance is more reliable than any friend who is far away from home.

Travel tips

1. Do more homework before traveling to understand the religious beliefs, culture, taboos and values of the destination.

2. Learn and use some local languages as much as possible. Don't worry about making a fool of yourself. A little humor can quickly shorten the distance between people.

3. When going to some destinations with significant cultural differences, we should know in advance whether our daily body language has a special meaning in the local area.

4. Support local industries, eat local food and use local public transportation, which can help you integrate into local life and understand the living conditions of local residents.

5. Think twice about everything. Take the conservation of rare species as an example. Perhaps you eat in restaurants where this species is used as food, and when you shop in the shops selling products around the species, you may unconsciously accelerate their extinction.

6. When purchasing souvenirs, try to buy local handicrafts to support local industries, and at the same time, we should also grasp the scale of counter-offer.

7. Respect the requirements of local religion and culture for wearing, and carefully choose clothes, especially swimsuit.

8. Ask for their permission before taking pictures and videos of the characters, and try to send a copy of your works to them after the trip to share the happiness.

9. Don't give alms to anyone easily, whether it's a gift or money. Spending money to support local schools, clinics or other development projects is often more constructive.

10. Don't take anything but photos, leave nothing but footprints - take care of the local environment like you love your home.

11. When you return home from your trip, consider how to contribute to the place that gives you beautiful memories.

12.Smile - be a calm, optimistic and friendly traveler.

Responsible travel

Although "Responsible Travel" is a seemingly serious topic and should be taken seriously in essence, it does not mean that we lose the pleasure of travel by doing so. Instead of reading the rules literally, all we need to do is to think further, to understand the destination in a different way, or just to adjust our travel habits.

Travel in a more responsible way may bring more unexpected fun and significance - whether it is to be a guardian of natural resources, reduce the impact of low-carbon travel on the environment, choose a qualified eco travel agency to go deep into the destination community, or integrate learning and public welfare into the travel, all of which can give the destination and the people there a positive impact.

In fact, responsible travel makes your trip more useful and interesting, and it's much easier than you think.

Low carbon travel in another way

For most travelers, the fast and comfortable way of travel is usually the first choice - long-distance travel by plane, cruise, and short-distance travel by self driving.

However, due to the consumption of carbon based fuels, these modes of transportation will produce a certain amount of carbon dioxide, which is known to have adverse effects on the earth's climate. In fact, slowing down the pace of our travel can help reduce energy consumption, thereby reducing the environmental impact of travel on the planet.

If conditions permit, try hiking, cycling and other low-carbon travel methods, slow down and enjoy the trip.

Walking and hiking

From urban streets to historical sites, from marshes and wetlands to alpine meadows, from lakes and oceans to glaciers and snowy mountains, from grassland and deep forest to mount doomsday Measuring the world with your feet, every step you take is to know the planet in the most primitive and friendly way. Countless hiking routes are found in every corner of the world, and it's great fun for everyone, whether it's novice or top Alpine climbers, wilderness enthusiasts or urban explorers.

Riding

The famous global cyclist Heinz St Ü CKE said that cycling is the perfect way to see the world, because it is slow enough to let people savor every country, and it is fast enough to travel long distances in a limited time. Step on a bicycle and join this reliable travel companion to climb mountains and mountains on your own, or experience famous roads in another way, such as Ocean Road in Australia, desert road in Egypt, grassland road in Mongolia or snow mountain highway in Karakoram.

Nowadays, bike sharing can be seen in more and more cities in the world, such as London, Paris, Copenhagen Walk through the streets in the most grounded way, shuttle in the local people's life, and gain more travel fun.

Railway Travel

On the one hand, traveling by train can reduce the carbon footprint, and it is also a way to experience the perfect combination of nature and human engineering wisdom. The Siberian railway across Eurasia, the Hokkaido snow country train crossing the forest sea and snow fields, the "pride of Africa" in Africa, the European railway train with a long history and jointly operated by nearly 30 countries, and the less and less green train in China These moving scenery on the railway are good reasons for you to choose railway travel.

Diving

For many diving enthusiasts, diving into the ocean with gear is the most wonderful part of the trip. Most of the planet we live on is covered by the blue ocean. It's like coming to another world, a vast and mysterious world. When you finish the course, you start to jump into the ocean with your gas bottle on your back, wander around famous diving spots around the world, and see whale sharks, hawksbill shells, dolphins or groups of Sea Wolves, then you will understand how important it is for human beings to live in harmony with nature.

Nowadays, there are more and more Chinese diving schools all over the world. They help Chinese tourists understand the local diving environment and arrange diving schedules. Bali, sibadan and the Great Barrier Reef explore the world beyond land in the most environmentally friendly way. In the endless and colorful underwater world, they cherish the earth that depends on for existence.

Sailboat

Unlike the "water giant" - a luxury cruise ship, a light sailing boat is more environmentally friendly. A perfect sailing trip requires just the right natural wind and the skillful sailing skills of the operators. It will not pollute the marine environment, but also harvest exciting scenery along the way.

Similarly, if you can choose to take a boat tour of the lake and try to avoid taking a motorized boat with high energy consumption, it is better to try to get on a canoe and paddle across the picturesque water surface.

Doing public welfare is more meaningful than the journey itself

In the process of travel, we should spend some time to participate in public welfare activities as tourists, whether it is to participate in the protection of wild animals and plants, or to help the destination to improve the health and education conditions. We should use our power as the destination to have a good impact and help the people in need.

At the same time, your harvest must be different than that of ordinary tourists. Usually you can go deep into a place or community, not only can you see different scenery, but also can establish a deeper relationship with local people and make local friends.

It's important to plan ahead of time before you put enthusiasm into action. There are many public welfare projects that require you to submit an application a few weeks or months in advance. In addition, you need to spend some time doing homework, making a good action plan according to your time, energy and other actual situation, and knowing which public welfare organizations have good reputation and which public welfare activities can participate in. Besides the website, youth hostels are also good for obtaining relevant information Place.

If you want to maximize your energy, remember to choose a project suitable for your specialty. If you are good at English, you can teach children English. Animal and plant enthusiasts can volunteer in national parks. If you have a medical background, you can put them into the public welfare work of rural hospitals Even if there is no specialty, as long as you have passion and strength, you can also find service opportunities similar to the reconstruction of backward areas.

As for those projects that seem to be "challenging", let it go. They will not only fail to help, but may also bring trouble to themselves and the local people. If you can't stand mosquito bites, don't sign up for the jungle program.

After the public welfare travel, sharing is also a very important link. Your attitude when you tell about this experience will often affect your friends around you. Your true feelings can infect them, so that more people can enhance their awareness of public welfare and even guide them to participate public welfare travel in future.