Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold lacquer to create something unique and considered even more beautiful than the original; a concept Original Travel has long loved, and has now applied to travel

Before covid, tourism was beautiful but ultimately flawed. Original Travel is determined that after it was broken by the pandemic, travel should be pieced back together into something more resilient and more beautiful than ever and to that end, has launched a new concept – Kintsugi Travel.

Designed to encourage more mindful and sustainable travel, the tour operator has launched a dedicated Kintsugi Travel section on its website, where clients will find suggestions and advice on how to travel better, where they can practice undertourism and which destinations and communities will benefit the most from their visit. The section will also include new collections and itineraries for community-based tourism, indigenous tourism, flight-free travel and philantourism – the concept of specifically choosing a down-on-its-luck destination and making sure your tourist dollar is going directly into the local economy.

It turns out that the tailormade tour operator was pushing on an open door as their clients have fully embraced the concept, with more people than ever swapping last-minute 'throwaway' trips – that were never sustainable in the long run – for well-planned and researched holidays that are a force for good.

Tom Barber, Co-founder of Original Travel says: 'In a year that marks Original Travel's 20th anniversary, we have seen travel change in a multitude of ways, but Kintsugi Travel represents a real stepchange towards thoughtful and meaningful tourism. Since the pandemic, our clients are more mindful than ever of the impact their travels have and want to make their trips count for something, with an increase in requests for holidays that directly support local communities and contribute to the local economy and that get away from the masses to enjoy less-visited areas. With our global network of contacts, expertise in these areas, Foundation supporting humanitarian projects and 100% carbon absorption on flights and ground transportation, we're the gold lacquer that connects all the pieces.'

Community-Based Tourism

Community-based tourism – whether that's staying in lodges or booking an experience or excursion by an outfit owned and run by the local communities - is so mutually beneficial; the visitor enjoys a much more rewarding and memorable experience and the communities directly benefit from the bookings – something that is more important now than ever after an incredibly hard two years.

Sample package: Original Travel's 14-day Wildlife Wandering in Guyana itinerary includes accommodation at Surama Eco-lodge, which is managed and conserved by the local Makushi Amerindian community, who take great pride in showing guests around the village, neighbouring wildlife, forest and grasslands.
Prices from £3,055 per person, based on 2 sharing and including flights, transfers, 13 nights' B&B accommodation and guided activities. Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, www.originaltravel.co.uk.

Indigenous Tourism

Indigenous tourism is becoming more and more important, with tourists wanting to know their trip will directly benefit the guardians of the destination they are visiting. This is well-practiced in British Columbia, where the Haida First Nations Community operate a lodge and cultural programmes on the North Coast, ensuring career opportunities for indigenous Haida citizens, along with strengthening the economy. Haida House is now being joined by indigenous-owned and -operated Nemiah Valley Lodge, which will open for its first full season in the interior Chilcotin region of BC in June 2023. The lodge marks the first tourism venture on Tsilhqot'in title lands after a landmark ruling awarded the First Nation rights to their traditional territory.

Sample package: Travel between the lodges on Original Travel's 13-day family holiday. Prices from £8,125pp, based on four sharing and including return flights, all transfers and 11 nights' B&B accommodation. Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, www.originaltravel.co.uk.

Undertourism

Of the 195 countries across the globe, the top 20 account for almost two-thirds of tourist visits. Put simply, 'overtourism' means too many of us visiting too few destinations. It's time for a fundamental rethink of where we travel – and why. It's time to trade in Instagram hotspots for offbeat havens and rediscover our curiosity for travel beyond the guidebook or the Instagram feed. Original Travel has long championed the concept of undertourism; not only is it far more rewarding and memorable for tourists who forge their own path, rather than following an identikit experience to thousands of others, but it alleviates pressure on an area's finite resources and helps spread tourist dollars further and wider. With that in mind, Original Travel will shortly be launching a 'Secret Series' collection of itineraries, which highlights seldom-visited regions of some our favourite holiday destinations, including France, Italy and Spain.

Sample package: Hilltop Hikes and Wildlife Watching in Italy's Hinterland in Abruzzo National Park. Home to approximately 60 mammal species and 300 different bird species, the park is teeming with life. You will have the chance to spot everything from deer and wolves to bears and wild boar. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to learn about the rewilding efforts in the area and the close connection between the local communities and the natural surroundings. Enjoy an overnight stay in a remote mountain refuge. This is a real highlight with the chance to be at one with nature as you cosy up in the simple yet comfortable lodge, tuck into a delicious dinner with local produce and fall asleep to the sound of howling wolves.

Original Travel's 8-day Wildlife Watching in Italy's Hinterland itinerary costs from £2,500pp, based on two sharing. The price includes all flights, transfers, guided activities and accommodation. Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, www.originaltravel.co.uk.

Flight-free Travel

Although Original Travel absorbs the carbon emissions of not only international flights, but also domestic flights and overground travel, the operator still encourages swapping flying for road or rail as it's a perfect opportunity to see more of the country and where you're far more likely to strike up conversation with locals.

Sample Package: Original Travel's seven-night 'gastrainomy' tour combines several of the finest culinary destinations in Europe into one round trip. From London, take the train to Bordeaux for wine tastings, then on to Madrid, Seville (to sample tapas in the city that invented and perfected the concept), Barcelona for pica-pica, the Catalan equivalent of tapas, Lyon, the culinary capital of France, and Paris in time for one last classic bistro lunch before the Eurostar back to London.
Prices from £3,655 per person based on two sharing and including all train tickets and six nights' accommodation. Original Travel 020 3582 4990; www.originaltravel.co.uk

Philantourism

Philanthropic tourism – or Philantourism, if you will – is the act of choosing a holiday or experience in order to support a destination. It's a natural evolution of voluntourism, but less of a commitment; you don't need to do anything after you arrive, other than enjoy the culture, buy local and put your spending money into the tourism economy.

Sample Package: Original Travel's 15-day Philantourism in Sri Lanka itinerary keeps the focus on staying at family-owned guesthouses, using local guides, eating street food and getting fully immersed in the country's local culture and traditions. Learn the art of traditional drumming, visit a fishing community to learn how to cast the traditional way, explore the ancient sites of Anuradhapura and Sigiriya, take a cookery class at a local home, visit a school in the tea hills where the remote communities are trained and educated and enjoy the wildlife by safari drives, kayak and bike.

From £3,920 per person, based on two sharing and including return flights, transfers, all experiences and guides and 14 nights' accommodation. Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, originaltravel.co.uk 

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Follow us on instagram @originaltravel for more travel inspiration and for more information contact: press@originaltravel.co.uk; 020 3582 4990

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Notes to Editors:

Original Travel curates tailor-made itineraries, crafted by destination experts, to 77 countries worldwide from Anguilla to Zimbabwe. Since its launch in 2003, it has created 50,000 itineraries, each unique and adhering to the company ethos that “Life is in the Detail”.

Original Travel is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Campbell Irvine Ltd, who are authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and who offer a brand new travel insurance policy that includes cover for cancellation or curtailment of a trip due to contracting coronavirus, or through being quarantined or refused permission to travel due to infection or suspected infection. This insurance policy is only valid for travel to countries where there is no FCDO advice against all but essential travel. Full details can be found on a new section on Original Travel's website, entitled 'Coronavirus Confidence'.

Original Travel also has its own specialist dive division. Original Diving is the world's only luxury dive travel outfit.

Three of our consultants were recognised in Conde Nast Traveler's 2022 Travel Specialists list, including Co-founder Tom Barber as family specialist, Jacqui Brooks as Indonesia specialist and Oliver Rodwell as Mexico specialist, giving an excellent snapshot of our expertise. Also in 2022, Original Travel was named as one of world's Best Tour Operator's in Conde Nast Traveler's annual Reader's Choice Awards.

Original Travel clients enjoy a wealth of additional services they would not find with any other UK tour operator, including:

· Access to a network of 70-plus Concierges who live locally, know their destinations inside and out and are extremely well-connected. They lend fantastic ground support, offering insider recommendations, facilitating any last-minute changes and troubleshooting.
· A brace of additional services designed to make departure easier than ever. Every Original Travel client, regardless of whether they're off on a long weekend to Seville, or a multi-destination sabbatical, will enjoy UK airport meet and greet, fast track UK check-in, fast track UK security*, lounge access and pre-booked flight seats. There are also upgrade options to include: a luggage transfer service from your home to the airport; fast track check-in and security and lounge access on your flight home; fast track through immigration on your return to the UK.
· The knowledge that not only will Original Travel absorb the carbon footprint of their international flights, but also - in an industry-first - car-hire and transfers, and other flights (even if booked independently).
· The knowledge that they are contributing to Our Foundation, which supports nearly 100 humanitarian projects in 30 developing countries. To date, nearly £1.5 million has been invested to support five key areas: child protection, vocational training, economic development assistance, preservation of cultural and natural heritage and safeguarding the lifestyles of indigenous peoples.