This week we’re pleased to announce that we’ve been nominated for Virtuoso’s Sustainable Tourism Leadership Award. Virtuoso is a leading consortium of the world’s top travel agents and this award honors destination partners who are outstanding in their mission to create sustainable travel experiences.
This is the second Virtuoso Award we have been nominated for this year. The first, Destination & Experiences Partner of the Year, and we’re thrilled to receive even more great support from our Virtuoso community.
Sustainable travel has been part of our mission since WildChina was born on the sacred slopes of Mount Kailash 17 years ago. We’re proud of the green practices we have in place and continue to seek new and innovative ways to showcase and protect China’s heritage, both natural and human.
We are also passionate about protecting China’s natural environment and support conservation projects across the country. New sustainable travel programs we are currently working on include introducing environmentally friendly Panda-tracking tours in Sichuan and snub-nosed monkey conservation in Yunnan. Our WildChina Explorer 2017, Kyle Obermann is also on an environmental mission, out in China’s little-known Hengduan mountain range documenting the region’s grassroots conservation efforts.
Photo Credit: Kyle Obermann
Supporting local economies through the protection and cultivation of China’s artisanal culture is another key company philosophy. Across China, we hire and train local guides and we strive to support local artisans. From watching artisans hand make shoes in Yunnan to picking organic vegetables for dinner on a local farm in Fujian, our tours are designed to maximize engagement with local people and their crafts.
We proud of our WildChina Educational Travel Team too, who support service-learning at every opportunity. One of our favorite educational programs is in Guangxi province where learners listen to the needs of local farmers and help them complete projects that support the community. Recently, one group helped to build a waste incinerator to help deal with the problems of modernization in these tiny villages.
—
We want to take this opportunity to thank the Virtuoso community for this incredible nomination. Creating sustainable experiences that allow us to share the wild side of China with people around the world gives us such joy and we would love to start planning your customized trip today.
