7 inspiring people changing the way we travel in 2024

We all love a holiday – but in 2024, the emerging challenge is finding the most ethical means by which to enjoy these experiences. With concerns about the environment and over-tourism on the rise, conscious travellers are looking for places which are kinder to the planet and its people. Now, more than ever, the destinations which are sustainable, accessible and inclusive are in the spotlight.

Several organisations are striving to make a positive impact too, proving how tourism can add to the communities in which it exists. At the forefront of these groups are the people whose own passion for travel developed into an urge to change the industry. From litter-pickers in Copenhagen to safari guides in Tanzania, we spoke to some of our heroes in global tourism about how their inspirational work is paving the way for the future of travel.

The game-changing guide

Mishi Mtili, Singita Grumeti, Tanzania

Mishi MtiliKarin Schermbrucker

“Most guests don’t hide their surprise when they see me, and that means a lot.” So says Mishi Mtili, who is blazing a trail as a female guide at Tanzania’s Singita Grumeti, a series of lodges in a 350,000-acre concession known for its privileged access to the great wildebeest migration. Mtili started 16 years ago as a dishwasher at Singita, one of Africa’s most respected safari brands, but over time kept asking the same question: “What if I can do more?” Now, after a two-year training process, she’s one of Singita’s most admired field guides. And she wants to uplift more women wanting to do the same, including teaching guiding at college.

“I recently taught a class, and all the women were hiding at the back,” she says. “I asked them to come to the front. It’s about building confidence and communication skills while showing that female guides can do everything male guides can do.” Her biggest learning? Simply being herself. “It’s about showing your personality; about showing Mishi is Mishi.” It helps that she adores the wilderness and wildlife along the Grumeti River. “I just love driving around,” she says. “Being out in a very quiet place, stopping the engine, making guests listen and meditate for a few minutes. Understanding nature in the bigger picture is what makes the experience amazing. It’s a therapy, not only for the guests but also for me.” singita.com/region/grumeti

The waterborne litter-pickers

Oke Carstensen & Tobias Weber-Andersen, GreenKayak, Copenhagen

Oke Carstensen and Tobias Weber-Andersen

Less than 24 hours after his kayak company’s yearly clean-up, Tobias Weber-Andersen noticed new rubbish polluting the very places he had just cleared and decided there needed to be a lasting solution. He teamed up with Oke Carstensen, a recent business school graduate, to form GreenKayak in Copenhagen, a rental service which lends kayaks to the public under one condition: that they collect waste from the water while they paddle. Appropriately coloured bright green, the little boats are specially fitted with litter pickers and buckets, and all are available for free. “We’re all responsible for this one planet, and it doesn’t care whether you’re rich or not,” explains Carstensen.

Since 2017, the company has grown from a single kayak on the Danish canals to 80 kayaks across 19 European cities, such as Berlin and Stockholm, with volunteers from more than 100 different countries. “We are very aware that GreenKayak will not solve the issue of environmental pollution,” Carstensen says. “For us, it’s way more about the people; we want them to experience that their actions really matter. It’s so easy to complain about how dirty it is, but you also need to enable people to be part of the solution. We believe that if people see the problem with their own eyes, it can provoke a change in their mindset. You explore the city, but not only by paddling. It’s a whole scavenger hunt!” greenkayak.org

The outdoor diversity advocate

Joshua Adeyemi, Black Scottish Adventurers, Scotland

Joshua Adeyemi

Joshua Adeyemi is an award-winning adventurer who developed a fierce enthusiasm for the Scottish outdoors after moving there more than a decade ago. When he noticed a pattern of friends fascinated by his travels, Joshua wondered whether it was the lack of representation which was holding them back from doing the same. Shortly after, Black Scottish Adventurers (BSA) was born, a community group for people to explore the Scottish wilderness together through activities such as hiking, watersports and barbecues.