Travel boss calls for more eco-friendly practices

The founder and CEO of adventure travel company Wild Guanabana has blasted travel companies in the region for “bad practices” when it comes to the environment.

Omar Samra described the travel sector as “unsustainable,” adding “I think the way the travel market is here, that if it just continues like this it will be heading off a cliff in a decade or two.”

Wild Guanabana claims to be the Middle East and North Africa’s first carbon-zero travel company. Samra said the company is hoping to “lead by example” with its responsible tours which minimise carbon impact. The company also uses a carbon-offsetting scheme.

“We have seen a lot of downward pressure on prices and packages and so on, and at the end of the day the person that gets hurt is the person at the end of the chain.

“The tour operators put pressure on their suppliers and the suppliers put pressure on the small guy. And we have seen a lot of bad practices. As an example we see porters carrying 20kg on their back for seven days and not getting a salary at all – just in the hope of getting a tip.”

“So we are trying to lead by example and to offer something that provides not only a positive experience for the travellers who will enjoy themselves, but for the community."

Wild Guanabana was established two years ago in Egypt. The company has now shifted its headquarters to Dubai.

“In the Egyptian market, the tours being offered were all about large groups, tourists getting into buses, getting off and seeing the sights, and ticking the boxes. Or just going to resorts and staying in a hotel – we wanted to introduce a new concept,” explained Samra.

“Instead of putting people up in five-star chain hotels which waste a lot of water and electricity, we put people in places that are run by the local community. The money goes back into the local community so the entire experience is a neutral or positive experience for the local community

Samra said Wild Guanabana was focused on educating consumers about the importance of responsible travel, but that bigger companies had to pick up the mantle for real change to come about.

“We are a young company and we are growing but the big-scale effect will only start to happen in the sector when the big companies start to adopt these practices as a part of their regular business.”