Responsible travel helps conserve heritage and biodiversity. The World Tourism Organization defines sustainable travel as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.” Travelers should be aware of how tourism affects the environment, wildlife, local people and businesses, and native cultures. Below are my 10 tips for planning and enjoying sustainable travel.

Tips for Sustainable Travel

1. Pick Low Impact Transportation

Fly less. Instead, consider local adventures such as museums, walking tours of the city, bike tours, or driving to a nearby beach or forest. For longer trips, carpool or travel via public transportation like trains, buses, and ships. If you do fly, take direct flights – they are more fuel efficient, and take-offs and landings cause the most carbon emissions.

2. Travel to Sustainable Destinations

Some destinations are more sustainable based on pledges to protect natural resources, people, and heritage as well as reducing energy consumption. For example, coasts with marine protected areas protect landscapes and aquatic life.

Avoid extremely popular tourist destinations. They often have heaps of people, vehicles, and garbage which can cause environmental damage. If you do want to visit tourist spots, travel during the low season to help offset the ebbs and flows destinations face due to overtourism during peak season. Also consider exploring a second (lesser known) city after sightseeing in a popular one.

EarthCheck, Green Globe, and Green Destinations are certification programs. Some countries have their own certification programs for sustainability initiatives.

3. Participate in Responsible Wildlife Tourism

Choose tours which back conservation by creating and protecting reserves, sanctuaries, and parks. These areas support communities by employing locals to act as guides, rangers, custodians, and guards.

Avoid any promises of up-close animal encounters. You should not be allowed to touch, cuddle, or ride wild animals. There should be strict guidelines for interaction and safe distances.

Learn more about Ethical Wildlife Encounters.

4. Behave Responsibly in Water

When scuba diving and snorkeling, do not touch or step on coral reefs which can damage the ecosystem. According to Earthday.org, 25% of coral reefs worldwide are damaged beyond repair and 65% are under serious threat. Do not touch or feed fish or animals.

Wear reef-friendly sunscreen – avoid products which contain ingredients harmful to marine life.

5. Stay Longer

Enjoy “slow travel” which focuses on immersing yourself and creating a real connection to the community and culture. You’ll learn the area and support locally run businesses and community projects.

Spending longer in one locale cuts down on the carbon footprint of flights and long drives.

6. Partake in Local Activities and Non-Chain Businesses

Participate in activities that are run by or give back to residents. Stay in locally owned accommodations rather than big chain hotels so the money goes into the community.

Eat at local restaurants. For fresher food and limited packaging, buy from markets rather than larger grocery stores.

Purchase souvenirs made by local artisans, direct from the artist when possible.

7. Use Eco-Friendly Booking Sites

There are several sites that help travelers find and research sustainable options. Two examples include:

  • Bookdifferent.com which books accommodations and calculates your carbon footprint per night. It also helps you choose accommodations that inject money back into the local economy.
  • Skyscanner which books flights, hotels, and car rentals. Its Greener Choice feature filters which flights emit less carbon dioxide (CO2) and indicates the reduced CO2 percentage.

8. Make Sure the Business is Third-Party Verified

If you are choosing hotels and tours for their sustainability, make sure a third party certifies them. Businesses should proudly show off certifications and initiatives or at least explain any programs in-depth when asked. Also look for affiliations with organizations like World Wildlife Fund, the Rainforest Alliance, Planeterra Foundation, and the Nature Conservancy.

When I visited Botswana, we stayed at the Chobe Game Lodge. The lodge launched the first electric-powered safaris in Botswana. It has an ongoing commitment to social and environmental responsibility including community initiatives, recycling, grey water recycling, profit sharing, and a youth development program.

Avoid greenwashing – using marketing to deceive customers into believing a company is eco-friendly when it really is not. Watch out for terms like “green” or “eco” without the policies, plans, or certifications to back it up.

For more information, visit the Global Sustainable Tourism Council for certified hotels, tour operators, and destinations.

9. Limit Water Usage

Many hotels offer the option to limit washing towels and changing your sheets. Daily washing wastes energy and water. Hang up your towels to signal you will reuse them. Leave the ‘do not disturb’ sign on the door to reduce linen washing, vacuuming, and cleaning chemicals.

Also do your part in simple ways like turning off the water as you brush your teeth and taking showers rather than baths.

10. Pack Light and Bring Eco-Friendly Products

A plane’s fuel consumption is higher if carrying heavier weight including baggage. Packing less saves fuel and saves you an overweight baggage fee.

Looking for tips about minimal packing? Check out my 15 Tips for Packing Light and Traveling Right.

Bring reusable items such as water bottles and bags. The reduction in plastic for just these two items can really add up, especially on a long trip.

I hope these tips have given you something to consider as you think about more sustainable travel. Do you follow any of these? Comment below!

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