Indigenous Peoples EXPLORE’S
POLICY
Working with Indigenous Communities
At Explore we want collaboration with the communities we visit to be embedded in all the holidays we create – in particular when engaging with indigenous populations Tourism has the often-unique opportunity to foster respect between people and connectivity, and the ability to experience lands and cultures through another's perspective.
We want to create equitable opportunities and experiences for the indigenous communities we visit; learn from their generations of experience; share their stories; and ensure we are mutually benefiting from tourism and using it to protect that which they regard most sacred; the natural world.
We have developed this Indigenous Peoples Policy because we recognise the future of indigenous communities, and their traditional lands, are at risk. Managed responsibly, there is also the opportunity to develop indigenous tourism designed to encourage cultural interaction, strengthen local economies and balance inequalities.
Who are Indigenous Peoples?
Indigenous peoples are diverse and from all corners of our planet, which means there is not a singular definition of “indigenous”. Instead, a collection of characteristics can be used, detailed by the United Nations and summarised below:
Self- identification as indigenous peoples at the individual level and acceptance by the wider community
Historical continuity with pre-colonial and/or pre-settler societies
Strong link to territories and surrounding natural resources
Distinct social, economic or political systems
Distinct language, culture and beliefs
Form non-dominant groups of society
Resolve to maintain and reproduce their ancestral environments and systems as distinctive peoples and communities
Indigenous peoples have a unique relationship with their land, knowing innately how to protect it and work with it in harmony The land that indigenous people inhabit is home to over 80% of our planet’s biodiversity and natural resources and is intertwined with their identity and cultures (Amnesty International 2023) Explore, like UNESCO, recognises the importance of traditional knowledge as a source of intangible and material wealth, positively contributing to sustainable development and a distinct need for protection and promotion (UNESCO 2005 )
As some of the poorest communities globally, indigenous peoples have contributed least to the global warming of our planet but are amongst the most vulnerable to its devastating effects. Alongside our shifting climate, human rights abuses related to land rights and culture have seen mass movements of indigenous peoples away from their traditional lands This dilution of cultural heritage and dismissal of their deep connection with nature, is hugely detrimental to human society widely, both culturally and environmentally (Green Climate Fund)
It is fundamental that we respect and safeguard indigenous communities everywhere that we visit, and that we do this by working alongside our communities on policy development and operational excellence
Policy Objectives
This policy will assist Explore when visiting the lands and homes of indigenous peoples. Our goals are supported by the recommendations made by the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO, 2019):
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Ensure that we are respecting cultural values and practices, learning about spiritual and physical relationships with the land, wanting to help safeguard them for the future
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Create exceptional, authentic experiences for our customers and indigenous communities through consultation and invitation into the product creation process.
Foster equitable partnerships whereby there is a direct economic benefit from tourism which in turn can improve livelihoods and encourage further sustainable enterprise and land protection.
Anticipate and avoid any adverse impacts (socially, economically or environmentally) in our operations by proactively participating in the protection of natural and cultural assets.
Holistically better our holidays – for the customer, the environment and the communities we visit.
Implementation and Procedures
This policy creates action, making us proactively engage with indigenous communities and redesign our products and processes where necessary. To do this we’ll go through the following process:
Identify each holiday which travels directly through an indigenous community
Identify a stakeholder group to engage in consultation This could include academic experts, government or authority figures, destination/tourism boards or suppliers, but must also include fair representation from the indigenous community itself.
The consultation process must aim to:
Be participatory, mutually beneficial and inclusive
Co-design tourism experiences which avoid commodification but rather ensure cultural authenticity and long term sustainable economies which benefits those involved
Provide a clear understanding of sustainable visitation volume which is desired by the indigenous community
Ensure the marketing materials used are appropriate and permissions have been granted
Ensure tour guides and third party suppliers are familiar with the recommendations made by UNWTO as well as those involved in the consultation process as our representatives on the ground Invite suggestions from both ourselves and the host that go further than product design. Can we host webinars for our staff to hear first hand from a member of the community, can we write blogs and share experiences?
After consultation the product will be designed in the usual manner within a brand, ensuring the identified stakeholders have been kept informed throughout.
For existing products, the consultation process will be retrofitted and adaptations made as a result This process will take more time than a product which is being developed from scratch
The results of the consultation process should form part of the key positive messaging to staff and customers alike
We will continually review this policy and we fully expect it to evolve over time.
Effectivecollaborationsbetweencompaniesand communitiesisajourney,andwearealwaysopento learningandmakebalanceddecisions.
Any questions or concerns?
We want our customers, staff and supply chain to contact us if ever they feel we are not working harmoniously and collaboratively with an indigenous community – or, indeed, any community - that is hosting our customers. Concerns can be reported by emailing sustainability@explore.co.uk
References & Resources
Compendium of Good Practices in Indigenous Tourism – Regional Focus on the Americas | World Tourism Organization (e-unwto.org)
Recommendations on Sustainable Development of Indigenous Tourism (e-unwto.org)
UNESCO Supporting indigenous and local communities, 2005
United Nations Indigenous Peoples Indigenous Voices, 2023
Green Climate Fund Indigenous Peoples Policy, 2023
Amnesty Indigenous Peoples, 2023
