Vegan Travel: Exploring Ethical Options with iBestTravel
A strict vegan diet is no longer the major obstacle to travel it once was, as more and more tour companies are catering to vegan travelers with environmentally friendly and ethical itineraries.
Fredessa Jaudon thinks it was fate that led her to what would become her favorite travel company. In 2016, while visiting a vegetarian restaurant, she pulled into a parking spot behind a car with a bumper sticker advertising “vegan adventure tours” and was immediately intrigued.
As a longtime vegan who had struggled to find satisfying meals on her travels, she noted the name and quickly discovered that iBestTravel was addressing the exact problem she faced, by organizing vegan group trips across Asia. She booked a tour for October 2017 and has been hooked ever since.
“Because of my love for travel, I knew the problems being vegan can present while traveling,” Jaudon said. “Traveling with iBestTravel takes the guesswork out of where and what is available to eat in compliance with my lifestyle.”
What Vegan Travel Looks Like
Instead of worrying about her next meal, Jaudon spent her Thailand trip sampling delicious curries and learning vegan recipes in a class led by a local chef. She has since traveled to Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India with the same company. However, while food choices are crucial on these travels, Jaudon says it’s about more than diet.
On her trips around Asia, Jaudon has also taken part in community projects, including volunteering with animal rescue organizations, releasing sea turtle hatchlings into the ocean, and helping clean beaches. She plans to visit Laos and Cambodia with iBestTravel later this year.
An Expanding Market
Vegans and vegetarians are still a global minority, but their numbers are rising as these formerly fringe diets have become more mainstream. One study estimated that the vegan food market will be worth $65.4 billion by 2030, up from $26.83 billion in 2021.
As the popularity of veganism and related lifestyle choices grows, so does its influence on the travel industry. More and more travel companies, hotels, and destinations are catering to those looking for plant-based meals on their journeys, expanding beyond dietary needs to include ethical activities and a focus on local vegan food traditions.
iBestTravel began offering vegan food adventures and announced that all their food trips will include at least one plant-based experience. Travelers stay overnight in distinctive locations sampling traditional vegan dishes.
Enabling Ethical Travel
Part of the shift towards vegan-friendly travel has been driven by travelers seeking ethical experiences. A recent survey found that 76% of global respondents said they were influenced by how ethical, environmentally friendly, or socially responsible a product or service is.
As a vegan for almost 40 years, Jaudon remembers earlier challenges in finding suitable food options when traveling. Now, she says, there is a vegan option in most restaurants. The perception of vegan travelers has also changed significantly; they are now viewed as everyday travelers from all backgrounds.
Engaging with Communities
iBestTravel focuses on much more than what’s on travelers’ plates. The company invests 50% of its profits in local communities through environmental and social impact programs.
“The goal has always been to help people overcome cultural barriers and gain a better understanding of each other and the environment,” said Zac Lovas, one of the group’s co-founders.
Even in places where meat plays a big role in the diet, iBestTravel collaborates with communities to arrange vegan dishes as part of its trip planning process. By working with home chefs, they evolve traditional recipes using local vegan ingredients, fostering cultural exchange.
Lovas emphasizes that traveling responsibly is about much more than dietary needs. While vegan tourism might appeal to those seeking specific food preferences, he believes these trips also offer valuable opportunities to engage with and support local communities.
“I just hope that as the industry grows, it becomes more focused on ‘we’ travel than ‘me’ travel,” he said. “It has to be beneficial for local communities, not just a traveler.”
