Responsible Tourism

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

Travel Inn Tours & Travel is firmly committed to preserving our fragile environment. All tours follow a strict eco-code that involves everyone, starting from the office, to our clients, the adventure staff on field and the local community. When developing and manufacturing our products we are always looking for more environmentally friendly alternatives.

WE PLEDGE TO ...be a partner in conducting responsible and sustainable tourism with minimal impact on the physical, cultural and social environment of the area. Moving towards the task outlined in the above pledge we have to conserve and protect our environment on all fronts. In the following pages we have endeavored to extensively outline industry specific guidelines. These measures have to be adopted sooner or later by the tourism industry in a positive and pro active collaboration with the Indian Government.

Why conserve ? We all want to survive. To do that we all depend on the earth's resources for our basic needs. If resources are no longer available, then we are not only threatening our own existence but also that of future generations and the wildlife with which we share this planet. Unfortunately humans have not been looking after the earth's resources carefully enough; instead we have been using them without consideration for the environment or future needs. We are in danger of destroying the natural systems that are providing those significant resources. The time has come when we have got to look at changes in lifestyles because, not only are we gambling with our own survival, but also that of all the other' species on earth.

How can we conserve ? This can only be achieved by living sustainable. Sustainability is a key word for the 1990s and for many people this will mean a significant change in both attitude and actions. Everyone must understand the effects that their activities are having on other individuals, other communities, other nations, future generations and other species. The internationally recognized text, Caring for the Earth states that "sustainability is an ethic based on care for each other and the Earth." Development should not be at the expense of other communities or later generations, nor threaten the survival of other species. The benefits and costs of resource use and environmental conservation should be shared among people who are poor and those who are rich, and between our generation and those who will come after us.

TREAD SOFTLY The Indian Outdoors are a fragile environment. They are also becoming increasingly popular with people who are learning to appreciate the natural values and the recreation opportunities available. The increasing numbers of visitors is having an effect on the area’s natural and cultural heritage. Mushrooming construction, expanding campsites, bacteria in creeks and rivers, erosion, deterioration of walking tracks(some are even being turned in to motor able roads) and the destruction of local architecture, giving way to ugly, modern structures, have all become more common in recent years.

Fortunately some visitors and companies have adopted the ethic of minimal impact recreation. We can minimize the damage to the natural environment by learning to tread softly and this reduces the need to place restrictions on visitors. Without it we run the very real danger of "loving our natural areas to death". By learning to tread softly, we can minimize the damage to the natural environment. Reduce the need for track and campsite closures, or even worse have them turn into built up resorts, and tarred roads.
We have compiled a series of codes covering a range of adventure and recreation activities. The codes contain common sense information to protect the natural and cultural environment and encourage safety.

GUARDIANS OF KASHMIR We take seriously our role as 'guardians of the Kashmir' so whilst contributing to the development of mountain adventure in Kashmir we are committed to protecting the environment that we work in and act as responsible tourism leaders. We ensure that all our treks cause minimal environmental impact, that we act respectfully towards the local culture and wherever possible make sure the local community shares the benefits of trekking and tourism.

FOLLOWING POINTS SHOULD BE FOLLOWED FOR RESPONSIBLE TOURISM :

Take permission from the local people before photographing them or their property.
Put your rubbish in the garbage bins and give the organic waste to your guesthouse or some other people who have animals to feed.
Don't waste and pollute the water.
Keeping all pollutants and garbage away from watercourses and put them at the disposal site .
Try to avoid plastic bottles and plastic bags it already bans in Kashmir.
Prefer dishes made from local products and which are of organic.
Try to use of bio-degradable and natural products such as soaps and detergents.
Buy local products for snacks like Kulcha, Kashmiri Nan, Kashmir biscuits.
Use ecological soap and wash yourself a little away from

WATER PURIFICATION ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK

CLEAN WATER- We all know we can't drink the water in developing countries because it might make us sick from any number of microscopic critters which could cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps or worse. Most people buy bottled water which has huge environmental impacts as well as being expensive and possibly unhealthy. What to do? Travel prepared to clean your own water or use water in containers provided by hotels and operators if they have it. WHY?

To avoid creating a trail of plastic water bottles everywhere you go
To ensure the safety and supply of your water
To save money and time

IT'S EASY: There are many bottles you can choose from. We love Liberty Bottles. There are also many ways to clean your water which fall into three categories: electronic, chemical and mechanical.
Example of electronic: STERIPEN

A small light weight device that cleans the water with ultra-violet light
One Steri-PEN cleans 8,000 bottles of water. One charge of the battery will last for one 10-14 day trip.
The technology is proven and safe
Cost: $65-140
Cost per bottle of water: .01centsnew link

You can purchase on the TAP
website. (www.travelersagainstplastic.org)

Example of chemical: POTABLE AQUA TABLETS

Proven effective
Simple to use
Takes about 35 minutes to take effect
Cost: $6-8 per bottle of tablets
Cost per bottle of water: .27 cents

Example of mechanical: GRAYL- The Water Filtration Cup

Works like a coffee press
16oz of clean water in 15 seconds
Easy to use- no sucking or squeezing, pumping or batteries
Cost: $69 for the cup and $39 for a purifier attachment
Filters flavor, odor, particulates and many heavy metals (i.e. lead, arsenic, chromium) and chemicals (i.e chlorine, benzene, chloroform) plus:
Filter (included): 99.99% of bacteria (i.e E.Coli, Salmonella) and 99.94% of protozoa (i.e Cryptosporidium, Giardia)
Purifier (optional): 99.999% of bacteria and protozoa plus viruses (i.e. Hepatitis A, SARS)- ideal for 2nd and 3rd World travel
300 uses per replaceable Filter and Purifier

You can purchase on the TAP website. (www.travelersagainstplastic.org)
Use Promo code GRAYL-LOVES-TAP and Grayl will donate 5% to TAP.
For more information go to TAP www.travelersagainstplastic.org . Please consider signing the pledge not to use plastic water bottles while traveling. And then be the change you want to see in the world.
Why bother?

Better for the environment

24 million gallons of oil are needed to produce a billion plastic bottles.
Plastic bottles take 700 years to begin composting.
90% of the trash in the ocean is from plastic.
Eighty-six percent of single-use plastic bottles become landfill or litter in the US.
PET is made from crude oil. PET bottles produce toxic emissions at rates of 100 times that of glass.

Cheaper

Bottled water can cost as much $10 per gallon. We are paying 2 to 4 times the cost of gasoline for a product that is virtually free.
If tap water cost the same as the cheapest bottled, monthly water bills would come to $9,000.

Health

Antimony, which is found in PET plastic bottles, in small doses can cause dizziness and depression; in larger doses it can cause nausea, vomiting and death.
This is increased by storage in heated areas. Where was your bottle of water before you got it?

DO THE MATH
In the first two months of 2012, 8.1 million U.S. citizens traveled abroad according to data released by the U.S. Office of Travel & Tourism Industries. 8.1 million travelers over two months =48.6 million a year (estimated) 3 bottles a day for one 2 week trip= over 3.4 billion plastic water bottles used.
Reuse bottles at home as well Three corporations dominate the bottled water market in the US. Pepsi has 13% of the market and Coke has 11%, both of which resell treated tap water, by putting it through an energy intensive process called reverse-osmosis. This process takes more energy than turning seawater into drinking water.

San Francisco's tap water comes from Yosemite National Park and is so pure the EPA does not require it to be filtered. A bottled of Evian water at $1.35 could be refilled with San Francisco tap water once a day for over ten years before the cost would total $1.35.
Be the Change. TAP

the river as the water is used for drinking in many villages.
Be sensitive to when and where you take photos and video of people.
Do not urinate or defecate near water or in the fields.
Try to make as little environmental impact as possible in this part of India and help to sustain the indigenous populace.
Respect the natural environment. Never touch or harass animals. Always follow designated trails.
Support conservation by paying entrance fees to parks and protected sites.
Never buy crafts or products made from protected or endangered animals.
Do not leave any litter along trekking routes or on camp sites.
Take your shoes off before entering a Mosque, Shrine, Temple & Monastery.
Refrain from smoking on the premises of Mosque, Shrine, Temple & Monastery.
Don't use flash photography inside Mosque, Shrine, Temple & Monastery as the flash tends to damage the color of the Ancient wood carving and paper maiche work inside.
Wear sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen at all times, as the sun is extremely sharp at this high altitude.
Do not make public displays of affection.
We use & encourage natural spring water wherever possible during our trips. Else, we buy it from local vendors.
Get the benefits of tourism to the local area and use their services and produce that in-turn supports local business. Not only it generates employment but it also contributes to the overall development of the region.
Hire local people for cooking, cleaning & Transport.

J&K : An environmental disaster in the making. What can we do right now?

1. Stop using mineral water bottles

Carry a hard water bottle on you. The locals drink straight from the tap and so do i. Its clean spring water and very sweet. Also as Indians we are blessed with strong stomachs. However if yours is the sensitive one, you can refill your bottle from the various refilling water points in Leh. Try not filling from huge mineral water dispensers (as that again is just bottled water) and look for local purified water refill points.

Dzomsa (means the meeting point in Ladakhi, popularly known as the water refilling store) introduced me to the sustainable lifestyle thought process. Most of this draft is inspired from his self written Dzomsa manual.

Its a pity that we travel so far to get there and then return without even tasting the water of the land. What kind of a traveler does that? And yes its just Rs7 to refill a liter of water here, which is UV treated, thus very safe for drinking.

The inside of a Dzomsa shop, where you can easily spend a lazy hour or two, sipping freshly made sea buck thorn/ apricot juice. Its also a great place to sell your books and pickup some new ones, left by other travelers.

You can also drop your used mineral water bottles here. The ones in very good condition are thoroughly washed and dried. These are later put up to be refilled. Cleaned, dried and ready for refilling water bottles. Saving someone from buying new/ creating more waste.

2. Stick to dry pit toilets

This should be your number one reason to pick any hotel/ guest house to live in (unless you have a medical problem and cant squat). Not only you would save clean drinking water to flush your waste and pollute the river but also add to the humaure Ladakhis use to fertilize their fields. Its a common myth that dry pit toilets are messy/ stinky/ dirty: do look at the photo in the album to know more. One cant find dry pits in the city, but when one goes to places like Ladakh, a green opportunity like this shouldn’t be left untapped.

Squat, do your thing, put some sand and you are done. No flush, no water pollution, only rich manure!

Dry Toilet/ Compost Pit

3. Walk more

When in Kashmir, Leh & Jammu (the main hub) just ditch the car and explore on foot. Everything is closeby and the weather makes it possible to do long walks to the musem, river, lake, Handicraft Market, fort, palace, stupa and more.

4. Choose your trekking operator responsibly

When looking for a trekking operator, ask what do they do with the non- biodegradable trash? Most operators just leave everything behind or burn it on the campsite, leaving major traces of their previous night’s camping in the shape of wrappers, juice boxes etc. Only the biodegradable stuff (kitchen waste) is supposed to be buried deeply in a pit, a little away from the campsite, everything else has to be carried back to residing destination and binned in the big city bins/ given to the morning or evening garbage truck service.

5. Shop/ buy responsibly

Local organic products i.e made in J&K only, is my most recommended souvenir. It ranges from Pashmina, Sik on Silk Carpets, Papermachie products, Wood Carving, apricots, apricot oil, apricot scrub, dried apple and more. This purchase not only allows us to bring back the real flavour of Ladakh to our home/ friends but also repairs our broken relationship with local farmers. As most of the youth in J&K has chosen not to take to farming, the entire burden of tending to the land (the organic way: which is very demanding) has fallen upon the elderly parents. Every time you buy sustainable locally grown you persuade local farmers to grow more of it and not fall for the government supported chemical fertilizer schemes/ subsidies!
A genuine organic shop would sell most of their produce in brown paper bags and not in deep packaging. Polythene carry bags are banned in J&K but you can go the extra mile by saying no even to the cloth bags. When a tourist repacks his bag before leaving J&K, all the multiple cloth carry bags make it to the bin. So carry your day back/ rucksack to shop.

6. Choose ethical laundry options

Either do your own laundry using a biodegradable soap or find a laundry shop that ensures the water is diverted far away from the river. As the ground water here is non existent or far below where no amount of seepage would reach, diverting water to the land is the best option.

7. Dine In

If you dont have the time to dine in on a vacation, then whats the point of taking time off? Choose to dine in than packing food in disposables unless you carry a tiffin box on you.