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According to research, over 75% of Americans choose to head overseas for their vacation. Although there was once a time when setting foot on a jumbo jet wasn’t anything to be concerned about, nowadays around 76% of travellers want to be more sustainable.
If you want to explore the world without feeling guilty, here are some ways that you can still have the trip of a lifetime – without harming Mother Nature.
What is sustainable travel?
Sustainable travel is all about acknowledging the impacts tourism has on the local communities – by acknowledging these impacts you can take steps to minimize the negative impacts and maximize the positive ones.
For example, when you think about tourism, it’s easy to think about the benefits to the country – like job creation, culture preservation and wildlife conservation. However, many people forget that tourism also has some downsides for the locals – like economic leakage, damage to the natural environment and overcrowding. You must only look at some of the beaches in Thailand to see this in action, with the government stepping into close sites to let the natural environment recover.
How to be more sustainable?
1. Choose eco-friendly journeys
Rather than hopping on a commercial plane (or worse – a private jet!), consider using a slower form of transport. Rather than taking a taxi or bus everywhere, walking is a good option as you can take in the sights at the same time. If walking isn’t an option, you can always hire a bicycle. There are plenty of excellent bicycle tours which are an enjoyable yet eco-friendly option.
If you need to travel by plane, bus or train, try to research the company to see if they do anything to give back to the environment.
2. Support local businesses
Rather than sticking to tried and tested favourites, try to support local businesses where you can. By spending money with local businesses, you keep more money within the area, helping the local economy.
3. Carbon offset
If you need to travel a less-than-sustainable way, try to carbon offset instead. This practice is commonplace and involves donating money to charities and companies that are fighting global warming. While it’s better not to travel in an unsustainable way, carbon offsetting ensures you’re giving something back every time you do something detrimental to the planet.
4. Avoid single use plastics
Every year, tons of plastic makes its way to the ocean, endangering local wildlife. Before you travel, invest in a robust reusable water bottle rather than buying water bottles as you go. Not only does this save you money but it helps stop plastic from venturing into our oceans.
If the tap water isn’t safe to drink, you can even buy bottles with inbuilt filters – so there’s no excuse!
Final thoughts…
If you love travelling but want to be sustainable, the good news is that there are loads of things you can do to reduce the impact your vacation has on the environment. By supporting local businesses, offsetting your carbon and choosing better modes of transport, you can have the trip of a lifetime without the guilt.