World Turtle Day

Did you know it’s World Turtle Day tomorrow – May 23rd?

The annual day was created to help celebrate and protect turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats around the world. It is sponsored by American Tortoise Rescue (ATR), a nonprofit organization for the rescue, rehabilitation, adoption and protection of all species of tortoise and turtle.

Experts predict the complete disappearance of these creatures within the next 50 years. Tourism has a large role to play in ensuring the long-term protection of these creatures. As resorts have appeared along pristine coastlines, turtles and their nesting grounds have simultaneously been disappearing.

What can you do on holiday to help?
Do not go on the beach at night - you may disturb a turtle trying to nest or step on a hatchling
Do not use torches or flashlights on the beach at night - it can distract hatchlings on their way to the sea. If you are staying near the beach, ensure your lights are turned off after dusk, or ask your hotel to.
Do not buy any turtle products
Clear your sunbed and umbrella off the beach at night and don't leave any litter. It can obstruct the mother or trap the hatchlings, and plastic bags can in the sea be mistaken by turtles for jellyfish and ingested.

Read more about turtles and tourism here or view our turtle conservation holidays here.

Restoration accommodation...the rest is history

One of the greenest ways to create a new hotel can be not to build one at all but to instead, sensitively restore and renovate an historic old building for tourist accommodation. Read more about staying in a restored building here. Should old buildings be converted for travellers to stay in or should we respect their current usage? Have you stayed in an accommodation with an unusual history? Let us know by leaving a comment below...

Trail blazing families

Taking your family to far-flung destinations can be a daunting prospect, but there are many who have blazed a trail before you. Read independent reviews from families that have taken the plunge in Asia, Africa and Latin America in our trail blazing families article here. Are you a new parent? Have your kids grown up and gone on to take their own adventures? Let us know your experiences by leaving a comment...

Natural Preserve for Endangered Sea Turtles in Mexico Threatened by Development

I was told today how the last private preserve for nesting beaches for endangered sea turtles in the Los Cabos area of Mexico is being threatened by a land dispute between the founder of the environmental group, ASUPMATOMA (Association for the Environment and the Marine Turtle in Southern Baja), and a property developer.

This is a sad story, particularly as the area consists of more than three miles of pristine shoreline and is a lifeline for the endangered sea turtles which have already lost most of their habitat in the Los Cabos area to hotels and resorts that now cover the shoreline, as well as become victims of illegal hunting and fishing, beachfront lighting and pollution.

We have fourteen turtle conservation projects around the world.

For more information about ASUPMATOMA, or to get involved, you can visit http://www.savetheseaturtles.org/

responsibletravel.com action day!

We at responsibletravel.com tend to talk a lot about what travellers can do to benefit their travel destination and we like to offer advice on the best way to minimise impacts and how to support conservation projects. But we’re not all talk and last week we braved the rain to stop talking and take some action... Read about our volunteering day here.

Why wilderness is the new luxury

For some, a hotel with a flat screen TV and Sky is luxury, but an increasing number of people leading very hectic, urban lives put a premium on tranquility, wide open spaces, abundant nature, and privacy from other people. For them wilderness is the new luxury...

Read the full article here and let us know how you feel about taking a wilderness experience!

Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2008

Justin Francis invites your nominations for our Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2008, which celebrate the future of travelling in a sensitive, sustainable way - that benefits local people and destinations. Make a nomination and you could even win a holiday for 2 to India!

We need your help!
There are 13 categories this year including, for the first time, Best Responsible Cruise Operator. The cruise and ferry industry has received a great deal of attention recently concerning its impact on local environments and our aim is to encourage and reward positive and innovative changes.

Last year, we received more than 1,700 nominations from the public for tourist ventures across the globe. You are our eyes and ears – and conscience.

Do you have a favourite hotel or tour operator, in the UK or abroad, that you think is leading the way in this kind of tourism?

Perhaps you have visited a destination which particularly struck you in its commitment to responsible tourism?

Do you know someone who works in the tourism industry whose passion for thoughtful travel shines through?

We would love to hear from you before our deadline of Monday 16 June.

Read more about the launch here or nominate in the awards here.

Planning a trip but don’t know where to start?

Do you feel daunted by the prospect of planning your next holiday - overloaded with information, destinations and glossy images? We have compiled a few simple steps to guide you and help you find out what is the right trip for you. Take a look at our guide on choosing the right holiday here and let us know if you have any tips of your own.

10 myths about responsible travelling

Many people perceive responsible travel to be about paying a lot of money to stay in a mud hut on a deserted island somewhere in the middle of nowhere. We set the story straight here and we'd love to hear your views...