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| Company type | Online travel agency and publisher |
|---|---|
| Industry | Tourism |
| Founded | 2001 in Brighton, Sussex, England |
| Headquarters | Brighton, England |
Key people | Justin Francis (British entrepreneur), Chair and Founder; Richard Skinner, Joint Managing Director; Tim Williamson, Joint Managing Director |
| Products | Responsible holidays, travel guides and editorial |
| Website | www.responsibletravel.com |
Responsible Travel, founded in 2000, is one of the world’s largest green travel companies[1] offering over 6000 responsible holidays from over 430 holiday providers around the world. In 2023 the company celebrated its 200,000th customer. It is also a travel publisher and has published over 700 destination guides as of March 2024.
The company sells holidays designed to maximise the benefit and minimise the harm involved in tourism[2] and was the first of its kind in the world.[3] Holidays are screened for their compliance with environmental, social and economic criteria with an emphasis on grassroot initiatives and local providers.[4] The company asks travellers to leave reviews, rating their holidays and the social and environmental credentials from 5 to 1.
Responsible Travel was founded in 2001 by Justin Francis (British entrepreneur) and Professor Harold Goodwin, Director at The International Centre for Responsible Tourism.
Dame Anita Roddick of The Body Shop was one of the first investors,[5] believing that: “Responsible travellers want experiences rather than packages, authenticity rather than superficial exoticism and holidays that put a little bit back into local communities and conservation. This is the future of tourism.”[6] The company introduces travellers directly to responsible travel and tourism options including accommodation owners and holiday providers.
According to Simon Calder, Travel Editor at The Independent, “the ResponsibleTravel business model overturned conventional travel thinking. Instead of intervening between the travel enterprise and the tourist, as most agents do, Francis urges them to talk directly.”[2] In 2010 www.responsiblevacation.com was launched in the US. The company is based in Brighton, East Sussex UK. As of March 2024 there were 22 employees.
- ^ Rosenthal, Elisabeth (17 November 2009). "Paying More for Flights Eases Guilt, Not Emissions". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
- ^ a b Calder, Simon (6 April 2011). "Justin Francis: 'I want to be a challenger'". The Independent. London: Independent Digital News and Media Limited. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
- ^ "Your ticket to green tourism". The Argus. Brighton: Newsquest Media Group Limited. 24 April 2001. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- ^ Greenwood, Susan (15 July 2011). "The best travel websites ever". The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
- ^ "Roddick backs responsible travel". The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media Limited. 6 April 2001. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- ^ Amodeo, Christian (December 2002). "New Horizons: Anita Roddick, Co-Founder of the Body Shop, Is an Outspoken and Active Supporter of Responsible-Travel and Sustainable-Tourism Initiatives". Geographical. 74 (12). London: The Royal Geographical Society. Retrieved 4 December 2013.