The main way whl.travel supports local communities is embodied in the business model. Each whl.travel business, whether selling accommodation in Oman or tours in Zambia is owned and operated by locals. They have technology from whl.travel and whl.travel supports them with internet marketing which are provided for a small monthy fee, but otherwise all the contracting of local accommodation etc is done locally and commissions stay local to support the local community.

In addition to supporting locals through our business model we have also started work with others who share our vision for engaging with locals to create a blog to feature local travel stories. The idea is to engage travellers and locals alike in a dialogue about travel and how to improve win-win outcomes for both. The blog is called the Local Travel Movement and has become an active site for dialogue. Two other blog sites from the WHL Group are the Travel Word and Make Travel Fair, both of which also feature stories to designed to engage and provoke. 

Finally, we have our Caring for the Destination feature where our local partners can flag accommodation or tours which they believe are making a special effort to build a more sustainable future for travel. In doing the work of collecting information about small accommodation and tour / activity providers to put online, the whl.travel partners have identified many operators who are actively engaged in projects which, in their own way, were positive steps towards improving sustainable outcomes for the destination.

Most of these initiatives are not sophisticated eco-labelling type projects but they are nonetheless positive steps. They are meaningful to the operator involved and they address specific local needs. Examples include employing and training orphaned children, supporting local schools, running a turtle hatchery, restoring a damaged coral reef, teaching traditional building skills, supporting volunteer workers, and restoring historical buildings.

whl.travel then started to write up some of these initiatives as "brand differentiators" for the respective accommodation and tour providers, highlighting for travellers what the operators were doing. WHL grouped them under a "Caring for the Destination" banner and highlights them in the listings..

So, when you travel, check out all those accommodations and tours with the small green "Caring for the Destination" icon and in the process help change behaviour.