1. Travel in a spirit of humility and with a genuine desire to learn more about the people. Be sensitively aware of the feelings of other people, thus preventing what might be offensive behavior on your part.
2. Respect local culture and traditions. Research into the unique customs of the region you will visit can avoid embarrassment and offence, as well as providing a useful insight into the country you will visit.
3. Do not make promises to people in your host country unless you can carry them through. .
4. Be open and willing to learn about the differences between foreign cultures and our own. Even more importantly, be tolerant of these differences. A few words learnt in a local language can be greatly appreciated and can open the doors to a more “authentic” holiday experience.
5. Spend time reflecting on your daily experience in an attempt to deepen your understanding
6. Be aware of the impact of your money if you decide to give to beggars. If a beggar earns more than someone who works for a living, this can encourage the practice and cause problems for the local economy. Be particularly aware of giving to children – parents whose children are regularly bringing home money from begging are unlikely to want to send their children to school. If you would like to make a donation to the country you have visited, please talk to Absolutely China. We will be able to recommend a charity or project who will welcome your donation.
7. Respect the local environment: do not litter, do not pick wild flowers or plants, try to recycle what you can. Try to throw away or recycle any extra packaging you may have before you travel and bring waste such as batteries back with you
8. Try to preserve local resources wherever possible. If your hotel has a policy for re-using sheets or towels, try to support this as often as you feel you can. Remember to turn off electricity in your room when you are not using it (particularly air conditioning units) and keep your water

If you have any concerns before or after your trip that you would like to bring to our attention or any ideas on how we can operate more responsibly please email them to RT@Absolutely-China.com