Not in the Guidebooks CEO Carol Savage has called on travel agents to share best practice with their clients before undertaking community-based experiences while on holiday.
Speaking during the International Women in Travel and Tourism Forum (IWTTF) on Thursday afternoon, Carol said: “Travel agents should provide cultural information and best practice.
“Agents should be able to respond to questions like, What do I need to be aware of? What do I have to be careful of? What clothes should I wear? What’s appropriate to wear? What’s appropriate to say?’’
Carol told Travel Gossip: “I think how they (travel agents) learn about best practice is through fam trips, which help make it real and see what’s going on.
“Not in the Guidebooks also shares hints and tips all the time, and we are aiming with our training modules to bring in all the information agents need to share with their guests.
“The modules will include information about what people need to know when they get there, and how to understand and be respectful of their culture, including information about drinking and clothing.
“What we are doing more of is working closer with hosts to build up a bank of guides for each destination. It’s about making travel agents the trusted advisor.”
During the event, speakers urged the industry to ‘double down’ on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts amid growing global backlash.
IWTTF Chair Jo Rzymowska, who was awarded an MBE this week for her work on DEI, said: “The truth is this work of inclusion, equity and justice is getting harder, not easier.
“Companies once celebrated for their DEI policies are scaling them back.
“Even in our own industry, we’re seeing a pullback by some, but still, there are many who are still standing up and standing out, and we need that now more than ever.”
She urged people to keep ‘showing up’ and ‘standing up’ together.
Intrepid Travel Managing Director EMEA Zina Bencheikh said: “While many are going backwards, we see this as an opportunity to double down.”
Jo called on attendees and those in the industry to commit to taking action and to keep ‘showing up’ and ‘standing up’ together.
Next year’s IWTTF will take place in the Netherlands.
Pictured, from left: Malta Tourism Authority Director of UK & Ireland Tolene Van Der Merwe, Untours Foundation Director of Impact Sarah Payne, Not in the Guidebooks CEO Carol Savage, DiamondAir International Founder and CEO Christina Lawford, Eurail Chief People Officer Clare French and Civil Society Consulting Founder Natash Ereira-Guyer
