Meaningful travel: Tips for ethical and authentic adventures

Why meaningful travel matters

The way we travel is changing. Back in 2016, just 42 per cent of participants in a Booking.com survey considered themselves sustainable travellers¹. Fast-forward to now and a huge 93 per cent say they want to make more conscious choices when they're away - from how they move through a place to how they spend money while they're there¹. And it's not just about the environment. We're now looking for deeper, more meaningful experiences - 77 per cent want to connect with local culture, 73 per cent want their dollars to directly support communities and 69 per cent say they want to leave a place better than they found it¹. So what does that look like? Does travelling more ethically mean giving up comfort? Or added expense? Not at all, say the experts. In fact, it might just make your next trip more memorable.

Travel that gives back

“You don’t need to choose between going on a holiday and doing some good,” says Sean Martin, managing director Australia, New Zealand and Asia at G Adventures, a group tour operator that travels to more than 100 different countries. “That’s the philosophy behind our business: what if going on holiday was your chance to do some good for the world?”

From day one, G Adventures has been built on the idea that travel should be rooted in community. “For a long time, tourism operators would tell local communities what they need,” says Sean. “But the best experiences come when it’s a two-way conversation.” Before new trips, the company works with local leaders, Indigenous groups and community voices to shape tours that reflect the people and place.

They also track something called a Ripple Score – a measure of how much traveller spending stays in the local economy. “On average, only $5 to $10 of every $100 a tourist spends in a developing country stays in the community,” says Sean. “That just isn’t good enough. Our average Ripple Score is about 92 [indicating 92 per cent of money spent in a destination goes to local businesses and services].” What does that mean in practice? “You’re having boutique, local experiences.” And your money is going where it counts.

Do your homework before you book

Purposeful travel might sound great in theory but how do you know if the organisation you’re booking with actually follows through? For Tracy Leske, who co-founded charity Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers with her sister, Cassie Smith, the answer is simple: do your research. “You need to know who is behind these companies,” she says. “Ask where the money goes. Look up the one-and two-star reviews. Dig deep.”

She and Cassie have participated in all the volunteer programs that Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers offers in Australia, Thailand and Indonesia to make sure they can vouch for the impact. Whether it’s marine conservation research on the Great Barrier Reef or helping rescued orangutans and sun bears prepare for life back in the world, they’ve seen the results close up.

“There should always be something tangible showing how volunteer dollars are making a difference,” she says. “I visited one of our wildlife shelters a year ago and the staff pointed out 14 new wombat enclosures built using funds from the program.” For Tracy, that’s when you realise this way of travelling really gives back.

Cultural connections that last

For Terry Hunter, a proud Bardi man and fourth-generation pearler from Cygnet Bay on Western Australia’s Dampier Peninsula, sharing his culture with visitors is second nature. “From a very young age, I was involved with being around tourists and basically sharing Country. I got very passionate.”

Since launching Terry Hunter’s Borrgoron Coast to Creek Tours, which operates out of Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, he’s been guiding travellers through his backyard. “I do a two-hour walking tour where I share the area, talk about marine life and the six Indigenous seasons, and another about the local pearling industry and my family history.”

From foraging for oysters and learning about medicinal plants to hearing about the history of pearling for the Bardi and Jawi people of the Dampier Peninsula, a tour with Terry is an experience grounded in lived history. “My guests walk away with a smile and a better appreciation of my story, our environment and our culture.”

And while Terry is content keeping his business small, he’s also committed to giving back. “A lot of us tour guides give five per cent of earnings back to Indigenous communities like One Arm Point, Lombadina or Beagle Bay.”

Small choices, big impact

If the best kind of travel enriches your life, there’s something even more powerful about knowing your trip has left a positive mark on the place you’ve visited. “The best customer feedback we get is always about our G for Good moments,” says Sean. These experiences – like community-run homestays – are made possible through G Adventures’ non-profit partner, Planeterra.

“One example is the Women with Wheels program in India, which helps local women get out of awful situations,” says Sean. “They bring these women into the organisation and teach them how to drive. We helped set up their infrastructure so now they provide all of our transfers in Delhi and Jaipur. To date, that business has provided more than 4.5 million safe rides.”

Of course, meaningful travel doesn’t always mean jumping on a plane or changing the world overnight. Sometimes it’s as simple as offering your time, listening to local stories or making more conscious spending choices. “Our oldest volunteer was 88,” says Tracy. “Everybody has something to offer.” And that openness helps spark curiosity that transforms a holiday into something more. As Terry puts it: “I just love seeing when guests have that lightbulb moment. When they’re like, ‘Yeah, I get it now.’ That’s so uplifting for me.”

Published: 8 December 2025