Taking a vacation can be an amazing way to expand your worldview and experience another culture. It can also have a big negative impact on the environment. If you're looking to take more sustainable vacations, here are some tips for how to make them as environmentally friendly and socially-aware as possible.
Flying can have a big impact on the environment.
Air travel is the most damaging form of transportation, with long-distance flights emitting about 50 times more carbon dioxide (CO2) per passenger kilometer than car travel does. The further away from home you go, the higher your CO2 emissions will be. If you fly frequently for work or pleasure, that'll add up quickly—and flying all over without making any effort to offset those emissions is one way to contribute significantly toward global warming.
Choose other forms of transportation.
If you're traveling by car, consider driving less. If you can avoid a road trip entirely and take public transportation instead (train or bus), that would be ideal. If not, consider taking one of these alternative forms of transportation:
Ride your bike! It's great for the environment and good for your health.
Walk! It's free, it's safe and it gets you away from technology while helping to build strength in your legs and core. You can also sightsee better when walking!
Use ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft when possible. They have a carpool option!
Stay in green and eco-friendly accommodation.
In order to take more sustainable vacations, it's important that you stay in well-researched, eco-friendly accommodations. Hotels and resorts with a focus on sustainability will have practices that benefit both the planet and your wallet.
Look for hotels that are eco-friendly or environmentally friendly. They usually have this information listed on their website.
Support the local economy as much as you can.
When you're on vacation, you're probably going to spend a lot of money. If you want to be more socially ethical and sustainable on your trip, one of the best things that you can do is support local businesses instead of big chain stores.
When traveling through Europe (or any other country), it's tempting to go out for fancy meals at chain restaurants like McDonald's or KFC. But these options are not only less healthy than many local options; they also cost way more money! To save money while still enjoying delicious food, try ordering tapas at a local restaurant or buying groceries at grocery stores near your hotel and cooking them yourself. Anything you can do to support a non-chain and non-corporate establishment is good for the local tourism sector.
If you're taking public transportation during your vacation (and not renting a car), try using local buses rather than taxis whenever possible. Taxis often cost four times as much as buses!
Eat local food and drink local beer and wine.
Eating local food is a great way to support the local economy and help keep your carbon footprint in check. If you're staying in a hotel or Airbnb, you can search online for restaurants nearby that serve local fare and make reservations ahead of time. If you're visiting another city and want to try something new, ask your concierge at the hotel where they would recommend someone who serves great food from their region. You'll get more than just an answer; consider this an opportunity for them to tell you about their culture and share some insider tips!
Utilize public transportation, rather than Ubers or Taxis.
Public transportation is a great way to get around while traveling. It's more sustainable than private vehicles and can be more affordable, fun, and convenient.
Private vehicles are responsible for a significant percentage of carbon emissions. Even if you don't have one at home, it's easy to book an Uber or grab a taxi when you're on vacation—but why would you want to? Public transportation is available in most cities, towns, and villages around the world. It's often faster than driving yourself and can be cheaper than paying for parking every time you go somewhere.
Plus, public transportation is likely to take passengers closer to their destinations than any other mode of travel.
Research the location very thoroughly before you go.
The No. 1 way to be a better tourist is to learn about the place you are traveling to, what is going on there, and what the local residents are saying.
If local groups or native people are by and large asking tourists to stop coming for the time being, heed this warning. Some popular tourist destinations become so heavily trafficked that the area cannot support the amount of travelers. The water and electricity infrastructure might not be enough to support the summer tourist season, for example. In this case, it’s probably a good idea to find a location prepared to handle mass tourism, and save the other destination for another time when they are ready for visitors.
It could also be the case that local tour guides and those working in the tourism industry have specific messages for visitors to the area. They may want to avoid the spread of an invasive species and have specific rules for cleaning your shoes before and after hikes. They may want to avoid the bleaching of coral reef ecosystems and ask that you use a specific sunscreen. Being aware of these nuances supports the ongoing existence of healthy tourism in the destination you’re visiting.
Another common occurrence stemming from a lack of research might surprise you: hospital visits. Tourists who aren’t fully aware of the danger of the excursions they embark on often cost thousands of dollars in emergency rescue fees from local governments and health services. For example, thousands of tourists take hikes on dangerous paths and require rescue because of their lack of preparation, dehydration, or injury. This can take precious resources away from local communities. Always research the excursions you plan to embark on during your stay to ensure you are as prepared as possible.
By researching information about a place you are planning to stay, you were showing basic respect for the location and the people who live there year-round. It also enriches your personal experience to have background knowledge, rather than going in blind. A common mistake that travelers make is to consider their destination as a personal playground for their own fulfillment and use. While the places we travel to can be amazing locations for self discovery and exploration, they are also places in their own right, and deserve respect.
Consider using a sustainability travel agent or a booking site specially designed for sustainable travel, like bookdifferent.com. In most cases, spending 30 minutes online can bring you a wealth of information about tourism and sustainable tourism in the destination you’re planning to visit. It could even lead you to discover exciting new ideas for activities or things to see – without disrupting local livelihoods or ecosystems.
Travel in a more sustainable way!
You may not be able to avoid flying on a plane, but you can make your vacation more sustainable by reducing your carbon footprint and waste. Below are some simple reminders:
Reduce your carbon footprint by taking public transportation or driving an electric car when possible.
Reduce waste by using reusable water bottles instead of buying plastic ones each day, opting for reusable grocery bags over disposable ones, and recycling as much as possible while traveling.
Support local economies by shopping at farmer's markets or local shops rather than big chain stores whenever possible.
The world is our oyster, but we can’t expect it to stay that way if we don’t do something about unsustainable and unethical travel. The best way to start is by taking more sustainable vacations and caring for the environment in whatever way you can. The above tips are just a few ideas on how you can help make the world a better place by traveling in an eco-friendly manner; there are many other ways as well!
Comments