With the boom of the travel industry in the last ten years, “sustainable travel”, “eco-friendly tourism”, “green travel” aren’t just fashionable words but a necessity. The fact that tourism can be harmful is well known — the “TOURIST GO HOME” banners (a citizens’ protest against tourism) in overcrowded tourist cities like Barcelona or Venezia, the “garbage emergency” in Bali, and many other cases where famous tourist locations suffered an ecologic catastrophe because of the enormous number of tourists.
We all enjoy traveling, and all of us would like to travel often and discover as many new locations as possible. That is why, it is necessary to learn how to reduce the negative impact on our planet, how to efficiently manage its finite resources and protect its natural beauty. So Let’s start from the basics:
- Plastic!
A BIG NO — NO!
No matter where you are, at home, or visiting, you must say no to any type of plastic. There is a variety of other eco-friendly materials to choose from.
Bring your own travel mug, tumbler, or water bottle,i nstead of constantly buying plastic water bottles. Use reusable eco-bags instead of plastic bags.
Refuse to use plastic straws, plastic bags, plastic wrap, or any other material that contains plastic. Trust me, at one point you’ll be amazed how much plastic is around us. Many will say “it is recyclable” — Yes, but No! According to National Geographic, 91% of the world’s plastic is NOT recycled! Alarming, right? So why not to start getting rid of plastic, little by little.
The plastic waste was the main cause why beaches like Boracay Island (the Philippines), Maya Bay (Thailand), Kuta Beach, Bali (Indonesia), Kamilo Beach, Hawaii, (United States), and the list can continue, transformed into unattractive, dirty places. The plastic does not only pollute the beaches but also represents an enormous threat to the whole ecosystem.
Clean the place. Do not leave anything when returning, and even if you are only a visitor, do not be ashamed to clean after others too. The world will be much better when we all will become more receptive and sympathetic to our planet’s needs and health.
2. Accommodation
Say YES to locals!
Staying in Airbnb is cheaper and sustainable, but it is a nightmare for the locals. Many cities around the world confronted with the renting problems for residents. Because of the big inflow of tourists, renting an apartment for a short-time became more profitable than a long-time. In this way, the real estate market became unaffordable for locals. When looking for a place to stay, while visiting a tourist destination, consider the accommodation shared with a friendly host. This will give you a really authentic experience.
If you travel outside cities, go eco. These days, even small touristic destinations offer the “eco-friendly” housing. It provides not only a beautiful and meaningful experience but also a reunion with the natural feeling. For those coming from the “concrete jungle,” it may become a life-changing experience.
3. Transportation
Transportation moves our planet. People travel faster and further than ever by planes, ships, trains, buses, cars, motorcycles, but all this comes at a cost — “Pollution”. Aeroplanes are responsible for 2% of all human-induced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and even if this does not look like a lot, we have to remember that besides CO2, airplanes emit particles and gases such as water vapor, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, lead, and black carbon. Not a very pleasant cocktail. That is why chose your transportation according to your destination. If it is a short distance, choose to travel by train rather than plane. This type of transportation will allow you to discover beautiful places, since many of its routes cross picturesque locations, such as mountains, small villages, or coasts.
Another travel option is the staycation — a vacation in your own country. Discovering new countries is fun but what can be more satisfying than discovering your own country, all those hidden paths, villages, rivers, etc. No language barrier, no cultural differences, no need to exchange money, or travel long distances, just enjoy your vacation.
4. Inspire others
Spread the eco-travel message! Let all know about your sustainable travel experience. Share the locations of environmental-friendly hotels, restaurants, or products you used during your travel. Leave reviews and let other tourism-related businesses know what are they doing good or wrong. For this purpose, you can use our SoT (Satisfaction of Things) system, which will make the reviews easier and more fun.
Sharing is important, it will inspire others to go eco, and little by little it will change our travel culture.
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