Set against the jaw-droppingly gorgeous backdrop of the snow-covered Himalayas and surrounded by the phenomenal forests and streams of rural Darjeeling, India, the little village of Mineral Spring is a community knit together by strong cultural values that have made it a model of sustainable growth. Now, homestays with locals have been set up, satisfying the desires of both mindful travellers and responsible hosts.

Ger to Ger – the self-styled ‘market-driven social enterprise’ based in Mongolia – is definitely doing something right. Founded in 2005 by Mr Zanjan Fromer, a native Alaskan with extensive experience in tourism and development, Ger to Ger aims to give travellers the ultimate, authentic Mongolian experience.

The 2009 Geotourism Challenge: Power of Place – Sustaining the Future of Destinations has just turned the penultimate page of its final chapter. After 1368 nominations from 113 countries followed by 611 entries from 81 countries, a panel of expert judges — including a Nobel Peace Prize winner, a co-founder of Lonely Planet and the editor of National Geographic Traveler magazine — selected 10 finalists and now all the votes for the final three are being counted.

Over the coming months, we will be examining the many and various qualities of what we believe qualifies as responsible tourism. It comes in may forms and is known by many names – ecotourism, sustainable tourism, pro-poor tourism, ethical tourism, geotourism, community-based tourism, inclusive tourism, agritourism, tourisme rural etc. But with such a generous and…

At the heart of the national flag of India is the Ashoka Chakra, a circular symbol depicting the wheel of darma. (‘Chakra’ in Sanskrit means ‘wheel’.) The Ashoka Chakra is so named because it is found on artefacts from the time of the Mauryan (ancient Indian) Emperor Ashoka the Great, one of the world’s greatest…