Reject neocolonialism

Neocolonialism refers to the power systems that are legacies of colonialism, benefitting one group of people over another. In tourism, experiences that ‘extract’ from communities are an example of neocolonialism. For example, tours of favelas that are observational instead of improving a community, and where money doesn’t stay local.

Rejecting neocolonialism is about acknowledging and accepting privilege. It’s doing whatever we can to ensure tourism doesn't harm communities that have already suffered.

At Intrepid Travel, we will:

• Respect communities by removing and excluding any imagery and language that objectifies or commodifies residents, Indigenous people and local people.

• Adopt Indigenous copy guidelines across our global markets.

• Require mandatory inclusivity training for all marketers to help further decolonise travel.

• Reject projecting a saviour complex and promote travel in a way that fairly portrays and empowers communities.

• Use intentional language to talk about destinations, such as removing the word ‘colonial’ as a positive descriptor.
• Review our photo libraries to ensure imagery does not portray colonial tendencies and gives agency to the subjects.
• Tell stories that do not exoticise or homogenise the local people and are told through a balanced lens.

• 100% of internal image library assets do not portray neo-colonialism (no portrayal of saviorism, photo subjects have sense of agency, etc.)
• 100% removal of the word “colonial” as a positive adjective and descriptor in trips, blogs and social captions
• 20% of first-person social media stories told through the community or host lens

We’d love your feedback. You can message us at accountability@intrepidtravel.com.