Sustainable travel is the perfect way to travel without leaving a harmful impact on the places we visit. According to Envoys, travelling more sustainably goes beyond opting for environmentally friendly means of transportation and choosing a responsible hotel; it’s about integrating sustainable practices into all aspects of the journey.
Here are a few tips on how you can explore and travel without adding extra costs.
The online guide to travel says there are many ways to travel sustainably, from supporting local businesses to reducing your carbon footprint. While this way of travelling can help you make the most of your experience you also have the opportunity to positively contribute to the places you visit.
“Sustainability is not only about reducing carbon footprint but also about enabling the communities visited to have a sustainable future.”
Benefits of sustainable travel include reducing pollution, conserving natural resources, and reduce waste. You also decrease greenhouse gas emissions associated with travel and ultimately preserve local cultures and traditions.
“They create a more meaningful experience for travellers, as connecting with local communities allows them to better understand the culture and history of their destination.”
You can start by considering staying with a host family when you go on a trip, buying souvenirs made by local artisans, and shopping at local markets instead of mainstream supermarkets. By doing so, you are directly contributing to the local economy while getting the local experience.
Another way to maximise on sustainable travel is by reducing your carbon footprint. “This means reducing or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions generated from the products, services, and processes of an organisation or the consumption habits of individuals.” This can be achieved by choosing sustainable accommodation, using public transport whenever possible, and reduce energy consumption.
“Sustainable travel represents an ethical way of travelling that seeks to preserve the environment, culture, and economy of a destination. This will allow the places we choose for our travels to maintain their conservation status and biodiversity for many more years.”
6 tips to travel sustainably (As provided by Envoys):
- Be mindful of your food choices: Eating sustainably can also have a positive impact on your travels. Choosing locally grown foods and dining at local restaurants can help support the local economy and provide employment opportunities.
- Use sustainable transportation options: Opting to walk or bike whenever possible and using public transportation can significantly reduce your environmental impact. Renting electric vehicles instead of cars with internal combustion engines is also an option that can help reduce your carbon footprint.
- Travel slowly: “Slow travel” is the art of visiting one or two places for an extended period rather than rushing through many places. Taking the time to explore a place not only reduces travel hours by plane and other means, as well as greenhouse gas emissions but also allows for deeper interaction with the communities and cities visited, something that is beneficial for both the traveller and the planet. School trips are a form of slow travel.
- Offset your carbon footprint: The most recommended action is to offset your carbon footprint. That is, invest financially in an environmental project. It doesn’t have to be a lot of money; even a small donation can help.
- Use less plastic: With just a few simple changes in routine, plastic waste can be greatly reduced. One of the quickest and easiest things to do is to use a reusable aluminium water bottle. For a small amount of money, you won’t have to buy a plastic bottle again, and you can use apps like Refill and Tap to find the nearest point to refill your water bottle. You can also avoid non-recyclable aerosols and use natural solid deodorants and solid shampoo, conditioner, and soap.
- Care for wildlife: It may be uncomfortable to acknowledge, but many tourist activities involving animals have very negative effects on the species involved. When travelling and seeking to engage in activities involving animals, strive to ensure they are respectful of wildlife. This means trying to avoid activities such as riding elephants or swimming with dolphins, which often conceal practices of animal cruelty, and prioritising education and positive interactions between people and wildlife, as well as environmentally sustainable tourism.
Compiled by Gypseenia Lion
Source: https://envoys.com/schools/blog/sustainable-travel-tips-to-protect-our-planet
