Can travel make us better people? Can it make the world a better place? Is it possible to make a positive contribution to a community just by having traveled there? At Trazzler we believe that smart travel can accomplish all of this—and more—and we want to put this idea to the test on Trazzler and Twitter (and send two participants on a one-of-a-kind eco-adventure with our non-profit partner, Seacology).
The Smart Travel Contest provides anyone in the world with a platform to share meaningful travel experiences that do good and go deeper. Smart travel is active, not passive. It is often committed to economic or environmental sustainability. It could be staying at a solar-powered Colorado hotel devoted to conservation, visiting a visionary St. Louis museum with monstrous, play-friendly sculptures made from recycled industrial cast-offs, volunteering to walk rehabilitated pumas in the Costa Rican rainforest, immersing yourself in local life in a South African township, learning to make batik in Senegal, picking chestnuts on an organic farm in Corsica… read more examples.
Just by sharing an smart travel experience on Trazzler and Twitter, entrants will gain the chance to join Seacology staff and supporters on a ecotourism dream trip (valued at $7,500 each) to the South Pacific island of Tonga aboard the NAI’A, one of the world’s top dive and snorkel boats. Seacology is an award-winning charity dedicated to protecting the threatened habitats, species, and cultures of islands worldwide. Tonga is one of the few locations in the world where humans can swim with humpback whales. The 10-day trip will begin in Nuku’alofa, Tonga’s capital and continue north to the Ha’apai island group, where for many years, the NAI’A has been one of the only boats offering the opportunity to swim with humpback whales. In addition to up-close whale encounters, the trip will include opportunities for snorkeling and several night dives amidst Tonga’s pristine coral reefs—and a visit to the Seacology project in the Ha’apai islands, where Seacology is establishing a marine reserve.
While the Smart Travel contest will be an exciting ride for everyone involved, it is our hope that something more meaningful will result. Thousands of entrants will share their smart travel experiences with millions of people on Twitter. Perhaps while planning trip some day in the future, one of these people will recall the contest, think about a smart travel experience, and plan something within reasonable driving distance that fosters investment in a sustainable, local business.
Smart Travel Writing Contest – Enter Now
– Megan Cytron, Trazzler’s Editor