Our Purpose & Local Impact
We lead immersive global experiences that transform participants and create lasting local impact.
Every journey is built on regenerative principles: empowering local communities, backing grassroots projects, and celebrating culture with respect. We co-create with communities, leaders, NGOs, and grassroots organisations so your travels directly support long-term change.
Join us and you want more than just exploring the world; you’re fueling local jobs, supporting small businesses, protecting traditions, and helping shape a more regenerative way to travel.
Every adventure is guided by our core principles:
- Respect local culture and traditional leadership
- Collaborate with communities on their goals
- Support local jobs and community economies
- Align with national priorities and development plans
- Protect ecosystems and the natural environment
- Inspire conscious, curious, responsible travellers
- Regenerate — going beyond sustainability
- Put people and purpose before profit
- Listen to community voices in every step
- Empower local people through true partnership
Travel with us means connecting deeply, learning from new cultures, and knowing your journey creates lasting positive impact.
Transformative Travel = Life-changing journeys that inspire growth and new perspectives.
Regenerative Travel = Beyond Sustainability. Giving back more than we take and creating long-term benefit for people, place, and planet.
Our expeditions are built on a foundation of cultural respect, honouring local traditions, supporting community priorities, and contributing directly to local economies. This creates meaningful outcomes, not only for the communities we work with and the countries we live in, but also for the participants who join us. For this reason, we define our impact across three core channels: Participants. Local Community. Destination.
Expeditions that are Deeply Rooted in Partnership and Long-Term Impact.
This is our model of ethical adventure travel. Driven by purpose and grounded in values. This is what we believe in and stand for as an organisation.
We call it the Think Pacific CARE approach. It stands for:
C – Community.
A – Authenticity.
R – Regeneration.
E – Education
Empowerment. Ownership. Opportunity.
✅ Co-creation with communities – Every expedition is designed with and led by local communities, respecting customary governance: vanua (Fiji), banjar & desa adat (Bali), and TAOs (Thailand)
✅ Job creation & local leadership – We prioritise the employment, training, and leadership of local people — from expedition coordinators to cultural guides and community hosts.
✅ Youth empowerment – Young people gain confidence, skills, and leadership experience through meaningful roles in guiding, logistics, and cultural exchange.
✅ Sustainable investment – Each expedition contributes directly to community-run enterprises, homestays, artisans, and infrastructure, keeping economic benefits within rural economies.
✅ Knowledge exchange & capacity building – Expeditions are a platform for two-way learning, combining local expertise with global perspectives to build long-term capacity.
✅ Equity in access & representation – We ensure diverse and inclusive participation by elevating the voices of women, youth, and underrepresented groups in shaping and leading experiences.
Respect. Culture. Purpose.
✅ Cultural Integrity: Programs are immersive, slow-paced, and led by those who carry the culture and not by external interpretations.
✅ Tradition & Protocol: We uphold and respect sacred practices such as kava ceremonies (Fiji), canang sari offerings (Bali), and temple rituals (Thailand).
✅ Respect Through Language & Custom –We encourage the use of local language and the respectful observance of customs, dress codes, and protocols with humility and care. From greetings to clothing to conduct, each expedition is grounded in the belief that cultural respect is shown through everyday actions.
✅ Local Worldviews – Indigenous knowledge and community priorities shape every experience.
✅ Purpose Over Profit – We always prioritise people, culture, and community needs over commercial gain.
✅ Cultural Understanding, Not Consumption – We work with community leaders to ensure traditions are preserved, respected, and shared with consent, never commercialised or commodified.
✅ Time & Presence Matter – We slow down the pace of travel to allow for genuine connection and understanding, rather than surface-level tourism. Immersion, not ticking boxes.
Nature. Balance. Future.
✅ Carbon Neutral Expeditions – We carefully measure the CO₂ emissions generated by each expedition itinerary and fully offset them through verified environmental projects, ensuring every journey is carbon neutral.
✅ Environmental Action – Every expedition includes a hands-on contribution to a local environmental initiative. From coral planting in tabu marine zones to mangrove reforestation and plastic recycling efforts, we help restore and protect fragile ecosystems.
✅ Climate-Conscious Expeditions- Our programs are thoughtfully crafted to minimise environmental impact through low-emission transport, plastic-free operations, and locally sourced, sustainable food systems.
✅ Local-First Design – We place local people at the centre of expedition planning and delivery, ensuring that nature-based experiences are led by those who live in and care for these environments.
✅ Community Innovation – We actively support locally-led solutions to environmental challenges, including eco-tourism and climate education aimed at building long-term resilience and sustainability.
✅ Learning Through Nature – Expeditions offer participants the opportunity to deepen their environmental understanding by engaging with traditional ecological knowledge, community conservation practices, and local environmental priorities.
Learning. Exchange. Global Citizenship.
✅ Thematic Journeys – Purpose-driven expeditions built around a central theme, from cultural immersion to outdoor adventure to mental wellbeing or creative expression. Each journey inspires deeper connection, reflection, and discovery. This is more than travel — it’s travel with meaning.
✅ Cross-Cultural Dialogue – We foster humility, empathy, and two-way exchange, breaking down stereotypes, building global awareness, and nurturing mutual respect.
✅ Immersive Learning – Expeditions are designed as hands-on learning journeys that inspire curiosity, critical thinking, and ethical global citizenship, both during and long after the experience.
✅ Skills & Knowledge Sharing – Our expeditions create platforms for reciprocal learning. Participants and local community members engage in conservation, enterprise, health, and education, sharing both practical skills and lived experience.
✅ Challenge as a Catalyst – We believe real growth comes from stepping outside comfort zones. Our expeditions are designed to build confidence, adaptability, and resilience through meaningful adventure.
✅ Reflection & Integration – Guided team reflections and discussion are embedded into every expedition, helping participants process their experiences and carry new perspectives forward with purpose.
Since 2009, Think Pacific has achieved the following milestones
- Over £15 million GBP invested into our partner destinations at grass-roots level through direct funding, local partnerships, and program delivery
- 300+ jobs created for local staff, project leaders, and partner organisations.
- 9 + Agreements with Government Ministries to support national development goals
- 12,000+ young people have joined us and engaged in responsible travel
- 400+ community-based partners – From NGOs, to social enterprises, from locally owned eco-tourism operators, to government ministries, all benefiting from community based travel.
- 1000+ initiatives Achieved Through Our Foundation – Including 200+ infrastructure projects funded for rural communities in Fiji, enabling profits to build schools, hospital clinics and community centres.
- 3000+ Training Opportunities For Local Youth – Nurturing local youth by providing access to internships, training programs, scholarships, leadership roles and through our foundations’ community-based workshops.
Our expeditions contribute to big-picture goals, which include sustainable community-based tourism, regenerative travel, cultural preservation and environmental protection.
Small group travel that is community first. Co-created with local communities, rooted in traditional leadership, and designed to support local enterprises and NGO’s, with community priorities at the core.
The following reports offer a deep dive into the successes and learnings of the previous year in both Fiji and Bali. They highlight key feedback, statistics and other trends so that all may understand the extent of our impact and the direction we are taking as we continue moving towards ‘Think Global’.
On behalf of the entire TP team. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has contributed in any way to the TP Foundation across the past year and I hope you enjoy reading and reflecting on what has been a momentous year – Tom Scrase.
Annual Report – Fiji – Download Here 👈
Annual Report – Bali – Download Here 👈
We believe that impact must be measured to be meaningful. To ensure our work remains transparent, effective, and aligned with local priorities, we regularly analyse our outcomes, produce impact reports, and submit official updates to relevant government ministries in our partner countries.
To ensure our work creates meaningful, measurable, and lasting outcomes, Think Pacific is committed to tracking our impact across all operations. Our 10-Year Global Impact Framework is our strategy for monitoring and evaluation. This is made up of five strategic areas we are monitoring consistently across each delivery destination.
🌿 1. Respecting Local Perspectives and Indigenous Governance
We monitor how our programs align with and support traditional governance and cultural authority by tracking:
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% of programs co-designed with community leaders
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Number of formal agreements or MOUs with indigenous or local governance structures (e.g. vanua, banjar, TAO)
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Number of cultural induction or training sessions delivered to participants
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Community satisfaction scores on cultural respect and consultation processes
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Case studies documenting local leadership influence in program design or delivery
💛 2. Empowering Communities through Co-Created Initiatives
We track how communities lead and sustain projects, and how we support their priorities, through:
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% of initiatives identified and prioritised by the community
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Number of co-creation workshops held with local stakeholders
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Number and type of community-led projects implemented
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Capacity-building sessions delivered to local staff and community members
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Level of post-program community ownership and continuation
📈 3. Investing in Jobs, Small Businesses, and Inclusive Economic Growth
We measure the economic impact of our programs by tracking:
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Total local wages paid (annually and cumulatively)
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Number of local staff employed (disaggregated by role, gender, and age group)
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Number of local businesses or cooperatives supported (e.g. homestays, artisans, guides)
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Percentage of program budget spent on local procurement
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Number of enterprise training sessions delivered or businesses incubated
🎎 4. Preserving Cultural Identity and Restoring Natural Ecosystems
We evaluate both cultural and environmental contributions through two streams of tracking:
Cultural Indicators
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Number of cultural protocols embedded in program design
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Number of cultural leaders or stewards engaged
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Hours of cultural exchange sessions (e.g. storytelling, language, rituals)
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Feedback from elders or cultural committees on cultural integrity
Environmental Indicators
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Number of conservation or regeneration projects completed
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Hectares of land or coastline restored or protected
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Number of trees planted, coral rehabilitated, or species monitored
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Number of participants trained in sustainability practices
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Reductions in carbon emissions or waste per participant (where measurable)
🌍 5. Inspiring the Next Generation of Ethical Travellers and Global Citizens
We measure participant transformation and long-term global citizenship through:
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Participant self-assessments of cultural awareness and global mindset (pre/post)
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Number of participants engaged in structured reflection and learning modules
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% of alumni involved in sustainability, volunteering, or social impact after return
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Documented stories of behaviour or mindset change (e.g. career direction, advocacy, lifestyle)
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Net Promoter Score (NPS) and qualitative testimonials
Think Pacific integrates directly with national strategies for sustainable travel and inclusive development in each of our destinations. We hold several formal MOU’s with government departments and National Tourism Associations to partner with them and achieve aims in direct collaboration.
Here are the national policies, plans and tourism initiatives that we support:
🇫🇯 Fiji
- Fiji National Development Plan (2017–2036)
- Supporting goals in education, youth development, rural infrastructure, healthcare, and job creation
- Working in formal partnership with Fijian Ministries
- National Sustainable Tourism Framework (2024–2034)
- Aligned with pillars of community prosperity, ecosystem protection, cultural integrity, and visitor value
- Delivered through ethical travel, local leadership, and education-based programming
- Ministry of iTaukei Affairs Cultural Protocols
- Honouring cultural knowledge, land rights, and traditional authority
- Embedded into every program through community leadership structures
🇹🇭 Thailand
- Sustainable Tourism Goals (STGs) to 2030
- Adapted from the UN SDGs: inclusion, sustainability, equity
- We support this through education, environmental awareness, and respectful cultural immersion
- Thailand Green Plan 2030
- Focused on low-carbon and conservation-based tourism
- Our contribution: permaculture training, zero-waste workshops, and local conservation projects
- ESG ‘Village to the World’ Model
- Community-driven, values-led tourism
- Think Pacific supports slow, immersive, and locally owned tourism pathways
- GSTC-Recognised Standards
- Upholding Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria: equity, culture, ecology, economy
- Our programs reflect these values in design and delivery
- National Strategy (2017–2036)
- Thailand 4.0 vision: innovation, inclusion, and sustainability
- We align through youth leadership training and SEP-aligned activities (Sufficiency Economy Philosophy)
- OTOP Model
- Support for rural entrepreneurship and village-made products
- Our programs connect participants with cooperatives, artisans, and changemakers
- TEATA Collaboration
- Working with the Thai Ecotourism & Adventure Travel Association to uphold national tourism standards and ethics
🇮🇩 Bali (Indonesia)
- Law No. 15 of 2023 – Sustainable Tourism Governance
- Mandating inclusive, community-driven planning
- Think Pacific works directly with community leaders for co-creation and capacity building
- Love Bali Campaign
- Supporting the conservation levy and educating participants about its purpose
- Designing experiences that contribute to cultural and environmental protection
- Cultural Regulations
- Respecting sacred sites, ceremonies, and dress codes
- Delivered through pre-departure training, local guides, and on-site workshops
- Tri Hita Karana
- Core to Think Pacific’s design and philosophy — harmonising people, planet, and spirit
- Pentahelix Model
- Partnering with government, academia, business, media, and communities for lasting change
- Sustainable Tourism Villages
- We work in and with recognised regenerative tourism villages like Penglipuran
- Offering homestays, artisan workshops, and community-run experiences
- Bali NZE 2045
- Net-zero goals supported through green energy education, reforestation, and eco-accommodation initiatives
As a for-impact organisation within the realm of travel, we find ourselves in a sector that can easily be delivered unethically; becoming exploitative of cultures and societies, leveraging global challenges or the resources of other countries for business gain and reinforcing unequal power dynamics in global discourse. Whether a model is considered ethical or not comes down to how the programmes are structured and how our overall impact model is communicated and actualised. Being clear of the roles within this model are important.
Without careful design and communication, the same model could be at risk of leading to harm.
For Participants:
- Lack of respect of host culture can tarnish learning experience and is inappropriate
- Lack of willingness to learn will stunt the growth experience
- Shallow cultural engagement can reinforce stereotypes and biases
For Partners:
- Time and energy may be diverted from more effective business models or activities
- Reinforces unbalanced global power dynamics
- Limits space for local people to take part
For Destinations:
- Economic benefits may concentrate in already wealthy areas
- Can unintentionally displace local labour or learning opportunities
- Contributes to over-tourism and short-term fixes
- Contributes to environmental pressures
Partners’ Voices From Fiji Explaining The Local Impact Of Previous Expeditions
In this video, partners from government, NGOs, and local leadership share how Think Pacific’s small-group expeditions spark authentic connection, cultural collaboration, and community transformation. These immersive journeys in Fiji aren’t just about exploration, they’re about:
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Deep, respectful engagement with indigenous governance and traditions
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Equitable co‑creation of community-led initiatives
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Shared responsibility and mutual learning across cultures and generations
Through the stories our partners tell, we see how our model of regenerative small‑group travel creates lasting local impact, reshaping both the destinations we visit and the travellers who join us.
Think Pacific programs are partnership-based, regenerative, and purpose-led. Our aim isn’t just to take people somewhere; it’s to transform perspectives, strengthen local partners, and create long-term, measurable impact. We try to go beyond “Sustainable Travel” and actually become “Regenerative.”
Sustainable travel asks: How do we reduce the damage we cause?
Regenerative travel asks: How do we contribute to the health and renewal of the places we visit — socially, culturally, and ecologically?
| Area | Sustainable Travel – Minimize Harm | Regenerative Travel – Create Net Positive Impact |
| Environment | Staying in environmentally friendly accommodation. | Participating in reforestation initiatives managed by local communities, whilst staying in locally owned accommodation |
| Community Benefit | Buying from local shops and markets | Co-developing or contributing to local entrepreneurship programs, skills training, or microgrants that create new opportunities. |
| Cultural Integrity | Attending cultural performances as a guest | Engaging in structured, respectful cultural exchange led by local elders or knowledge keepers, with consent and reciprocity |
| Economic Impact | Supporting small, local businesses | Ensuring the majority of your travel fee stays in the host community and is reinvested in community priorities |
| Accommodation | Staying at a locally-owned guesthouse | Staying in a regenerative eco-lodge that restores land, employs locals, and supports community programs |
| Traveler Role | Conscious, low-impact consumer | Active co-learner, listener, and ally in community-led development and ecological renewal |
| Approach to Place | Leave no trace | Leave a place better than you found it, by supporting its capacity to thrive after you’re gone |
| Program Design | Reduce harm to people and planet | Increase vitality and resilience of people, place, and culture through reciprocal exchange |
If you’ve made it this far, you’ve probably realised that we’re big believers in the power of positive impact through adventure! And what do we ask of you? To be curious, kind, open-minded, and ready to grow. These aren’t just trips, they’re immersive journeys into unfamiliar environments, designed to collaborate with local people and sometimes challenge you and stretch your perspectives.
During your expedition, you’ll be part of a collaborative process, one that’s equitable, respectful, and mutually enriching. We ask you to see every project as a global classroom, a space for reflection, connection, and purposeful travel.
- Arrive with a learning mindset
- Adapt with humility
- Engage with respect
- Recognise and un-learn bias
- Learn from people, place, and experience
This is what makes Think Pacific unique: small teams, shared experiences, and a true cultural exchange where both you and the community benefit.
Join us with a learning mindset, and you’ll leave with lifelong friends, incredible memories and stories of an adventure of a lifetime. And we hope you take pride in knowing that your journey has not only shaped you, but has also contributed directly to local development in a sustainable and ethical way.