Guide
Sustainable Travel
The ultimative
You care about the environment, but you also like to travel?
Is it even possible to travel environmentally friendly? Or should we better stay at home and install solar panels?
No, cause tourism has also a huge amount of positive effects on the society, the conservation of the environment and the local economy, which should be supported.
But what does "Sustainable, Soft, Green or Ecotourism" actually mean?
Someone asked me once, if sustainable tourism means, to make tourists stay longer in one place. I wish it would, cause that would make it a lot easier.
But no, sustainable tourism is the contrary of the so called "Hard Mass Tourism". A sustainable Tourism Agency would offer you for instance a local owned Finca in the backcountry of Mallorca and not the ugly prefabricated multi story buildings all next to each other which mess up the view on the sea.
VS.
What can I do as a tourist to travel sustainably?
10 Tipps
1. Inform yourself
Look on the website of the tour operator, hotel or travel agency if they provide information about CSR (corporate social responsability) and a sustainable strategy. On these websites you can search for sustainable destinations, tour operators, hotels and much more:
adventure.travel (Wordlwide)
sustainabletrip.org (South America)
gstcouncil.org (Famous sites worldwide)
2. Choose an environmentally friendly transport
In my opinion, within 1000-3000 km a train, bus or car ride is still comfortable and should replace a short distance flight. Unfortunately they are sometimes even cheaper and of course faster then all other transport possibilities. But in order to travel more sustainably you should consider this the next time.
3. Reduce also your amount of luggage - most of the time it's too much ayway
4. Travel slowly
Try to see the pro's of a longer journey to a destination. You will actually get a feeling for the distance you just mastered. You can take breaks, drive through rural areas and honour also the journey as the destination.
This is a good friend of mine during her roadtrip through Peru. The picture was taken 'somewhere in nowhere in the north on the coastline of Peru' (Quoting my friend). They were aiming to drive to Colombia but since they didn't had all documents of the car they weren't allowed to enter the country with it. So they left the car in a little village near the border, in order to pick it up when they would come back - after two months... Of course it was gone when they returned and when they went to the police everyone laughed at them, cause nobody would leave a car somewhere for two months. But there was a happy ending since they found the car in another police station were it was parked cause people got suspicious about the car. Great story ! :P
5. Use public transport instead of renting a car
I know that this isn't possible everywhere. But if you rent a car, maybe only on certain days, when you know, you will go to a certain place and the rest of your time, try to be mobile just as the local commity.
This will give you a completely new perspective on a certain culture.
Our first backpacking trip through Thailand after A-levels. Everyone recommended us to use the same busses like the Thai people because the tourist ones are overprized and sometimes even attacked - and so did we. We got a small lunch box when we entered and for dinner the bus stopped and everyone sat around a round table and had some delicious food together. We felt very welcome and safe =)
6. Use water sparingly
Especially in southern and warm countries the lack of water is already a huge problem. Especially on small islands. Only because you paied for all your water consumption before, doesn't mean you should take a shower until you get fins ;)
7. Keep it regional
If on your Starbucks cup the name of the city you are visiting is printed, doesn't mean this is a regional way of food consumption. Avoid visits of restaurant-, coffee- and hotel-chains. Food reflects culture and should be part of your travel experience.
This is a restaurant on the island 'Koh Samui' in Thailand. We spend three days in Koh Samui and our hostel was on the opposite side of the street. I will never forget this place cause we had the BEST FOOD EVEEER there! Seriously. I never had better food anywhere else. We went there three to four times a day and became friendly with the owner- a very nice little Thai Mammy. She was so happy to see us so often and was so nice with us.
8. Choose your vacation acitvities compatible with the region
Playing Golf in the desert, driving Jetski in a coral reef area, Motorcross within untuched nature. All this should make you think.
There are plenty of envirnmental friendly activities like kajaking, hiking, climbing, paragliding...
9. Safe energy and water
Put the aircondition on, only for a few hours a day. If your hotel has the card system - thumbs up ! Your room is only provided with energy when you enter it and turns off automatically. Leave a note for the hotel, that you don't need your towels and sheets washed everyday. You don' need this at home either.
10. Respect the local culture
Inform yourself about habits, dress codes and maybe learn some words in the foreign language- this will open a lot of doors ;).
In Thailand your are supposed to put off your shoes before entering in a Temple as well as to cover your legs and shoulders. You must also not sit with the bottom of your feet facing a person or the shrine - Different countries. Different customs. ;)
11. Do not buy wildlife or forest products
So what does it mean in practice, if all actors of the tourism industry want to make the tourism more sustainably?
Travel agencies, tour operators, hotels, restaurants, airlines and so on, would focus on the equal satisfaction of needs regarding the conservation of the environment (once all the nature is replaced by hotels, no tourists will come, cause there is nothing to see anymore - long-term planning, that's sustainability), they would focus fullfilling the interests of the local community and in the same time provide a unique holiday for the tourists.
What are indicators for sustainable business practice:
1. Regarding Climate and Energy
2. Conservation of Natural Resources
3. Waste Management
4. Biodiversity
5. Fair salaries
6. Respect for human rights
7. Quality and consumer protecion
8. Regarding Health Issues
9. Demographics and Diversity
What kind of tourism shall I avoid in order to travel green?
1. Do not fly often Long-Haul Journeys by plane
One week Singapur for an European isn't worth it. Once you made it that far, plan more time for your trip instead of going to a far destination for a short time. There is a trend towards travelling for being able to tell everyone you have been there. If you only see a place through the lense of your camera you haven't been there.
2. Avoid All-Inclusive-Offerings
If you book an All-Inclusive Holiday, it is very likely that you will spend most of your time inside the hotel area. These hotels are most of the time owned by foreign companies and the local community doesn't benefit from the potential source of income through tourism. If you book an All-Inclusive-Holiday you can also stay at home cause for staying in an hotel area the whole day, you don't have to fly far.
3. Avoid Cruises
Cruiseships are real environment harmers because they cause a lot of noise underseas and desorientate all kinds of sea creatures. The huge anchors destroy coralls and waste water as well as their oil pollutes the sea. Tourists also have only a short time on land and therefore less contact to locals.
4. Avoid Golf Tourism in certain areas
Golf Tourism can lead to deforestation and to a lack of water in warm regions.
Any questions, concerns, ideas ? Just write them in the comments or contact me here ;)
