If you thought organic and ethical behaviour just covered food and clothes you are mistaken - it now covers holidays and hotels as well! Are you of the opinion that the last thing you want to hear about when planning your holiday is ethics? Nearly everyone wants sun, sea and sand guilt free. If only it were that easy! Tourism, as the worlds leading industry, has increasingly detrimental effects on the environment.

With 1 billion people set to travel, every year, by 2010 this situation can only get worse, unless we begin to think further than our sun screen factor. The author looks at a few local and international holidays and day trips that can minimise your effect on the environment and contribute to positive change.

International Trips and Community Tourism Look for small companies who use locally managed tours and where conservation measures are already in place and where time is given over to gaining insights into the local environment and the lives of local people.

Community tourism aims to benefit and include the local communities, particularly indigenous people. Always check holidays are run with the involvement of local people and a fair share of profits goes back to local projects. Its like Fairtrade, but not for coffee....for holidays!

Environmental Working Holidays

Willing Workers on Organic Farms and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) have projects in the UK and overseas. BTCV are offering a unique experience, the chance to do something practical for the country you visit and make a contribution to conservation on a global scale.

Day Trips

Why not visit an Organic Farm and: ? Walk a farm trail and enjoy the countryside and its wildlife. ? Organise an inspiring school visit. ? Stock up with the freshest food at the farm shop. ? Taste the farm produce at farm cafes. ? Enjoy special open days or even stay on a farm.

Riverford Organic Vegetables want people to share our enjoyment of growing and eating good, seasonal, organic food. A farm visit followed by a meal in the Field Kitchen gives you the chance to experience the link between the field and plate, and to sample some outstanding cooking in a beautiful environment.

Why not stay at an Organic Hotel?

Penrhos Court Country Hotel has been a Herefordshire farm for 700 years, a country restaurant for over 25 years with hotel rooms for ten years. It has always been in the food business and the food business is its reason for being. Its future is to help protect our natural environment and the food it provides.

What is the Green Tourism Business Scheme?

Welcome to the Green Tourism Business Scheme. We are the largest and most successful environmental accreditation body of tourism related businesses in Europe and have over 500 members in the UK, including amongst others, accommodation providers, visitor attractions, tour operators and conference facilities.

While on Holiday why not eat at an Organic Pizza Place?

We were concerned about the extensive use of chemicals and fertilisers in virtually all food products and wanted to offer the ever-demanding customer a more wholesome menu. The menus from the food to the wine, and the branch decor are all full of natural flavours, textures and tones.

Find these companies and more ethical travel ideas in the authors website.

Davinos Greeno works for the organic and ethical directory that lists 100s of Organic and Ethical Companies and we also have Organic Articles for you to read or publish.