In the past, when people chose a holiday they would ask about package price, accommodation, facilities, what to see and do. Now tourists are adding a new criteria to their list responsibility. Is the resort concerned about the environment it operates in? What is it doing to save energy and water? How does it help the local community? All of which point to a growing group of environmentally-conscious travellers who want more than mass-packaged tours and cheap buffets.

"Of course I will choose the resort that is more responsible," said Mike Tscharner, 41, an expat living in Kuala Lumpur. "It would affect my decision." Proof that when all things are equal accommodation, food, price and facilities whether a resort has responsible policies or not, can make a difference. Closing speakers at the recent PATA conference in Thailand confirm this trend, stating that the road ahead for the travel industry is "poverty reduction, enhanced charitable efforts and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)". But the questions is, how can you tell which resorts are getting it right and which aren't. Who's protecting the forest? Who's saving wildlife? Who's preserving the local culture? A Responsible Tourism survey carried out by Wild Asia (an independent conservation group based in Kuala Lumpur) helps travellers identify Asia's most responsible resorts.


Wild Asia's Top Picks

In 2005 and 2006, Wild Asia conducted a survey of tourism operators around the region. 30 operations responded - from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Malaysia. The result was a compilation of best practices. Each operator was given an RT (Responsible Tourism) score based on its performance in terms of managing economic, social and environmental impacts.

Topping the list is Alila Ubud Resort, Bali with a 73% RT score. This figure indicates the number of best practices the resort has put in place compared to Wild Asia's master checklist. Alila Ubud is located in a traditional mountain village at the edge of the Ayung river valley and is committed to "conscious living" and "active spirit". Guests are encouraged to experience Balinese culture through dance lessons, 'spiritual workshops' and nature walks led by knowledgeable local guides.

Great experiences, yes, but how do you know your tourist dollar is going back to the community? For starters, over 82% of Alila Ubud's employees are from the local villages. This is no coincidence. Resort manager, Amanda Pummer, states that when it comes to jobs, priority is given to the locals before they are offered to outsiders. The resort also practises a 'buy local' policy. For example, the hotel soaps are made in the village, providing income to some 82 people, hotel staff aside.

Tourism, as the world's largest industry, is a massive income generating machine and if managed well, can help alleviate poverty. Alila Ubud contributes directly to the community through the East Bali Poverty project, which provides financial aid to the villagers on a monthly basis. As a result, the people are able to enjoy basic amenities like water tanks, toilets, roads and houses.

Despite being a benefactor to the villagers, Alila Ubud works very closely with them - in partnership. The approval of village heads was sought before construction of the resort, and throughout operation, their feedback and advice is continually asked for. It's a long-term relationship that benefits both parties. The locals feel a sense of ownership. And the resort gains by having staff who are loyal and pro-active, enabling them to offer their guests a truly rewarding experience.

Sandakan haven

Next on the Wild Asia list is Miso Walai Homestay in Sandakan, with a score of 71%. This homestay is unique in the sense that it's 100% owned by the villagers (of Mukim Batu Puteh). The establishment injects RM100,000 per annum into the local community. After four years in the business, residents who previously had problems getting jobs, now enjoy substantial income as boatmen, nature guides, music and dance specialists, cooks and bus operators. Some of the guides even move on to more professional guiding careers at national park level, thanks to the training and references provided by their employers.

While the people enjoy a higher standard of living, the environment is not forgotten. Miso Walai runs a forest restoration programme - with 50 hectares already rehabilitated. Nature treks are conducted with care. For example, before any walk, travellers are advised on how to behave and the animals are always observed from a distance (with boat engines cut off) so as not to stress them out.

Another high performer on Wild Asia's list is Lamin Dana a homestay-living museum in Sarawak, dedicated to preserving Melanau culture. "I started the home not for business, more for a passion to conserve my own cultural heritage," states owner-manager, Diana Rose. "The business idea came in because I needed to sustain the whole project. And the best (way) to ride and sustain it, was to make it a tourist attraction."

Prior to Lamin Dana, Melanau culture, as we know it, was starting to vanish as village youth called it "kuno" (backward), saying it was useless and uncool. Today, Lamin Dana is a flourishing centre that trains youth in Melanau music, dance and handicraft. Visitors, meanwhile, can enjoy authentic Melanau food and lifestyle, and rest in the knowledge that their visit supports the preservation of an evaporating culture.

Tourism, if managed well, does not just boost living standards, but can resuscitate dying cultures as much as it does wildlife. The challenge, however, is to make these activities sustainable. Getting tourists to view your jungle. Enticing guests with cultural fetes and festivals. These are easy. The question is, how do you make sure these attractions continue to deliver benefits for years to come? As indicated by the survey, some resorts are getting it right by having a forward-thinking approach today. Many operations, however, are more interested in present-day profits, which in the long term, may have damaging consequences for the environment, as well as the people living within it.

Problems with tourism

In Kuala Selangor, the number of fireflies have dwindled dramatically over the past fifteen years. Some say it's the dam built upriver. Others blame the masses of tourists who come in by the busloads. Whatever it is, the fact remains that the once awe-inspiring fireflies offer a less than dazzling display today, so much so that in a couple of years, the trip could end up being nothing but a boat ride through moonlit mangroves and mosquitoes.

Examples of unsustainable development exist all around us. In Kuala Lumpur, the Garden City, office lots and apartments grow faster than trees. And wild foliage (which takes decades to grow) is replaced by instant palm trees and manicured gardens. Some groups feel the effects more than others. For instance, the mountain bikers in Bukit Kiara have lost half their trails to housing developments. Rock climbers at Batu Caves now overlook concrete flats instead of grassy green bush.

From a tourism perspective, foreigners are not just coming to see the world's tallest building (now the world's second tallest). They want to see pristine forests, orang utans, turtles, beaches and mountains, and if this is to be sustainable it needs to start with a change in mindset - not just protecting our tourist attractions, but the places we live in.

While nature is a huge draw for tourists, Asian culture is also a vital seductress. The problem is how do you offer an authentic experience to tourists without being insensitive to local culture? In certain Orang Asli communities, religious rites are becoming empty displays for tourists with candy and biscuits in their pockets.

During sacred festivals like Hari Moyang (a day to pay homage to ancestors), some Orang Asli villages become a Disneyland for tourists. While religious ceremonies go on, you see locals in the background, doing blowpipe demos, weaving mats and selling souvenirs. During Hari Moyang, people don't weave mats. "It's like you celebrate Christmas, and people ask you to make Chinese New Year cookies," said one observer.

"Responsible tourism (for the Orang Asli) can work," said a KL-based Orang Asli expert. "As long as it's in their hands and in their control." But more often than not, it isn't. He gives an example of a non-Orang Asli tour guide who brought a group of tourists to a village and started 'educating' them about the people. A simple mengkuang mat became a 'flying carpet'. A nose flute was the 'the world's shortest blowpipe'. And so on. The Orang Asli host, meanwhile, sat in the corner, quiet and clueless about what his guests were being told.

Going green is good for business

For tourism operators, studies have shown that 'going green' can improve your profitability. Not just in terms of cost savings from efficient resource management but also in terms of boosting your brand value. If environmentally-conscious travellers are truly the trend of the future, being seen as a pioneer in Responsible Tourism can definitely give your business that much needed edge.

One way to get started is to fill up an online self-assessment form at www.wildasia.net You'll get an RT score and see where you stand against other operators. Following that, you can identify areas for improvement, create an RT roadmap for your resort and further down the road, perhaps opt for certification from an accredited body like Green Globe. If you need some help, organizations like Wild Asia offer RT consulting, advisory as well as training workshops.

Whose responsibility is it though?

Clearly, operators play a key in role by making sure their operations are run responsibly and sustainably. In the UK, 88% of the people surveyed by ResponsibleTravel.com said that tourism operators should be responsible for the people and places they operate in. Asia's most responsible, however, should not just be restricted to resorts.

For sustainable tourism to work, everyone needs to get involved government, NGOs, businesses, corporations as well as tourists. If you're a tour guide, educate your customers on the dos and don'ts of visiting a culturally-sensitive place. If you're a traveller, choose a hotel that has committed to saving energy. Pick up the rubbish you see on the ground. Take your cigarette butts with you when you leave. Every little bit counts.

At the moment, the laws in Europe may be stricter forcing tourists to pay environmental tax, making operators recycle or prohibiting entry into certain areas. But we can't always wait for the government to step in. As one concerned traveller said: "Governments are reactionary. It has to start somewhere. It has to start with us."

AMY TAN SU-MAY writes frequently on the environment. An environmentalist with a heart, she writes short fiction in her spare time.