A tour operator is celebrating ten years of “making travel meaningful”.

Rickshaw Travel, based in New England Street, Brighton, welcomed its first decade in business by launching Canada, the latest addition to its portfolio.

It specialises in independent holidays and since the company was founded in 2008, it has sent some 30,000 travellers away on adventures across Asia and Central and South America.

Since they began collecting funds, Rickshaw Travel has raised an average £3,000 a year for community initiatives across its destinations.

Managing partner Lloyd Kane said: “We are thrilled to

be in our tenth year of providing meaningful experiences to our customers.

“Here at Rickshaw, we are extremely proud to be able to offer travel experiences that are enriching for travellers and local

communities alike.”

Rickshaw Travel is also on a mission to improve animal welfare tourism.

The company has signed up to the World Animal Protection’s elephant-friendly pledge in 2013, removing elephant-riding from its trips.

It has also partnered with Brighton consultancy company,Animondial to develop an “animal welfare in tourism” starter kit.

Mr Kane said: “Doing our bit to protect wildlife and the environment is hugely important to us and will always be at the forefront of our minds as we continue on our Rickshaw journey, and expand our offering into new destinations.

“I want to say an enormous thank you to all our valued customers, local partners and the entire Rickshaw team for the continued hard work. Here’s to many more decades of meaningful travel.”

Rickshaw also strives to ensure “work” is a positive experience for its staff.

In the last decade, the company has provided more than 50,000 free vegetarian lunches for staff, currently produced by Brighton catering business, Daily Veg.

Rickshaw Travel is proud of its roots and regularly supports events and activities including beach cleaning, and Brighton Pride.

Mr Kane said: “We are committed to providing enriching, immersive travel experiences that take holidaymakers off the beaten path and into the heart of local communities.

“Meaningful travel – or travelling in a way that everybody benefits from – is the core ethos of

Rickshaw.

“The traveller benefits from enriching experiences where they learn something new about the destination, culture, a skill or about themselves, and at the

same time the local people,

animals and/or environment benefit too.”