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17 May 2023

COVID-19: In Transit

In February 2020, we published a story about Batu Batu, a resort in Malaysia with a heart for marine conservation. Little did we know that holidays were about to become pipe dreams, as COVID-19 unleashed its full weight on the world.

With travel off the cards, and a pandemic to fight, we at Our Better World put stories about travel in the backseat while stories about COVID-19 relief came to the forefront, as seen in our HumanKind series.

Nine months on, the pandemic in many parts of the world has not abated, depriving communities reliant on international tourism of their means to survive. The United Nations estimates that the tourism industry faces US$1 trillion in losses due to COVID-19, and some 100 million jobs are at risk.

The Better Traveller has always featured people and organisations that do good for their communities and the environment, while delighting travellers. Now, despite their hardships, these organisations remain resilient and true to their mission, and are finding new ways to carry on. And these are the stories we want to share over the next few months, so that you too, can make a difference by supporting their efforts.

For example, instead of hiking through the Himalayas with a locally-owned trekking enterprise, you can now buy carbon credits to support their reforestation programme, which generates income and does the environment good. Instead of unwinding in a home stay with hill tribes in northern Thailand, you can order meals in Bangkok cooked with ingredients harvested by the same tribes, creating income for them.

Through our stories, take a different kind of “trip” with us: discover how those in the travel for good space are finding new ways to support communities. And don’t forget to bookmark them for future trips. When borders reopen, we can all be better travellers.

Explore stories

Views reference
COVID-19
JOURNEY

Sewing stories of resilience at Mekong Quilts

Love the crafts of Mekong Quilts? Meet the women from the Mekong Delta who create them while building a better life for their families

  • Vietnam
  • Ho Chi Minh City
  • 05 Jul 2022
COVID-19
JOURNEY

A dreamy getaway in the Philippines with dreams of inclusion

Nestled amid tall pines and lingering sea breezes, Zambawood is a holiday retreat with a mission to empower people of all abilities.

  • Philippines
  • Zambales
  • 07 Apr 2022
COVID-19
JOURNEY

A mountain getaway protecting a refuge for red pandas

Travel to the border between India and Nepal to take in the breathtaking Himalayas — and see if you can spot a certain red-haired resident on the way.

  • India
  • West Bengal
  • 16 Feb 2022
COVID-19
JOURNEY

In COVID-19, Phare circus keeps the lights on

This circus with a social mission is helping the arts and livelihoods survive the pandemic through global support

  • Cambodia
  • Siem Reap
  • 22 Jan 2022
COVID-19
JOURNEY

A Himalayan homestay that’s an Ark for rural empowerment

Savour the joys of slow living with a community-led tourism initiative that preserves rural values amid urban demands

  • India
  • Uttarakhand
  • 19 Jan 2022
COVID-19
JOURNEY

Getaways that give back

Ready to rediscover the joy of travel after a COVID-19 hiatus? Here's a list of ideas to get you started.

  • Malaysia
  • Johor
  • 16 Nov 2021
COVID-19
JOURNEY

Explore Malaysia with the Orang Asli as your guides

Connect with Malaysia’s indigenous cultures through Native and their Orang Asli guides

  • Malaysia
  • Selangor
  • 29 Sep 2021
COVID-19
JOURNEY

Preserving palaces — and livelihoods — in a pandemic

Terrapuri’s restored palaces takes you back in time while breathing new life into a sleepy seaside town

  • Malaysia
  • Terengganu
  • 04 Aug 2021
COVID-19
JOURNEY

Feed Bali cooks up hope amid COVID-19

A cooking school in Bali shut their doors when the pandemic started. But a new mission has them fired up: feeding Balinese in need

  • Indonesia
  • Bali
  • 09 Jun 2021

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We tell stories of everyday people doing good in Asia, to inspire action. Through The Better Traveller, you can dive into our travel stories and share ideas on how to make a difference on the go.

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Copyright@2023 Our Better World, the digital storytelling initiative of the Singapore International Foundation , which brings world communities together to do good. Our Better World is not a travel agent, and we do not get commission from your enquiries or bookings.