Living & Learning

What Responsible Tourism Means to Us

Responsible tourism means travelling in a way that respects people, place, and heritage. It means leaving destinations better than we found them  - protecting fragile historic environments, supporting local economies, and ensuring that the stories we tell are shared with honesty, accuracy, and deep respect.

As a family-run business, we hold ourselves to a higher standard. Our values aren't shaped by shareholders or corporate mandates, they reflect who we are and what we believe. That personal accountability drives everything, from the guides we train to the partners we choose.

How We Put Ethics into Practice

Supporting Local Communities: We prioritise working with local suppliers, independent businesses, and community organisations. Every booking with Mercat Tours International helps sustain livelihoods rooted in the destinations you visit.  This includes paying the Real Living Wage to our team and Fair Tax accredited because we believe organisations should pay the right amount of corporation tax at the right time and in the right place to allow people and places to thrive.

Protecting Heritage Sites: Our tours are designed to minimise environmental impact. We follow best-practice guidelines for visitor management at sensitive historic sites, ensuring these places remain accessible for generations to come.  This is demonstrated through our MTI Pals Pledge to Talbot House.  Launched in 2024, MTI pledges to donate £50 per school travelling on the MTI Battlefield Experience, annually.  The pledge is paid from MTI profits at no cost to students, families or schools and is a guaranteed minimum of £1000 per year, in perpetuity.  The donation will be used to preserve TH artefacts in order to bring history alive through storytelling. Read more here.

Inclusive and Authentic Storytelling: We believe tourism should amplify local culture, never exploit it. Our expert guides are trained to share histories that are truthful, inclusive, and reflective of the full breadth of human experience to learn from the catastrophic conflicts of the past.

Continuous Improvement: We regularly review our practices, seek feedback from guests and partners, and stay informed by evolving industry standards. Responsible tourism is an ongoing commitment.

We are signatories of the Good Business Charter (GBC) which is an independent certification that recognises responsible business behaviour across ten key components. These components ensure that businesses operate with integrity, fairness and respect for employees, customers, suppliers and the environment.  

Travel With Confidence

When you choose Mercat Tours International, you're choosing a company that treats tourism as a privilege, not a transaction. You can travel knowing your experience is grounded in genuine care — for communities, for culture, and for the world we all share.

Explore responsibly. Travel with Mercat.

Mercat Tours International — Award-winning guided tours rooted in heritage, ethics, and authentic experience.