ABOUT THEGOODTOURIST

HOW IT STARTED - Ann-Britt Sternfeldt went to The Gambia 1997 with instructions by a Swedish NGO to visit schools. She was amazed by the beauty of the landscape and the friendliness of the people, but she was challenged by the poverty. She felt the whole situation was weird, that she, and other "privileged" people, could come to this wonderful country and walk on the beaches, see the wildlife, take part in the interesting culture, and this - while people were starving. While young boys and girls were "bought" for sexual pleasure. While the coast line was eroding, caused by hotels and restaurants being built too close to the beaches. This was not genuine tourism, this was "neo-colonialism", this was a modern form of slavery.

Ann-Britt had been involved in fair trade issues and suddenly it struck her mind that this idea should be used in guide books. She thought that there should be guide books giving concrete advice about what travellers could do so their money support local people and local economy instead of "running" out to other countries. Several guide books support responsible travel today but there are not really any guide books focusing entirely on specific issues in specific countries, so Ann-Britt thought she better start with that herself. The idea about TheGoodTourist was born.

AFTER VISITING THE GAMBIA, Ann-Britt wrote a few guide books about responsible travel in her native language Swedish. The guides got good reviews and receiving encouraging words from readers Ann-Britt knew she was on the right track, but as Swedish is a small language she felt she didn't reach enough travellers. So when a good friend gave her the advise to write in English, and change the concept into PDF-files to be sold on Internet, Ann-Britt thought that must be the way to go. So in co-operation with Per-Ola Axelsson and Maria Körle, and some dedicated friends, the new concept of TheGoodTourist was launched in March 2008.

Stone circle covered with snow, Ringestena,
Västra Götaland, Sweden.