A travel entrepreneur passionate about storytelling and social good, Kelley Louise is the executive director and founder of Impact Travel Alliance, a community for eco- and socially-conscious travellers. In this “Good Tourism” Insight, Kelley tells us how the not-for-profit is making the best of challenging times to educate travellers. Thanks to “GT” Insight Partner Second Look Worldwide for inviting Kelley to contribute.
Five years ago, we started Impact Travel Alliance (ITA) to reach fellow travellers interested in incorporating sustainable practices into their journeys — whether near or far. Today, our nonprofit organisation has amassed a network of more than 20,000 travellers in 20 countries, proving there is, indeed, a market for people who want to invest their tourism dollars consciously in various cultures, communities and destinations while also protecting the environment.
Since 2015, ITA has organised numerous events centered around hot-button issues including ocean and wildlife conservation, gender equality, and sustainable food sourcing; curated a blog and countless issues of a subscription-only email campaign aimed at educating consumers about sustainable travel; run a Media Network that supports content creators focused on sustainable travel; and participated in dozens of global travel-industry forums, conferences, symposiums and white papers.
We entered 2020 with energy and optimism, as organisations and media outlets around the world — finally! — seemed to have latched on to the idea that sustainability can have a profound impact on our planet throughout the new decade. Then COVID-19 hit, George Floyd’s alleged murder sparked a new chapter in the civil rights conversation … and ITA and the entire worldwide travel industry were forced to adapt to a changing landscape. Travel and exploration took a backseat to health and economic stability, as well as inclusion and social justice.
For the full "GT" Insight, visit: https://goodtourismblog.com/2020/07/pivots-to-make-a-difference-what-ita-is-doing-to-educate-inspire-satiate/