10 UK Initiatives Working To Make Travel Fair

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Photo: A step in the right direction

We’ve been involved in the UK travel scene for a couple of years now both on and offline, attending networking evenings and other related events.  We write and read about travel initiatives around the world everyday. There always seem to be a few projects and names here in the UK that continue to crop up. We believe these companies are fully engaged in making travel fair. In no particular order:

1. Green Traveller – A project started by Richard Hammond, highly successful freelance writer, editor and ever present ambassador for Green Travel.  Richard’s committment to the cause is inspiring.
2. Your Safe Planet – Founded by Sally Broom around the same time as Make Travel Fair. Sally pioneered the idea of linking travellers with local people around the world via the internet.
3. Leap Local – One of the more recently discovered initiatives in our list.  Established by Nicky Dee as an online marketplace to promote local guides around the world.
4. Stuff Your Rucksack – An initiative set up by Kate Humble to help connect travellers and NGOs. Much needed equipment and materials can be transported and obtained via the constant flux of travellers around the world.
5. Wanderlust – An independent UK based travel magazine with a strong focus on independent travel.  Likely to suffer in the new year under the introduction of a new BBC backed Lonely Planet magazine.
6. Seat 61 – Probably one of the best known websites promoting low carbon travel.  Featured all the way back in 2001 as the Guardian’s ‘website of the week’, Mark Smith’s hobby has almost taken on a life of its own.  It started in a similar way to Make Travel Fair with a DIY approach to setting up a website.  Mark Smith’s knowledge on all things rail related remains unchallenged.
7. ecoescape – The brainchild of Laura Burgess.  The first guide was published back in 2007.  A large amount of the places featured in the guide are now available to browse online.  Laura is a great promoter of green travel and social enterprise.
8. Tribewanted – The much hyped global online community that has established a home on Vorovoro, Fiji.  Set up by Ben Keene a couple of years ago and subject of BBC Documentary ‘Paradise or Bust’.  The project continues to evolve and inspire.  Ben’s passion and committment is infectious. Read some of the writing coming out of the community that we’ve selected for the Tribewanted Page on Make Travel Fair.
9. Blue Ventures – We’ve written extensively about Blue Ventures on Make Travel Fair.  Their awards speak for themselves. Read some writing from their field notebook selected by us for the Blue Ventures Page on Make Travel Fair.
10. Pilot Guides – Long running producers of arguably the best travel programs on TV.  Their rugged, intelligent, independent travel style has few rivals. It’s a wonder their programs haven’t become a regular feature on terrestrial tv channels, and their brand isn’t better established.