Become a Sustainable Traveler and Save The Planet

Sustainable travel should be the only way of traveling that we all should follow. From the emission of harmful CO2 to holiday resorts built on natural areas, sustainable travel is nowhere close to international tourism.

The earth has finite resources. There are only limited beautiful and untouched places on the planet, and mass tourism is a threat to their existence. The history, culture, and nature are meant to be preserved, not commodified. 

Unfortunately, most travelers and the tourism industry remain in denial of these facts. This is negatively affecting the environment, local communities, and cultures.That’s where the role of Sustainable Travel comes into play.

Let us first understand What is sustainable travel and three pillar of sustainability.

What is Sustainable Travel?

Sustainable travel is a way of finding a way of traveling that can be maintained for the long term, ensuring no harm to the natural, social, and cultural environment. Sustainable travel aims to minimize tourism impacts and be beneficial to the local area where you travel.

The World Tourism Organisation defines sustainable tourism as “development [which] meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunity for the future. It is envisaged as leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social, and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity, and life support system.”

Sustainable travel is all about valuing the environment and taking care of natural resources. Travelers need to pay more attention to pollution levels and how it directly affects the environment and indirectly affects local wildlife. As a traveler, we should be aware of how tourism affects local businesses, people, and nature cultures.

The Three Pillars of Sustainability

Sustainability has three main principles, known as the Three Pillars of sustainability.

Let’s take a look at the three pillars of sustainability:

• The Environment Pillar

The environmental pillar aims at reducing negative impacts on wildlife and the environment due to traveling. This includes reducing carbon footprint from water usage, air travel, plastic, and packaging waste, and not disturbing wildlife. As a sustainable traveler, simple steps that we can take is carrying our own reusables, looking for restaurants and hotels that follow recycling, and looking for wildlife tourism with responsible tour operators.

• The Social Pillar

The social pillar focuses on the impact of traveling on local communities and people. It is all about supporting businesses that are run by, employ and support local people, NGOs, community tourism projects, social charities, and enterprises as a responsible traveler. Look for opportunities to get involved in similar projects and be aware of businesses’ social, environmental, and ethical practices. 

• The Economic Pillar

           The economic pillar traditionally refers to businesses being profitable to become sustainable. However, when we talk about it from a sustainable travel point of view, the economic pillar is about using money to contribute positively to the local economy. As a tourist, we can spend our money on locally run restaurants, hotels, and tour guides, which will support the local economy. 

 Ways To Be a Sustainable Traveller

As a tourist and traveler, we need to be responsible for advocating sustainable tourism and travel. Although it won’t happen overnight, it will take time. By taking small steps, we can become more sustainable travelers.

Sustainable Accommodation

• Stay in a locally owned hotel.

Support local businesses by staying in local accommodations. This can include B& Bs, guesthouses, Airbnbs, and Couchsurfing. Read the “About” page on the hotels’ official website to get an idea of who owns and runs it. Your stay will become more sustainable if the money contributes to the local economy instead of redirecting to foreign-owned hotel chains and resorts.

• Check for green certifications at hostels and hotels.

Stay in an accommodation that commits to sustainable initiatives. This can include using solar power, recycling, energy-efficient lighting, and so on. Search for eco-hotels that are built and designed sustainably. 

• Avoid large resorts

Large resorts usually hurt the local environment due to the water and energy consumption levels. Changing bed sheets and washing towels every day is common in large resorts, which leads to excessive waste of water and energy. 

• Avoid all-inclusive

An all-inclusive holiday package means that you will be paying for your accommodation, activities, and food up-front. This leaves little space to visit other places like restaurants and participating in cultural activities. Resorts that offer all-inclusive packages are mostly foreign-owned. This means, travelers’ money will not enter the local economy, and this is the opposite of sustainable travel.

• Go wild, Go camping.

If you are committed to becoming a sustainable traveler, then go camping, which is another great accommodation option. spending some time amidst the nature is relaxing and full of thrill.

Sustainable Tours, Activities & Voluntourism

• Use sustainable tour guides and operators with green accreditations.

Take out some time and research before booking your sustainable travel on an international trip. Look for accreditations like Green Globe, GSTC, EarthCheck, Rainforest, Green Tourism Business Scheme, etc. 

Read third party reviews on the website such as TripAdvisor, Google, and TrustPilot reviews. You can even check other blogs and talk to travel bloggers.

• Stay aware of “Green Washing.”

Greenwashing is a term used when a travel company makes false, unsubstantiated claims about the green credentials to appear environmentally friendly. How to identify such greenwashing companies?

Use external resources to vet sustainable destinations and businesses and ask for green certifications.

• Participate in Wildlife tourism only

Avoid going on wildlife tours that promise to take on up-close animal encounters, because this is unethical. The biggest signal that a wildlife tour is not sustainable and unethical is based on animals’ interaction. If the animals can be cuddled, touched, or allowed to ride, then this is a bad sign. Look for tours that do not believe in disturbing wildlife and maintain distance from animals.  

• Volunteer NGOs and Community Tourism Projects

Take part in NGO projects and community tourist organizations. These volunteering opportunities will give you a chance to learn about local practices and life. Before taking part, research about the NGO to ensure that your money and time contribute to the right place and on the right people. 

Local Environment

• Eat-in Locally-owned cafes and restaurant

Similar to accommodations, spend your money on locally owned cafes and restaurants. This is a great way of interacting with locals who want you to try traditional foods. Avoid eating out at international food chains like Mc Donald’s, where the money does not enter the local economy.

• Eat Local cuisine

Eat local cuisines made from locally sourced ingredients, and if it’s organic, coming from small farmers, it’s even better.

• Try Local street food.

Do not be afraid of trying street food. Street food vendors often sell their own homemade dishes. All you have to take care of its sanitation. You wouldn’t want to get food poisoning.

• Buy locally grown food from local markets.

Eat food locally grown by producers. Avoid buying from international food chains and importing foods. These items are transported from far away from your country, causing carbon emissions. Shop for local vegetables, fruits, and other reproduce freshly grown by local farmers. 

Sustainable Shopping

• Buy gifts from local artisans

Buy gifts that are locally made to take home as a souvenir. Avoid imported souvenirs; they have larget carbon footprints. It is better to buy souvenirs that are unique to the country where you are traveling instead of something mad in the factory.

• Have a ‘one in, one out’ rule when buying clothes

Wear your clothes until they become unwearable, get holes. Then swap them with a new clothing item. This is the best way to avoid unnecessary clothing shopping. Tru to buy high-quality clothes made of durable fabric so that they last longer. Sustainable shopping and travel go hand in hand. 

Sustainable Travel Packing

• Pack Light

Always travel light. Your luggage also adds to the carbon emission. The fuel consumption of a plane increases if the weight it is carrying is heavier. 

• Pack eco-friendly essentials

Always pack a reusable bag, water bottle, and lunch box to minimize plastic waste when traveling. Choose toiletries like shampoo, soap, that come in paper packaging. 

Final Words:

Traveling is fun, but it can be harsh on the environment and local communities at times. This is why sustainable travel has come into existence. Traveling in a more eco-friendly and greenway is what we all should aspire for. It is our responsibility to take care of the globe while exploring. In this article, e have discussed what is sustainable travel and the three pillars of sustainability.

By making a few simple changes like sustainable shopping, accommodation, and packaging, we can become better and sustainable travelers. The more you will practice, the easier it will get.