The greater global environmental sensitivity has made conscious travel an important consideration. Green initiatives not only protect our environment, but also enrich one’s travel experience with the local cultures and communities. Provided here are some great tips on how to embrace eco-economics while traveling-from green hotels to wildlife protection to cutting down on plastic waste.
While traveling, give preference to green hotels, hostels, or lodges to spend in. Moreover, look for accommodation that are granted with certificate such as Green Key, or LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
Tips:
Explore Birthing Centers— See if they incorporate NRDC measures such as the use of renewable energy, recycling of waste, water conservation, and local sourcing of food.
Look for Other Types of Accommodations— Consider going for green practices like glamping, treehouses, or eco-lodges which tend to spice up the experience with less environmental damage.
Transport plays an important part in carbon emissions. To reduce your effects, think about your travel options.
Tips:
Advantageous Land Travel— If the circumstance allows, preferences should be made on trains or buses in place of air travel, especially when the journey is short. This helps in cutting down on emissions but more importantly, allows you to appreciate the journey in a way that a flight does not.
Register for Carbon Offsetting— If you have to travel by air, see if you can buy carbon credits that support the development of projects that will reduce emissions to levels corresponding to your air travel.
From a travel point of view, connecting with members of the local communities is one of the best ways to encourage sustainability.
Tips:
Supports all local businesses- Buy original crafts and mementos from local artisans rather than ready-made items, thereby enlarging the market and helping to reduce pollution that might arise from the transport of the goods.
Eat Local— Always use the local restaurants that can use produce from the farms in the vicinity. This helps in building the community and also mostly results in better quality of food.
Adventuring into different wilds and with wildlife to see is one of the more enjoyable parts of any trip; however, it also demands responsible tourism for the conservation of animals and habitats.
Tips:
Responsible Operators— Seek ethical wildlife tours that incorporate animal care and welfare and do not involve cruel or exploitative activities such as elephant rides or badly kept zoos.
Keep Your Distance— If and when seeing the animals, do not get too close, and do not tease or feed the animals.
Plastic pollution is an environmental issue that, among other problems, ranks high on the list of concerns in many touristy areas. Some rules should be implemented to reduce plastic consumption since even an insignificant reduction can make a significant impact.
Tips:
Purchase Useable Items— Reduce the use of plastics by having a refillable water container, shopping bags, and even cutleries in one’s possession. Most places have water filling points.
Refrain from Using Straws and Plastic Bags— Dine in places that do not offer straws or plastic bags or bring your own.
Educating oneself is indeed an effective means of encouraging green travel practices.
Tips:
Explore the Local Cultures— Learning about the traditions and the issues of the people inhabiting the places you travel to will direct your behavior and enhance your presence with the people in a more respectful way.
Communicate Your Experience— Use your voice be it social media, blogs, or talks to encourage people about the importance of sustainable practices and the need to be responsible while traveling.
Think of participating in initiatives aimed at restoration and protection of the environment.
Tips:
Participate in Environmental Volunteer Work— A few organizations let travelers engage in national conservation activities like tree planting or animal rescue.
Help by Giving for Environmental Support Groups— it is possible to give back and support, in the areas you visit, their environmental conditions by supporting local or international scope environmental organizations.
Sustainable tourism, for quite a few individuals, would mean the same as least impact on nature. On the contrary, it has so much more to it-it is enriching a personal travel experience and is also about paying back the destinations. So, in simple terms, ecotourism refers to enjoying adventures without causing damage or harm to the environment. This is possible by choosing green lodges, reducing emissions, supporting local business or culture, practicing responsible tourism, limiting plastic use, educating oneself and others, then finally offsetting their global footprint. Travel in such concepts of sustainable tourism should actually be encouraged because it is working towards making the world a better place, one trip at a time.
