Introduction
The area around our homes is not the only place we can work on becoming more environmentally responsible.
It covers all aspects including an ever-expanding industry: sustainable travel.
It’s only natural that, as remote work becomes the norm, people will want to bring their jobs along on their travels. However, with this flexibility comes a new level of accountability.
The question then becomes how to travel in a responsible manner.
There is a lot you can do to lessen your influence on the world while travelling, beyond the standard precautions such as conserving energy, recycling, and buying locally.
While waiting for your flight to take off, go to the bottom of this page to learn about the significance of ecotourism in the larger context of environmental action.
Put on your seatbelts, turn off all electronics (except the one you’re reading this on! ), and prepare to take off into our eco-travelling techniques that we’ve learned (and packed) along the way.
How to Travel Sustainably:
Traveling sustainably begins with minimising negative effects on the places you visit and the people you meet. This includes taking trains and buses instead of flying and eating at independent restaurants instead of fast food chains.
Tourists can lessen their impact by being conscious of their water, energy, and waste usage while away from home and by choosing tours and activities that benefit local companies and conservation efforts. It can be that simple!
Eco-Friendly Transport:
To lessen your impact on the environment, it’s best to give up the gas guzzler in favour of more sustainable modes of transportation. Travel by rail, bus, or bike instead of flying to reduce your carbon footprint, where possible. Sleeper trains are a good way of getting somewhere without the need to fly!
You might also try out an electric bike or scooter if you’re feeling more daring. If you take part in ecotourism, you’ll see the world in a whole new light while also helping the planet.
Sustainable Accommodation:
Consider staying at a sustainable resort, hostel, or even a homestay if you want to make a positive impact on the environment while on vacation. Green techniques including solar power, water conservation, and recycling initiatives are commonplace in this category of lodgings. Also, make sure the mattress is organic and that the toiletries are biodegradable.
Sustainable Tourism:
When done right, tourism can be both financially beneficial to locals and environmentally protective. This involves picking locations and activities that don’t negatively impact the local community or exploit its inhabitants. As an alternative to going to a zoo or amusement park, you may, for instance, check out a nearby organic farm. You can also opt to acquire something handmade from a local artisan instead of a mass-produced souvenir.
Sustainable Destinations:
If you want to visit a place that cares for its environment and its people, that place is the one for you. Places with a heavy emphasis on eco-tourism, like Costa Rica, or those that have received sustainability certifications from groups like Green Globe or Travelife are great examples.
Sustainable Activities:
You should try to find eco-friendly and community-beneficial things to do when travelling. Activities like exploring local organic farms and taking cooking classes with local chefs fall under this category. Taking part in these sorts of events not only gives you a more genuine and original vacation experience, but it also benefits local businesses and the environment.
If you are short on time but yet want to maximise your sustainable holiday, booking tours of nearby sites is a time- and money-saving option.
We have several reasons to suggest using local businesses.
The local guide will typically know more about the area, have better connections with local vendors, and be able to get you into more off-the-beaten-path activities than a larger commercial tour group.
Check out these travel agencies that provide an abundance of regional activities around the world:
- Intrepid Travel: The first tour company to achieve carbon neutral status back in 2010, they arrange small group travel, local accommodation, and employ locals.
- Gondwana Ecotours: A New Orleans-based company with an extensive network of local guides all around the world that run their 100% carbon neutral tours.
- Seacology: Operate snorkel, kayak, hike and scuba diving tours on mostly islands, with a focus on wildlife preservation and natural conservation.
Sustainable Food:
Find sustainable, locally grown and produced food sources, like farmer’s markets and street sellers. If you buy food from local farmers, you’ll be doing yourself and your family a favour while also improving your diet. To further reduce trash, remember to bring your own reusable plates, cups, and cutlery.
Sustainable Fashion:
Don’t let the fact that you’re travelling make you feel like you have to forego your usual sense of style. Try to choose sustainable clothing options that are manufactured from renewable resources like organic cotton or bamboo. Also, rather than constantly replacing your wardrobe, try travelling with a handful of versatile pieces that can be rearranged to create new outfits for each destination.
Sustainable Packing:
If you want to travel light, that’s OK. Pack light and choose reusable products like water bottles, mini toiletries, and reusable bags for your purchases. And rather than bringing enough clothes for every day, think about bringing items that may be worn in a variety of ways and laundered at your lodging. Less is more!
Sustainable Mindset:
The appropriate frame of mind is the single most crucial factor in eco-friendly travelling. Being sustainable involves being conscientious of the decisions you make and how they could affect the natural world and the people who live in your immediate vicinity. Consider how eco-friendly your upcoming trip can be before making any plans.
Sustainable Water Bottle:
There needs to be a complete abandonment of plastic trash, which is really simple to limit. One of our favourite eco-friendly travel recommendations is to bring a reusable water bottle rather than buying disposable ones.
While developed nations like Germany and Switzerland may not have a problem with plastic waste, developing nations like Cambodia and Vietnam have a serious problem with plastic litter in their oceans, streams, and on beaches.
Show younger pupils how it’s done, and if they ask, explain why it’s so important to recycle, decrease waste, and reuse materials.
Final Thoughts:
To travel in a sustainable manner is to find a middle ground between seeing the world and leaving it in pristine condition for the next generation. The advice in this post will help you travel without shame and leave a positive mark on the locations you visit. Sustainable clothing, a refillable water bottle, and an eco-friendly frame of mind: these are all essentials for your upcoming trip. Don’t forget that even the smallest of actions can have a positive impact. Have a safe trip!
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Other Sustainable Travel Related Guides
Be sure to check out our other exciting guides related to Sustainability:
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