Top 10 Eco-Friendly Tips
Brief Overview
In 2019, foreign tourist arrivals exceeded 1.4 billion, more than doubling in the preceding two decades. Economic development and individual satisfaction benefited from the increase in tourists, while the environment and local communities often took a hit. There was a correlation between the uptick in tourists and negative outcomes such gentrification, traffic congestion, increased pollution, and habitat destruction.
Hawaii has outlawed the sale of reef-toxic sunscreens, Dubrovnik has restricted the number of cruise ships that may dock each day, Palau has preserved 80 percent of its waterways, and Barcelona has cracked down on illegal holiday rentals as measures to tackle the consequences of unsustainable tourism. Though these are positive developments, much more work has to be done.
You have an opportunity to aid in the resolution of this problem as a tourist. The tourism industry’s eventual recovery from the pandemic presents a once-in-a-generation chance to start from scratch and make more environmentally responsible decisions. It is the perfect time to reevaluate our travel practises and make some changes.
Choose a green destination
Check out the eco-friendliness of potential holiday spots before booking. A lot of communities care deeply about preserving the natural world around them, so they’ve put in place initiatives to lessen their negative effects on it.
Chile was voted the “greenest destination” of 2022 for the third time in the last four years. This South American nation has been honoured with the World Travel Award for the third consecutive year (2019, 2020). Chile is now ahead of the other nominees, Peru, Ecuador, Madagascar, and Norway.
Say no to single-use plastics
8 million metric tonnes of plastic are dumped into the world’s oceans annually. A garbage truck’s worth of plastic is poured into the ocean every minute of every day. Many people, businesses, and even entire nations have turned their backs on disposable plastic in recent years. The previous year, however, has seen a resurgence in the use of disposable plastics including plastic gloves, takeaway containers, packing bubbles, and grocery bags due to the epidemic.
As the tourism industry begins to revive, several hotels and tour companies are reintroducing disposable plastics as an extra measure of cleanliness. However, the amount of plastic rubbish left behind by visitors and locals alike is overwhelming the waste management systems of many nations. So, plastics are either thrown in the environment or added to already full landfills, where they can remain for hundreds of years. It’s already necessary to reduce your own plastic use when travelling, but now that COVID has increased the use of plastics everywhere, it’s much more crucial.
Single-use beverage bottles are one of the most widely utilised examples of disposable plastic among vacationers. The good news is that you can easily avoid this problem by packing a refillable water bottle for your trip. Traveller’s who are concerned about the safety of the water they will be drinking while away from home can pack a water bottle equipped with a filter. One more eco-friendly thing to add to your packing list is empty toiletry bottles.
Offset your carbon footprint
Even if you do all in your power to reduce your carbon footprint, there will always be some emissions that can’t be helped. With the help of “carbon offsetting,” you can make up for these unavoidable emissions of greenhouse gases.
You can offset your trip’s carbon impact by funding emission reduction projects in other parts of the world through carbon offsetting. Using a carbon calculator online, you can easily determine your personal CO2 output and buy carbon offsets to cancel it out. Your offset purchase will fund initiatives that reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. A wind farm may be constructed in one project, while another could use cow manure to generate electricity. Other advantages, such as the creation of local jobs, the improvement of sanitation, or the conservation of endangered species, may result from carbon offset initiatives beyond the reduction of emissions.
Be sure to use a trustworthy service when offsetting your footprint to maximise your positive effect.
Use public transportation
The tourism industry is responsible for about 8 percent of global carbon emissions. Therefore, climate change is one of the gravest risks to the future of tourism, people, and the globe, and the travel industry is a major contributor.
The majority of the greenhouse gas emissions caused by tourism come from transportation modes like flying, driving, and walking. Although though energy is needed for every kind of transportation, some are more eco-friendly and cost-effective than others. Transport options to and within a destination are critical.
Planes and automobiles are typically the least productive ways to travel. Traveling by train or coach to nearby tourist attractions is a great way to reduce pollution while taking in the sights. Instead of hiring a car once you get there, try taking the bus, the train, or even just hopping on your bike and exploring the area. Choose an electric, hybrid, or compact car if you must rent a vehicle.
Get off the beaten path
Numerous travel hotspots have been suffocated by their own success. Overtourism at tourist sites including historic towns, beaches, and others are being swamped by an excessive number of people.
By avoiding well-trodden sights and instead exploring lesser-known areas, you can do your part to keep overtourism from spiking again. While it’s easy to get sucked into the idea that you need to visit the same sites that everyone else is posting about on Instagram, you may find that your travel experience is enhanced by visiting less well-known locations. Several popular tourist destinations fall short of visitors’ expectations, requiring them to wait in long lines before they reach their destination, which may seem very different in person from how it was advertised.
Travellers that venture off the beaten track are rewarded with a less commercialised, more genuine experience. Not that you have to go camping in the middle of nowhere, but you will need to dig a little deeper. If you want to see more of a place than what’s on the “Top 10” list, you may either look about using Google Maps or ask locals or fellow tourists for suggestions.
Staying in a smaller city or the countryside might be a pleasant change of pace from visiting a large attraction. In this way, the benefits of tourism can be shared throughout many neighbourhoods instead of just those at popular attractions. Choose a cruise line that operates only smaller ships if you want to travel by sea. As a result of their reduced size and the ability to dock at more remote locations, these ships help reduce the burden on well-traveled ports of call. Plan your vacation to a major tourist spot during the low season if you can.
Reduce water and energy usage
In regions where it is scarce, water is an extremely valuable commodity.
Do your part to save water and power while you’re away on holiday. While not in use, please turn off the lights, television, and other appliances. Hotel air conditioning should be turned off or the temperature raised by a few degrees before you leave. You should probably skip the bath in favour of a quick shower. To save money on laundry, try handwashing your clothes and hanging up a “Do Not Disturb” sign so your room isn’t cleaned everyday.
Staying in a low impact accommodation is another way to lessen your negative effect on the environment. It could be a modest, no-frills hotel, or a luxurious establishment that takes advantage of renewable energy sources and water/energy saving features.
Pack light
More fuel is used while transporting heavier bags. You may lessen your impact on the environment by bringing only the bare essentials and packing light.
Respect local communities
Incredible as it may be, one of the greatest benefits of travelling is the exposure it provides to new cultures, religions, and ways of life. Take advantage of this chance to broaden your perspective by welcoming the unfamiliar and immersing yourself in the culture of your host country.
Learn more about the history, customs, and etiquette of the places you plan to visit to ease your transition into the local culture. Get yourself a translation app and teach yourself some basic words in the language spoken where you’ll be going. Remember that some places have very specific norms about what is and is not acceptable behaviour. Keep your guard up when you’re in a place of worship or spirituality. Don’t go anywhere that wouldn’t allow tourists and make sure to follow any rules there. Depending on the location, this could involve removing footwear, concealing shoulders, maintaining a low profile, or refraining from photography.
Be respectful of the fact that the place you are visiting is someone else’s house wherever you go. Follow all safety and traffic regulations in the area. To ensure that future visitors and residents may enjoy the same high quality of life that you did, please do your best to leave all areas as you found them. Treat the locals with dignity and consideration; it will go a long way. Respecting their personal space means not taking pictures of them without their knowledge.
Stay in Sustainable and Locally-Owned Accommodations
When booking a place to stay, it’s best to stick close to where the locals live. Hotels’ environmental impacts remain considerable within the travel sector. They carry a wide variety of single-use items that are discarded after being partially used. Yet, they also squander a lot of water and use a lot of power. Several of these larger hotel chains are motivated primarily by financial gain and not environmental concerns.
It is up to guests to choose eco-friendly accommodation decisions. With this in mind, it’s best to look at accommodation in the immediate area.
Profits from foreign destinations are often repatriated to the countries of origin for large hotel chains and multinational enterprises. As a result, these areas are abused economically without receiving any benefits in return. Anytime you stay somewhere, it’s smart to enquire about the establishment’s commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Always do some background reading before making a reservation.
Pick a place to stay that uses environmentally friendly and ethical methods. Among these include supplying goods in bulk containers and adopting energy-efficient lighting. Sheets are changed less frequently at eco-hotels. There will be a shift towards greener hotel practises once guests start demanding them.
Slow down and stay awhile
Why not pick one place to visit and devote your entire trip to learning everything there is to know about it instead of spreading your time too thin in multiple places? Traveling to many different locations in a short amount of time usually has a negative impact on the environment. Since it involves giving thought to one’s state of mind and one’s goals, this method is commonly connected with leisurely travel. It’s only natural to want to see as much of the world as you can. But, the ecology suffers when people frequently use planes and cars to get about.
Longer stays allow visitors to properly experience a city or exotic location like Costa Rica or Thailand. It’s a fantastic introduction to the history and culture of the locals and everything the region has to offer. Nevertheless, hopping around from place to place prevents you from truly getting to know any one of them.
Continually moving costs more time, energy, and money and reduces your ability to get close to a location. Slow travel allows you to fully experience the local culture. This ultimately uses sustainable hotel practises and reduces traffic impacts.
If you want to make a real difference, you might also look for volunteer opportunities abroad.
Final Thoughts
By following these sustainable travel tips, you can make a positive impact on the environment while still enjoying your travels. Travelling sustainably may require a bit more planning, but the rewards are well worth it. And don’t forget… When you leave a place, make sure to leave it as you found it. Pick up your trash, and avoid leaving any items behind
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