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Positive Impact
One of our guiding principles is that local communities should see real, long-term benefits from tourism. While we have offices in the UK, our main base is in Colombo, which keeps us closely connected to the destinations we work in. This local grounding helps us support regional employment and small businesses, whether that’s by choosing locally owned accommodation, working with local guides and hosts or collaborating with community-run initiatives.
The Tea Leaf Trust
The Tea Leaf Trust provides education and vocational training to help young people from Sri Lanka’s tea plantations unlock their potential and build brighter futures. Through our partnership with the Trust, a portion of every Sri Lanka booking we arrange is donated directly to support their work. Each trip contributes enough to fund a month of English classes for a child or young adult who would otherwise be unable to afford them.
We’re also able to arrange visits for our clients to meet the Trust and some of their students, an experience that not only enriches your journey but also helps the students practice their English and supports the Trust’s wider mission.
The Conscious Travel Foundation
We’re proud to be members of The Conscious Travel Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that unites changemakers in the travel industry. Their mission is to transform travel into a force for good, creating experiences that are not only memorable but also meaningful. With their support, we continue to evolve our practices to ensure our trips leave a lasting, positive impact on the destinations we know and love.
Social Conscience
Spending time with local people is one of the most meaningful aspects of a Red Dot trip, and it’s something we care deeply about. Unlike most UK-based tour operators, we have a team on the ground in Sri Lanka, where the majority of our staff live and work. We're proud to employ local people and to be part of the communities we work in.
We also encourage travellers to take part in our locally led experiences with guides, hosts and small businesses, because these moments often become the most memorable part of a trip. They also directly support jobs, restaurants and suppliers in the areas you visit.
You can read more about our approach in our Positive Travel Policy.
Local and Small Accommodation
Where possible, we encourage travellers to stay in small, locally owned accommodation rather than large, international hotel chains. While we understand this isn’t always the right fit for every trip, choosing Sri Lankan-owned properties can have a real impact in supporting local jobs and encouraging more people to build their own tourism-related businesses.
And if those places are also committed to sustainability, all the better.
Animal Welfare
At Red Dot, we are deeply committed to responsible tourism and the ethical treatment of animals impacted by the travel industry. As wildlife encounters grow in popularity, so does the need for sustainable and humane practices. Sadly, many animal-related attractions—such as elephant rides and baths, photo ops with tigers and dolphin shows—often involve cruelty and exploitation.
We believe animals should be valued for their own sake, not as entertainment. The most respectful and enriching way to experience wildlife is by observing it in its natural habitat.
Read more in our Positive Travel Policy
How it works
Booking with us is simple
Accommodation with Purpose
Choose your adventure
Speak to one of our team to get started. After all, your travel journal won’t write itself.
