Today I have a guest post all about sustainable travel. Hope you all enjoy 🙂
Traveler by Porapak Apichodilok via Pexels.com under CC0 License
How to Inspire Travelers to Be More Sustainable – Sustainable Travel
As one of the world largest and most influential industries, tourism has a range of economic, environmental and social impacts. Tourism that takes full account of these implications is known as ecotourism.
It’s important that tourists are aware of their travel behavior and the effect this has on the environment and local cultures. When tourists make conscious, educated decisions about how they travel, they can make a positive difference in the world.
While the basic practices and principles of ecotourism are beginning to spread, there is still a lot of progress to be made. There are many ways to become a more sustainable traveler. Here are a few eco-friendly travel tips that all tourists should follow.
Supporting the Local Economy
Sustainable tourism is not just about protecting the natural environment, but about improving the well being of the local people. Tourists can do this by providing support to the local economy. In order for local cultures to continue their ways of living, tourists must do their part by supporting locally owned businesses and products. This is one of the most rewarding and meaningful ways to be a more sustainable traveler.
Opting for smaller, locally owned accommodation as opposed to international hotel chains is a great way for travellers to support the local people. Not only does this help out small business owners, but it usually provides a more authentic way to experience the uniqueness of a particular culture.
Souvenirs by sharonang via Pixabay.com under CC0 Creative Commons
Travelers can also assist the local economy by purchasing locally made crafts and souvenirs. These types of products make unique family gifts and are much more genuine than those made on some assembly line far away.
Turtle by Tanguy Sauvin via Pexels.com under CC0 License
Responsible Wildlife Tourism
Many of the world’s most beautiful animals are at risk of becoming extinct due to irresponsible human behavior and activities. Some of these animals include incredible marine life like the Hawksbill turtle, one of the ocean’s most admirable creatures. The Hawksbill turtle and other endangered species provide great tourism value and are a valuable source of income for local residents. However, it is crucial that tourists always follow the right practices when viewing animals in their natural habitat.
Responsible wildlife tourism plays an important role in the protection of endangered species. The greatest ecotourism initiatives aim to create a peaceful coexistence between humans and animals. By encouraging tourists to appreciate the natural environment and its animals in the most responsible way, it is possible to conserve the world’s most vulnerable creatures.
It’s important that tourists support eco-friendly tours that make a real effort to protect wildlife. These responsible tour operators have strict rules and regulations in place for viewing animals and can help educate people about the issues involved in its conservation.
Reducing Waste
Tourists no doubt contribute to a large amount of waste on their travels. Tourists must be more conscious of the type of products they pack, use and dispose in order to reduce pollution and protect the environment as much as possible. Things like choosing environmentally friendly skincare and body products can make a huge difference.
There are many easy ways travellers can reduce waste while travelling. Simple practices such as recycling, using reusable bags, and avoiding packaging can make a big difference to the amount of waste generated.
Much of the responsibility falls on the accommodation that hosts tourists. Hotels, motels and campsites have the power to raise awareness about sustainable travel. In fact, many hotels and tour providers are adopting eco-friendly practices such as water-conservation schemes, recycling programs, energy-efficient lighting and safe waste disposal. Travellers should take this into consideration when choosing their accommodation. Staying at accommodation has an interest in protecting the environment is key to responsible travel.
Hope you all enjoyed today’s guest post about sustainable travel. If you’re looking for more travel related posts, check out the Kam Travels section of the blog.
Author’s bio:
Cloe Matheson lives in the lovely South Island city of Dunedin, New Zealand. She enjoys writing about responsible and sustainable living and supports eco-friendly local businesses such as Fuso. Discover more of Cloe’s work here.