TravelLocal, the Bristol-based firm that connects travellers with local experts in more than 45 destinations, has teamed up with a microfund organisation to lend to low-income entrepreneurs in some of the world’s poorest countries.
For very booking made on its site, TravelLocal is contributing $25 (£19) towards a loan made through Kiva, whose mission is “to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty”. 
TravelLocal was founded in Bristol by Tom Stapleton and Huw Owen in 2012 to empower travellers to create their own tailored holidays by connecting them directly with carefully-selected, tried-and-tested local travel experts in destinations around the world.
The firm, which has grown rapidly and now employs 14 people, showcases local travel companies from more than 40 countries around the world, across Africa, Asia, Central America and the Caribbean, South America, the Middle East and North Africa. It is based in the SETsquared incubator at the Engine Shed innovation centre.
The link-up with Kiva builds on TravelLocal’s ethical stance and its aim of ensuring local people benefit from welcoming travellers into their communities.
It says no other travel company engages with local communities in the way it does or offers customers the chance to make a difference.
Not only do its customers get to experience fantastic destinations, they can give something back to the communities they are visiting. 
Kiva’s loans give people the opportunity to start or grow a business, go to school, gain access to clean energy, and much more.
TravelLocal joint managing director Huw Owen said: “TravelLocal was set up to support local travel entrepreneurs around the world by giving them the tools to compete head-on with big international travel companies.
“Kiva’s ethos is very close to ours and deepens the connection between the traveller and their destination that we are trying to create.
“It felt like a perfect match really. Imagine it – you book your trip to, say, India then, at no cost to you, you can help a local entrepreneur in Jaipur or Cochin or Calcutta. I think that strikes a chord with many people.
“It also felt good to try something completely new and different. The travel industry makes a massive contribution to things like conservation and education – but less so to entrepreneurship.”
Anyone now booking with TravelLocal receives a unique code which they input into Kiva’s website and simply choose which borrower they would like to give the loan to. The cost is borne by TravelLocal and not added to the travellers’ bill.
Since its launch 25 years ago, Kiva’s loans have helped countless entrepreneurs in 84 countries around the world.
For more information on TravelLocal go to https://www.travellocal.com
