Ethical holiday directory responsibletravel.com says it has seen an 87% year on year increase on the number of people enquiring about community-based holidays.
Responsible tourism is a growing trend but the company has warned that the industry still has a long way to go to raise consumer awareness.
Since 2006, responsibletravel.com has worked with non-Governmental organisation Conservation International to provide free marketing to 55 local community tourism ventures, based in remote locations in developing countries which lack the resources to successfully promote themselves to Western holidaymakers.
Responsibletravel.com co-founder and managing director Justin Francis said: “This is a relatively new way to travel but one that offers a truly unforgettable experience and I believe we’ll see more people pursuing community-based travel in the future. Rather than staying in a chain hotel where local people have minimal control and involvement in the business, you are invited to be part of village life and the community is your host.”