The 2019 edition of the British Birdfair will not be quite the same. From this year new rules are in place, which effectively prohibit companies who can not supply a bond for consumer protection to the value of the actual trip for several months after the trip has been completed. This is not possible for most overseas companies so they are instead forced to sell via resellers that have the consumer protection in place. A compromise, which which makes the service more expensive and weakens the the overseas company brand not being able to sell directly. 

These new rules are clearly enforced to protect British companies from what they see as unfair competition from local companies and guides all over the world, who don’t need more than a couple of Social Media accounts to start selling.

Social Media marketing on a global scale will keep on happening regardless of the the new rules. Meanwhile it is reality that the companies that go to the Birdfair can’t sell directly.

The other side of the coin is whether the customer actually needs the Birdfair. All those companies are present on the internet anyway. A few recommendations on Facebook from Birding Friends will put you in the right direction when it comes to chosing a reliable overseas operator. It saves a $1000 dollars or more on many trips, and the group size is most often far smaller. 

UK bird tour operators have a reason to feel threatened. They will lose this game. Having said that, there is still a place for the UK based companies. They employ some of your favorite guides. They can be held accountable if anything goes wrong, and you are covered financially should the local operartor go bust while you are in the country. There are also a lot of pre and post trip services that many UK companies do a lot better than the small companies overseas.
But if the UK companies can’t brand themselves and/or provide a sensational customer experience, these companies will go bust, regardless of these protective measures given at the Birdfair. 

The Birdfair gives at the most some orientation, but in the end, birders and bird photographers will investigate on Social Media, and they will get the recommendations here.

Since there are a lot of companies who are not going to the BirdFair this year, I have simply made a compilation of all NON EUROPEAN bird tour companies and eco lodges that were at the Birdfair in 2018. I have also included all overseas birding companies that were present at American Birding Expo in 2018. This should give a good list of possibilities for you to chose from that are somewhat vetted as companies being serious enough to participate in tradeshows, and which have owners who are experts at what they are doing.

All the information you need you can find on their websites. No need to create a huge carbon footprint to be present at the British Birdfair every year. In this day and age, we really ought to be a bit more responsible. 

One of the best takeaways of the British Birdfair is to meet face to face with other birders. But perhaps it is not necessary to do every year. Furthermore, you know you can make video chats on Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp, Skype and Facetime, right? I am willing to talk to you at any time, if there is anything you wonder about our tours. I am sure all the other operators mentioned here feel the same thing.

For the time being I am not including Europe in the listing, but I will probably make listing for Non-UK listings soon enough. 
Since I did all the work to make this website a reality, I have not included any other Peru company other than my own – Kolibri Expeditions Birding Peru. Kolibri Expeditions now also has a subsidiary that organize short birding and bird photography tours around the world called 7 Wonders Birding. Compare our offerings to other if you like. Get references and advice from your social media friends. 

It will be possible for tour companies, also Peruvian tour companies, to get a premium listing for a small fee with a short description and banners. Money earned from the fees will be used to do social media marketing.

Meanwhile, I and others who chose not to go to the Birdfair this year feel good about saving some money and not contributing to the global warming. In my case, it is about US$ 3500 in costs for air ticket, train, lodging, and a stand at the fair, plus getting new printed material that does not contain my website, plus avoiding 1.6 tCO2 emissions.

Spread the word and share this website with as many as possible. It will be much appreciated and it is good for the climate.