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ETHICAL TRAVELLER:FOUR YEARS ago I watched a Masai warrior stand in front of a roomful of tourism executives and academics and say, very politely: “All we want is a voice.” This was in response to endless PowerPoint presentations on sustainable tourism, ethical policies and community-empowerment strategies. The elder was making the point that we can have all the strategies in the world, but it’s only through talking to the locals in tourism destinations that we can make tourism responsible. There was silence in the room. This wasn’t in anyone’s script, and nobody was able to give an adequate response or offer of support.

Which is why I was overjoyed to see so many indigenous communities, or organisations committed to sustaining them, being recognised at Wednesday’s Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, in London.