Travel is inherently political. The ability to move freely within the world is a privilege not afforded to all, and it is a fact that travel is not safe for everyone. You might follow us for our guides to the national parks, outdoors, or road trips—types of trips that have not always been safe for all travelers, and which continue to be inequitable due to systemic racism, bias, and oppression.
As a travel publisher, we recognize the impact of our decisions, from which destinations we cover to how we cover them. And we know we have an obligation to both travelers and the communities they visit to promote tourism in an ethical and inclusive way.
In 2020 it became abundantly clear that steps we had been taking behind the scenes to increase the diversity of our authors, partners, and content weren’t enough. We firmly believe that change requires accountability, and this page is a living document to inform the travel community how we are supporting underrepresented and/or historically excluded travelers.
Our ongoing steps include:
- Using digital platforms like our website, consumer newsletter, and social channels to actively and continuously highlight underrepresented voices and communities, including paying diverse creators to share their travel experiences and tips on Moon’s blog. We have developed a standardized rate sheet that fits with our budget for micro influencers to allow us to be more transparent and equitable and ensure we are not paying people of color less than white influencers.
- Diversifying our network of influencers to include more Black travelers, people of color, and/or LGBTQIA+ individuals. In 2021 we sponsored campaigns with travelers representative of the following: Black: 4 (22%), NBPOC: 6 (33%), White: 8 (44%), LGBTQIA+: 2 (11%), Disabled and/or chronic illness: 6 (33%), Diverse body types: 8 (44%), Neurodivergent: 2 (11%)
- Optimizing digital content for accessibility with alt tags for images and captions for videos.
- Updating our series guidelines to prioritize inclusion of Black-owned businesses and resources for travelers of color. We are also doing sensitivity reads for top titles, addressing the experiences of oppressed and underrepresented people, and working with our authors to center perspectives that have been historically excluded.
- Sourcing photos for our books that better reflect the diversity of US travelers. Our production team is partnering with influencers to widen our scope of representation and add more images featuring travelers of color and LGBTQIA+ travelers. We want to show, visually, that travel is for everyone, and that the outdoors is open to all of us.
Travel is a valuable way to explore culture and expand our horizons. We invite your criticism, thoughts, and ideas to improve our coverage. Send us a direct message on Instagram or Twitter @moonguides at any time.
You can read our original commitment statement in support of Black Lives Matter and travelers of color here.