Originally published in Lake of the Woods Area News, Volume 54, Number 4, Fall 2024
Travelers are becoming more aware of how their travel choices may be impacting the environment and communities they visit. Many travel companies are now more conscious of these concerns and are offering sustainable travel options. Here are some tips on how you can tread more wisely when traveling.
The three pillars of sustainable tourism are environmental sustainability, social sustainability, and economic sustainability. The goal is to minimize the negative impacts while maximizing the positive benefits to cultures, communities, the local environment, and the planet over the short and long term. The United Nations defines sustainable tourism as 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 the host community.
Sustainable travel is a broad-encompassing term, and you are likely to see other narrower descriptors of responsible travel such as ecotourism, nature tourism, or eco-friendly, ethical, community-based, and regenerative travel to name a few. Always research the tour operator to ensure they are truly offering sustainable travel options. Many will have certifications and will openly describe how their travel packages meet sustainability standards and goals.
When planning your next vacation consider adopting as many of these sustainable travel practices as possible. Here are just a few to keep in mind for your next travel adventure:
Reduce your carbon footprint
About eight per cent of the world’s carbon emissions are caused by travel and tourism. Consider these steps to reduce your travel carbon footprint.
- Choose efficient transportation: Cars and planes tend to be the least efficient modes of transportation. When possible, travel by train or bus to cut emissions. Consider active transportation options such as cycling, walking, or busing around town instead of renting a car. If you must rent a car, choose hybrid, electric, or more gas-efficient models.
- Be energy conscious: Do your part to conserve local water and energy resources. Turn off the lights and electronics when not in use. Turn off the air conditioning (AC) when you are out and soak up the warm night breeze instead of using AC. Ensure towels and sheets in your room are not unnecessarily laundered by hanging them up or indicating that you don’t require clean linens every day.
Offset your carbon footprint
Find a provider to purchase carbon offsets for projects that reduce carbon and other greenhouse gases. Offsetting is a climate action enables you to compensate for the emissions from your travel, by supporting worthy projects that reduce emissions somewhere else. Some offsets go beyond emissions reductions and help create local jobs, improve waste management, or conserve endangered species and their ecosystems. When offsetting your footprint, just be sure to go through a reputable provider to ensure you’re creating the greatest impact. There are lots of good options, however, the United Nations is a good place to find a project to fund. See offset.climateneutralnow.org/howtooffset.
Protect local ecosystems
- Support local conservation efforts: According to Sustainable Tourism International, each year more than eight billion people visit the world’s protected areas, generating about $850 billion in spending. This revenue helps fund conservation efforts as well as provide income to local communities. These protected areas play a critical role in protecting endangered species and preserving biodiversity.
- Be mindful of your tourism footprint: Have fun on your holidays but ensure that ATV or Jet Ski tours aren’t harming important natural habitats or disturbing breeding sites.
- Coral Reef protection: If snorkeling in these sensitive habitats, ensure to use reef-safe sunscreen and don’t be tempted to collect shells, leaving them for others to enjoy, and for sea life to use as shelter from predators.
Consider the social, cultural, and economic impact of your travel
- Get off the beaten path. Many popular destinations are being loved past their sustainability, resulting in over-tourism. This often drives up housing prices for local communities and puts stress on local water and waste management services.
- Slow down and immerse yourself. Instead of rushing between destinations, take time to immerse yourself in the local culture, and work to support and learn from local people.
- Support local businesses: Consider staying in locally owned homes and guest houses rather than international chains. Explore local restaurants with locally sourced ingredients. Visit markets to buy from local farmers and artisans. Book tours offered by local guides or learn a new skill from local instructors. If you’re booking a packaged tour, pick an operator that prioritizes local suppliers.
- Demonstrate respect: Learn local history, culture, traditions, and etiquette before arriving. Use Google Translate or other translation tools to communicate in the local language.
By adopting these sustainable travel practices we can help protect and enhance less advantaged communities and critical natural ecosystems.
