"Take
Only Photographs, Leave Only Footsteps"
Everyone is looking for "that last unspoilt destination." Mongolia does reward those on such a quest. But how long can it remain that way? When two cultures come together, both are inevitably affected. We benefit a great deal from contact with such hospitable people living a life that seems inspiringly simple. But how do they see us? It is essential that any interaction is based on respect and understanding of cultural differences.
As the numbers of tourists visiting Mongolia increase, we must strive to maintain a delicate balance, neither making nomads dissatisfied with their ways nor denying them change. This is an issue of great importance to Panoramic Journeys.
"In
the end, we will conserve only what we love. We love only
what we understand. We will understand only what we are
taught."
Baba Dioum, Senegalese Poet
Balance and education are also the key words where the environment is concerned. Thankfully tourism in Mongolia has grown at the same time and pace as enthusiasm for Eco-tourism. There are various very encouraging projects underway throughout Mongolia to maintain and sustain the precious ecosystems that are there. Our trips enable you to visit and get involved with many of these ventures e.g. National Parks, Species Research, Eco-Ger Camps. Our encouragement and interest in local initiatives will allow the Mongolians involved to continue their good work. Our very presence will bring financial support to the rural areas involved thus contributing to a slow down in rural-urban migration.
We have put into place a number of company policies to set a standard for our practises, down to the smallest detail. We educate our employees so that they can contribute to making our trips more eco-friendly. For instance, we are encouraging our drivers to keep to existing jeep tracks rather than pioneer new trails. We carry eco-friendly products for all cleaning that we may do enroute. We aim to lead by example in areas of safe waste management, water conservation, use of local produce and respect for nature.
One of the obvious ways in which visitors to Mongolia's countryside can have a negative impact, is when they begin to take advantage of the people's inherent hospitality. As visits to families in Gers (tented homes), is one of the central features of our trips, we take this aspect very seriously. While, there may be a temptation to visit families repeatedly because one sets up a relationship with the family members, there is a danger here. Such repeated visits by tourists, sets one family out from the others. This may breed jealousy and imbalances. For this reason, each of our trips is very different from the next. There will always be a sense of surprise and discovery.
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