Social Impact
Travel Guide

What is social impact travel?

This social impact travel guide will help you plan your travels so you can maximise your impact.

First, let’s discuss what social impact actually is. Generally, social impact has been tied to social enterprises. It refers to enterprises whose operations positively impact their surrounding communities. But, here at Intego Travel, we like to take this concept a bit further to encompass each one of us, as an individual.

We believe in your individual capacity to have a positive impact.

For us, social impact refers to any activity that improves the well-being and social fabric of a community. As a result, social impact travel refers to those activities you engage in while travelling that contribute to the well-being of a community. Hence the reference to ‘social’ impact.

Our social impact travel guide also links social impact travel to 9 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Namely, those contributing to social well-being. We refer to the 9 goals below.

Further, we have also included one specific area, namely BIPOC support. BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous and People of Colour. Although this aspect can fall under SDG 10 for reduced inequalities, we highlight it in our social impact travel due to the historical issues that have affected our First Nations People, Black and People of Colour.

Essentially, for us, any activity you engage in while travelling that helps progress any of the above SDGs or contributes to marginalised communities like Indigenous Peoples and Black/POC is thought of as social impact travel.

I bet some examples would help, hey? Well, keep reading our social impact travel guide for more.

What are examples of social impact travel?

In line with the above, you can make a social impact while traveling. Some examples that we propose in our social impact travel guide are included below.

✦ SDG 1: No poverty

Activities that contribute to lifting people and communities out of poverty. For example, by providing employment, basic services, tenure land rights, or essential services. Namely, education, health and social protection. Other activities also include disaster risk reduction.

✦ SDG 2: Zero hunger

✦ SDG 3: Good health and wellbeing

✦ SDG 4: Quality education

Activities that contribute to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and that promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. For example, by 1) Providing free, equitable and quality education for boys and girls. 2) Providing access to all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education (including university). 3) Contributing to upskilling youths and adults, helping people achieve literacy and numeracy. 4) Teaching a second language. 5) Helping raise awareness of sustainable development.

✦ SDG 5: Gender equality

Activities that promote gender equality and empower all women and girls. For example, by 1) Contributing to ending discrimination against all women and girls. 2) Helping reduce violence against women (including trafficking and sexual exploitation). 3) Promoting women’s full and effective participation and opportunities for leadership (including helping women establish their own small businesses). 4) Providing sexual and reproductive health education to women and girls. 5) Supporting women’s access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property. 6) Helping educate women on information and communications technology.

✦ SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation

Activities that help ensure availability and sustainable manage of water and sanitation for all. For example, by 1) Contributing to equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water, as well as sanitation and hygiene. 2) Helping reduce pollution that hinders water quality. 3) Progressing integrated water resources management and increasing water-use efficiency across communities that suffer from water scarcity. 4) Contributing to the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems such as forests, rivers, mountains, wetlands, lakes and aquifers.

✦ SDG 10: Reduced inequalities

Activities that help reduce inequality within and among countries. For example, by supporting, empowering and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all but in particular minority groups. Minority groups refer to those groups who experience relative disadvantage in comparison to members of a more dominant group. They include racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ people, religious minorities, Indigenous People, women, and people with disabilities.

Other activities that help contribute to reduced inequalities include supporting refugees, attending and supporting events organised by minority groups (Um, hello pride parades?!), as well as the activities mentioned in SDGs 1 to 6.

✦ SDG 16: Peace and justice

Activities that help promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions.

For example, by helping reduce all forms for violence, abuse, trafficking and exploitation of children, and by helping educate people on peace and sustainable development.

✦ SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals

Activities that help revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development. For example, by 1) Supporting communities in developing countries. 2) Participating in projects and grants from developed countries that support developing countries (e.g. USAID, Australia Aid, Peace Corps, etc.). 3) Contributing to projects that promote sustainable development in developing countries. 4) Help build technology and innovation projects in least developed countries. 5) Contributing to the capacity-building of marginalised communities. 6) Offering your skills to research projects based in developing countries.

✦ BIPOC Support

Activities that help support BIPOC communities. For example, by 1) visiting local BIPOC organisations. 2) Supporting BIPOC-owned businesses while travelling. 3) Learning about the native history of the places and destinations you visit. 4) Promoting indigenous history on your social media posts, including Native Title. 5) Calling out racism and discrimination if you witness it while travelling. 6) Attending local indigenous-led events.

To help, you can educate yourself on the dates that are of significance to the Indigenous people of the destinations you are visiting.

Why is social impact travel important?

As has been noted above and throughout our social impact travel guide, social impact travel activities will result in significant benefits to marginalised or vulnerable communities. Particularly when you choose experiences where your dollars directly benefit local, community-led businesses.

In my decades of travel, I’ve learned that big, foreign-owned tourism businesses rarely equate to local community benefits. The exception to this is when foreign companies extensively engage or employ local communities. And still, I always opt for the local option when possible.

In summary, depending on the activity you choose while travelling, social impact travel is important because it helps contribute to lifting people out of poverty, ending hunger, improving health and wellbeing for communities, advancing education and gender equality, and reducing inequalities.

By engaging in social impact travel, you can make a real difference in communities. Remember: every time you choose a product or service, you are voting for that product or service. By engaging in social impact travel, you can ensure your vote goes towards the people that need it the most.

Important points to consider when engaging in social impact travel

So far, this social impact travel guide has provided useful information about the benefits of engaging in social impact travel.

In addition to this information, there are also some important points to consider when engaging in social impact travel. Having these considerations in mind will help you be a more mindful and socially-aware traveller.

Social impact travel guide: 7 organisations for the socially conscious traveller

To wrap up this social impact travel guide, below we’ve included 8 organisations to consider to maximise your social impact travel experience.

✦ Better Places Travel

✦ Intrepid Travel

✦ Unbound

✦ Social Cycles

✦ Elevate Destinations

✦ Ethos Spirit

✦ Lokal Travel