Tourism that does not consume, and close encounters that enhances

by Eleonora Anello

Kel12, tour operator specializing in trips for small groups and outside the channels of mass organizing special trips that make the social relations at the center of travel in the same places so delicate and precious that almost no one would be accessible and enjoyable by anyone. Attention to ecosystems and local cultures go hand in hand with the acquisition of the proceeds of a sustainable eco-tourism, especially now that Kel12 has signed an agreement with the COSV, non-governmental and non-profit association that for more than 40 years dedicated to the field of development cooperation and humanitarian aid. Kel12 to promote sustainable tourism is to educate travelers through catalogs but mainly through direct marketing efforts such as meetings of preparation for the trip. "Always in the communication policy of Kel12 - says Alberto Addis, co-director together with his brother Piergianni and director of communication- we are the direct meetings with the traveling public. For many years a need linked to the fact that our mode of travel was very innovative, unconventional and out of the usual routes: this led to the need to talk, persuade, use word of mouth. A necessity, but also a desire, pleasure travelers, since we are still the first to be Operators. Only by sharing experiences, listening, discussing, doing projects and giving the body to "dreams" created new products or "revised" able to satisfy a demanding public. In the name Kel12 (the Tuareg language, tribe/family/groups/clan) is already the desire to be a community crew".

So far the story and why. We speak instead of results?
"Definitely encouraging, almost" exceptional "in many returned to winning travel psychological resistance and age, we have explained a lot and done first-hand that our philosophy has not changed and that we are not growing or denatured or mass. In numerical terms, 30% of those who have come to the weekly meetings are a way Morone parties already this summer (and the meetings we have spoken only of the summer trips)".

Within your communication strategy plays an important role in the "Charter of Ethics and travel of the traveler." What is this?
"At this point we have a lot waver. The Charter was prepared ethics already many years ago, when sustainability is not talking. Worse, when those who spoke was mocked, looked with supponenza typical of someone who has something to hide and then cloak of qualities that did not. Then sustainability has become fashionable to use the word freely, flagship. But how often is behind a truly sustainable behavior? At this point we put the text to be partly because there was interested in neither "us beautiful" or direct food controversy. In the end, two years ago, we decided that a conduct was perhaps justifiable, serious and appropriate, but that we were betraying our own beliefs and above all the possibility of helping to respect and enforce. So, now, the Charter is in the bag of all those who travel with us".