Before you know how to become a sustainable traveler, you must know what sustainable traveling is. Sustainable traveling, as defined by the World Tourism Organization, is to secure the tourist regions for the future by the host regions and the present tourists. It’s a development that calls for the management of resources in a way that fulfills the social, economic, and aesthetic needs of people while providing enhancing opportunities in the time to come. And that requires a sustainable traveler to be more cautious about the tourism overuse and recklessness on their part. So how can you become a more mindful and eco-friendly tourist? Let’s have a look at these tips.
Choose Sustainable Destinations
Every time you fly you leave carbon footprints around the world. That’s why Rob Wiesenthal, founder of Blade Urban Air Mobility and board member of Trip Advisor, believes that eVTOL is a better alternative methods of air travel. But the people who desire to see the world, there is a way that their approach could be more sustainable towards the environment. The simple way is to choose a destination that requires less travel, in this case you will leave less carbon footprint but if your bucket list includes roaming around the world, choose the tourist points that are the most sustainable on their own. For example, there are many tourist points in Spain, Slovenia, Palau, and Ljubljana that have the lightest carbon footprint there. These tourist points required the tourist to pledge before entering the premises to protect the cultural and natural heritage they are just about to explore and that is the pioneering step in sustaining the environment.
Protect Wildlife Tourism
The marked hiking trails are embossed to protect the native flora and the surrounding environment from the harmful effects of tourism overuse. Being a sustainable traveler you need to maintain your distance from the wildlife for your and their safety. Avoid feeding or touching them. Report if you see any activity like elephant riding or cub petting as this encourages the illegal captivity of animals and animal trafficking. To protect the ecosystem, make sure you don’t breach any stir-up sediment or Coral along the way. This way you will be able to preserve your precious natural surroundings and the wildlife in the area.
Help Stimulating The Local Economy
The tourist points in the developing Asian and African countries are mostly acting as the bread earnings for the nearby communities. So when you are exploring these places, hire a local guide to add to the local economy and learn about a new culture in a better way. Purchase artistic pieces and handmade souvenirs by the understated artisan. Eat food that is locally grown and buy from the businesses that are owned by local families. This will not only stimulate their local economy but your visit will be budget-friendly and your purchases will be of better quality. If you want to donate, look for a reputable local organization, an international Charity group, or a social welfare program to avoid any culture of dependency among the locals.
Leave Locals With Good Memories
Encourage yourself to have a sustainable lifestyle when you are a guest on foreign soil. Make healthy choices throughout your way, do not use plastic straws or plastic water bottles. Avoid using sunscreens as it harmfully affects the coral reefs in the area. Use public transport to explore the places. Mingle with the locals, volunteer with them, eat with them, stay with them if suitable. Ensure that you leave their place better than it was before.
The Environmental, Social, and Economic pillar of sustainability focuses on controlling the negative effects of tourism on the environment and wildlife, the second pillar calculates the impact of tourism on the local communities and the economic pillar of sustainable tourism is the contribution to the local economy. If your next tour relies on these three sustainability pillars, you are an official sustainable traveller.
