20 June 2008
Contrary to general belief, luxury travellers are not seeking beach holidays but are generally in search for real experiences in the country visited.
Alyson Cook, editor of Luxury Travel Magazine, has explained that luxury travellers want "something tangible to show from their holiday" for their "dinner party fodder".
By "rescuing turtles" or "helping build huts in Africa", "they can boast to their friends that they have had an experience that no one else has had".
Today's global luxury travel industry represents 25 per cent of international tourism spend, research by the International Luxury Travel Market has revealed.
Travellers interested in getting involved in a conservation project should consider the islands of Cape Verde which are extremely abundant in marine life and home to six turtle species.
Located on the western coast of Africa, Cape Verde is also a major surfing and cultural destination, at the crossroads between Senegal and Brazil.
Frontier organises regular conservation projects in the archipelago to save the endangered turtles from poachers from June to October.
Volunteers always play an active role within the team, taking part in the identification of species, rescue of injured hatchlings, and beach patrols.