If travel and tourism were a product, and it pretty much is, it’d be worth $5.8 trillion globally, sell 38.9 million units (or flights) in 2019 alone and produce over 1 billion tonnes of CO2. Had the pandemic not happened in 2020, global flights would have hit over 40 million. And that’s just flying, one aspect of tourism. We also spend money on trains, taxis, hotels, restaurants, parks and experiences when we travel. But what does all this travel and adventure seeking cost the earth? Are we able to travel sustainably? And what does sustainable travel even look like?
What is Sustainable Travel?
Sustainable travel is a bit fuzzy and can refer to a few similar but distinct concepts – Ecotourism, Sustainable Tourism and Responsible Travel, all focused on minimizing negative impacts to the environment caused by travel and tourism. Tourism has a lot of benefits but it needs to be managed carefully to avoid over-tourism and harmful impacts to the natural environment.
What is Ecotourism?
“Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and creates knowledge and understanding through interpretation and education of all involved (visitors, staff and the visited).”
International Ecotourism Society, definition of ecotourism
The principles of ecotourism are about uniting communities, conservation and sustainable travel. Ecotourism falls under the category of sustainable travel, but refers to a particular niche within the travel industry. It usually involves small groups traveling to natural areas and positively supporting conservation and indigenous communities.
For more information on ecotourism, read our article “5 Best Countries for EcoTourism“.
What is Sustainable Tourism?
“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.”
UN Environment Program and UN World Tourism Organization, definition of sustainable tourism
The concept of sustainable tourism isn’t meant to be limited to a niche area of the industry. Sustainable tourism is meant to underpin all aspects of the tourism industry, applying equally to cities and resorts as it does to environmentally protected areas. It’s a continuous process and something that everyone should strive for on all levels.
What is Responsible Travel?
“The behavior of travellers aspiring to make choices on their trip according to sustainable tourism practices.”
global sustainable tourism council, definition of responsible travel
Responsible travel is about your individual actions and making decisions when traveling that consciously minimize negative impacts and maximize the positives. This can underpin everything from how you travel, to where you stay and what you eat. Sustainability is now a key factor for most when making a purchase and this shouldn’t go out the window when you’re on vacation.
Why is Traveling Sustainably Important?
As global travel increases, as does the need to protect our environment, preserve cultures and heritages and safeguard locally-owned businesses and employment sources. We’ve already seen the negative impacts of over-tourism in areas like Maya Beach in Thailand, the location of the movie, The Beach, that had to shut down due to coral damage caused by too many visitors. And in Dubrovnik, Croatia, where the Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is mobbed by cruise ships and Game of Thrones fans annually. We’re not going to stop traveling, (2020 aside), and so we need to do it in a responsible way to protect the environment, the local people and the industry in the long term.
Tips for Sustainable Travel
1. Choose Sustainable Transport
Getting to your destination can be a sustainable choice in itself. Avoiding flying is a huge carbon emissions saver but admittedly, not always an option. But once you get to your destination, using public and high-occupancy transport can help reduce harmful emissions caused by getting around.
2. Choose Sustainable Accommodation and Tour Providers
In 2021, 81% of travellers want to stay in a sustainable accommodation in the upcoming year. Sustainable businesses will prominently display their certification like a beacon to the eco-conscious. Not all certifications are equal but you can use websites like ecohotels.com and bookdifferent.com to make the search easier.
3. Pack Light
Traveling light doesn’t just make getting around easier but in the case of your clothes, using a local laundry service on vacation can also provide appreciated income to the area. Adding convenient reusable items in your bag like a reusable bottle or canvas bag can also help reduce your plastic consumption when travelling.
4. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Just because you’re not paying the energy bill or dealing with the garbage on vacation doesn’t mean you can just go ham on energy and throw all you know about recycling out the window. Respecting the place you’re in includes conserving energy and water where you can and recycling properly so you’re not contaminating another country’s recycling system.
5. Buy Local Products and Services
Supporting locally owned businesses and preservation of cultures and heritages is one of the main plus sides of tourism. Immersing yourself in the culture of your travel destination and buying from local businesses helps keep money within the community and supports sustainable tourism in the long term.
For more sustainable travel tips, read our article “5 Tips for Sustainable Travel in 2022“.
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