Responsible tourism to gain popularity in 2019

As the new year begins, travel experts feel responsible tourism or travelling for a cause is likely to gain momentum among Indians in 2019.

"Travellers including mostly the millennials, in India as well as globally, consider themselves equally responsible for the disaster and duty-bound to reverse it. This year we will see a spurt in the number of responsible travellers demanding for sensitive travel packages as well as sustainable operators to ensure a guilt-free tour. They will take the centre stage in 2019," Cox and Kings Group CEO Peter Kerkar told PTI here.

Plastic-free travel, voluntourism, sustainable and green tours are predicted to be extensively used terms in the travel space, he added.

Echoing a similar view, FCM Travel Solutions - Indian Subsidiary of Flight Centre Travel Group, Australia, managing director Rakshit Desai said with growing awareness and a need to give back to the community and environment, there are citizens across the world that are waking up to 'Voluntourism'.

"We believe that 2019 will see growing commitment and support from Indian travellers for such tours. They usually travel solo with strong positivity and cherish the enrichment that volunteerism brings. The volunteering activities could range from environment cleaning, helping locals from a calamity or disaster, staying in eco-friendly hotels among others," he added