Sustainable Tourism in India

Giving back to Society, Responsible Tourism etc etc …humbug and clichés of the pseudo traveller are what have always been my impressions whenever some friend or relation comes back and brags about having made a ‘difference’. Difference ??? What difference can you make by spending half a day at some organic farm or watching slum children studying their alphabet. 

So when I planned on my holiday to India and my friends spoke of Sustainable Tourism in India etc etc., I simply shoo-ed them away. Not my cuppa tea, I said. I am going to enjoy and that’s it!!!. Would you believe it, that when I visited the travel agent, the first thing he asked me was whether I would be interested in a bit of Participative Tourism on the trip. Seeing my frown he suggested I think it over and maybe have a look at one of the premium Indian travel company’s social website www.shaping-lives.org. I said OK half heartedly and opened the site after a good 3 days. 

Thank God I did though. It opened my eyes as to how even a little effort from me would bring joy in some one else’s life. I chose the ‘old age home’ and the agent inbuilt that visit into my trip. Imagine a social integration before take-off on a trip. Made possible by this travel company. The visit, warmth, the entire aura was so soothing. I fell in love with the old age home and I wished I could stay on some more. My friends laugh when they hear this but I know what a lovely and everlasting experience I have had … and I assure you, I AM going back for more…