Overtourism Policy
Our Policy on Overtourism
At Selective Asia, we recognise the profound impact that travel can have on the destinations we cherish. While tourism brings cultural exchange, economic benefits, and global awareness, it can also lead to overtourism in certain areas - undermining the very essence of the places we visit and putting pressure on vital resources, the environment and the communities that call it home.
Overtourism is a complex issue and by providing holidays to Asia we recognise we are also part of the problem, but we feel that the travel industry has a part to play in the solution through consistent, tangible actions.
Below we have outlined our commitment to protecting communities, preserving cultural heritage, and safeguarding the natural environment while ensuring our travellers have meaningful and sustainable experiences in our destinations.
Our Key Principles
1. Distributing Tourism More Sustainably
We design itineraries that encourage travel to lesser-known destinations alongside iconic landmarks, spreading the benefits of tourism more equitably and reducing pressure on overcrowded areas.
2. Promoting Responsible Travel Seasons
We guide our travellers toward visiting popular destinations during off-peak times, helping to ease congestion and ensure a more authentic experience.
3. Supporting Local Economies
By collaborating with social enterprises, guides, and community-based tourism initiatives, we strive to contribute directly to the communities we visit, helping them thrive sustainably.
4. Prioritising Environmental Conservation
From choosing eco-conscious partners to promoting low-impact travel options like train travel over internal flights, we actively work to reduce the environmental footprint of our trips.
5. Educating Travellers
We empower our clients to make informed choices by providing cultural insights, environmental awareness, and practical advice on respectful travel practices.
What We Do
1. Diversifying Destinations
We actively encourage exploration of off-the-beaten-path locations across Asia, introducing our travellers to hidden gems while alleviating the burden on popular hotspots.
We craft bespoke itineraries that ensure less-visited destinations receive due recognition for their beauty, culture, and uniqueness.
2. Encouraging Sustainable Practices
Selective Asia prioritises eco-friendly transportation methods, such as walking tours, cycling trips, and rail journeys, whenever feasible.
We favour small, locally owned properties wherever possible and actively steer our clients away from international chains where other suitable locally owned alternatives are available. We inspect as many properties as possible in person and in collaboration with our local partners.
By working with a collection of experiential focused properties that support communities and conservation we aim to spread tourism throughout our destinations to benefit the local people.
3. Industry Collaboration
As a certified B Corp, we thoroughly consider the impact of every potential business decision on our workers, customers, suppliers, community and the environment.
Selective Asia is a founding member of Tourism Declares and our founder, Nick Pulley, sits on the executive board of Travel by B Corp: a collective of B Corp travel organisations with the simple aim of helping UK consumers to travel better by choosing B Corp certified operators.
4. Respecting Local Communities
We collaborate closely with our local partners to ensure tourism benefits are distributed fairly.
Our itineraries incorporate immersive experiences led by local guides and communities, fostering authentic connections and mutual respect.
5. Offsetting & Regenerating Impact
Through thorough research we have identified the organisation C Level, which we believe to be one of the leading mitigation solutions. We provide our clients with the option to add this to their booking should they choose to do so.
Any mitigation contributions we receive from our clients are donated to C Level to support the Khasi Hills project in Meghalaya India.
Our Pledge
Selective Asia is committed to continually assessing and adapting our practices to counteract the effects of overtourism. By working closely with local communities, environmental organisations, and our local partners and clients, we aim to ensure that tourism is a force for good - preserving the cultural and natural heritage of Asia for generations to come.
We actively measure, collate and report our business operations and progress in line with the B Corp impact areas - our impact report is visible on our website and updated at regular intervals.
How you can help
When you choose to travel with Selective Asia, you play a vital role in our mission to combat overtourism. Read on to see how you can help mitigate overtourism on your travels:
Choose to travel outside of peak seasons and to lesser-visited destinations.
Respect local customs, cultures, and natural environments.
Support local businesses, social enterprises, and initiatives.
Embrace sustainable practices, such as minimising plastic waste and conserving resources.