Kansas City, KS (PRWEB) August 23, 2011

Travel enthusiasts of all tastes, budgets, and adventure levels now have a centralized, user-friendly forum to find trips that make a difference. Kutoa, whose name means “to give” in Swahili, recently launched an innovative new travel site at KutoaTravel.com. The website lists accommodations and tour operators around the world that contribute time, goods, or services to important local causes at no extra expense to the traveler.

Travelers searching KutoaTravel.com can find a vast and varied array of travel opportunities from Ecuador to Egypt, from Belize to Britain, and everywhere in between. For example, listings on the site include an eco-lodge in Nicaragua that also runs an agricultural training college for local farmers, a luxury diving resort in Fiji that established its own foundation to support local community development and conservation projects, and a safari company in Tanzania that donates money to build libraries and schools for local children. Some businesses listed on Kutoa also encourage travelers to engage directly with the communities they visit by bringing or buying much-needed supplies, or by volunteering during their trip. This traveler-to-community interaction not only empowers and benefits local communities but also allows for a more meaningful experience for travelers, who see the tangible social good of the money they invest in their trips.

Whereas “green travel” has been a household phrase for years, “socially green travel” and “socially responsible travel” recently appeared on the global scene and are quickly becoming the hottest new trend in tourism. Kutoa, whose founder coined the phrase “socially green travel,” is distinct in that it specifically handpicks socially conscious hotels and excursion companies that focus on the people and social causes within 50 miles (80 km) of where those companies operate. While Kutoa encourages its member businesses to implement environmentally green practices, the company’s focus centers on social responsibility and promoting trips that proactively benefit the people of the local communities. Although socially green travel is still a relatively new concept, the increasing interest from travelers in finding trips that make a difference indicates that this exciting new industry can expect rapid and expansive growth over the next few years.

Kutoa rigorously screens all of its member businesses before listing them on its website to ensure they fit the company’s socially green criteria. Currently, qualifying businesses can capitalize on a promotional 6-month free membership with Kutoa by contacting the company directly throughKutoaTravel.com.

For more information and news about Kutoa, including information about the free 6-month membership for qualifying businesses, visit http://www.KutoaTravel.com