Tourism is the world’s fastest growing industry. Traveling to far flung places gives us a wonderful opportunity to experience cultures that are so different from our own. But with the wondrous joy of travel comes the responsibility of ensuring that we do not adversely affect those countries that we visit. In a nutshell, Responsible Travel is about ensuring that you, as travelers, and Niche travel, as a promoter of travel:
- Respect the local culture
- Do not inadvertently introduce new social ills and
- Promote & practice environmental responsibility in the places that we visit
- That way, you enjoy a unique and memorable experience as well as authentic cross-cultural exchange and our local resources, cultures and customs are protected

What we do
It has always been at the heart of Niche travel’ ethos to not exploit local communities’ culture and environment.
We ensure our trips are:
- Low impact on natural resources
- Respectful and observant of local customs and
- Supportive of local economies
The vast majority of Niche travel’s staff are locally employed and all our guides are, ensuring a more authentic experience for travelers, as well as sensitivity to local customs and culture. We also involve local communities in remote areas that we travel to.
We are involved in a number of initiatives and are always looking to develop more. We donate thousands of dollars annually to humanitarian causes and were the first travel company in Vietnam to offer volunteer travel. Our genuine commitment to Responsible Travel is increasingly well-known and our programs are evolving.You can get as involved as you like in our programs and other charitable initiatives in Indochina. Niche travel arrange visits to orphanage short- and long-term volunteer placements in the community, volunteer adventures, medical treks and exciting charity challenges such as scaling Vietnam’s highest mountain.

What you can do
As a traveler, you also have a role to play in continuing Niche’s efforts on your trip, which is why we have written some guidelines on Responsible Travel for you to read.
These guidelines are not intended to be overbearing but simply clear and informative. They outline the standards of behavior that we expect from everyone who participates in our trips. The guidelines exist because we are privileged to be guests in local homes and communities, plus we want to promote sustainable tourism for both the benefit of the locals and so that travelers in the future can also visit and enjoy the same experience.
When you read the guidelines, you may find yourself considering issues that might never even have crossed your mind before. The area of Responsible Tourism is not black and white, it raises some ethical questions to which there are no clear answers. But with a little preparation in advance of your trip and by reading these guidelines, you can rest assured that the only impression you will leave behind after your travels is a positive one.