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Although tourism has been at an all-time low with COVID-19 restrictions, this billion-dollar industry’s environmental impacts remain a topic of conversation amongst environmental activists and anti-environmentalists. In most cases, the tourism industry receives brutal critiques related to its sizable carbon footprint, detrimental contribution to world-wide pollution, and its adverse effects on local economies. Disruption of native land, depletion of already limited resources, and the growing crowd of destructive, culturally insensitive travelers are equally negative repercussions of irresponsible tourist ventures.
However, there are ways to continue traveling and engage in beautiful, rich experiences without causing mass amounts of harm. By definition, ethical tourism is a traveling method that respects and contributes to local economies and aims to reduce pollutants released by traditional tourism methods. Instead of opting-out, consider delving into alternative ways of ethical tourism for a guilt-free adventure.
Shrink your carbon footprint while on vacation
Shrinking your carbon footprint while traveling doesn’t have to be a complicated endeavor. Generally speaking, limiting toxic emissions can be as simple as reducing the number of flights you take per destination.
According to recent studies, air travel is the primary culprit of rising pollution levels, meaning you should take care to plan travel ventures with as few flights as possible. One way to reduce air travel is to ship your more environmentally-friendly vehicle—using services like Guardian Auto Transport—for an all-around, more effortless transportation experience.
Although you should aim to fly as little as possible, air travel is often unavoidable for many tourists. Fortunately, you can continue to reduce your carbon footprint by packing light, utilizing public transport, walking or biking reasonable distances, and staying at environmentally-conscious hotels.
Support local economies
When traveling abroad, it’s essential to aid and nourish local economies by supporting regional businesses and conservation efforts. Often, tourists continue to support large chains and inauthentic companies instead of soliciting services and products from locally-sourced shops. By purchasing food, souvenirs, and clothing from local businesses, you show support to native communities, reduce waste from monopolized chains, and stimulate often neglected economies.
Respecting cultures
Part of being a responsible traveler is respecting the different cultures you encounter. Before you step foot into a local village or far-away destination, you should spend a generous amount of time researching appropriate customs and behaviors. There are few things more embarrassing than breaking social norms—especially in unfamiliar territories.
In addition to awkward encounters, missed cues and unspoken practices can result in more detrimental consequences, like aggression from upset locals or—in worst-case scenarios—law enforcement involvement.
Avoid cultural faux-pas by having a firm grasp on basic behaviors, taboos, and customs and breeze your way through enriching everyday interactions.
Respect native wildlife
As you adventure out into beautiful, natural landscapes, avoid disturbing animals, native vegetation, and landmarks. Ethical tourism employs a leave-no-trace policy concerning wildlife excursions and explorations. As you travel through rolling hillsides and cavernous sceneries, look for litter, leave animals untouched and unfed, and avoid stampeding through densely-vegetated areas. Although taking the road less traveled is typically sound advice, staying on dedicated paths will lead to more enjoyable experiences when traveling abroad.
Minimize waste
Reducing unnecessary waste is a good practice to maintain in and out of tourist ventures. Landfills worldwide are filling up with single-use plastics and other wasteful products due to rising rates of overconsumption. That said, ditch single-use plastics whenever possible, utilize water filtration systems, and pack light to minimize your consumption and footprint.
Give back
A well-known critique of tourism stems from travelers’ tendency to take without giving back. To avoid stealing precious resources and disrupting local economies, you should donate to reputable charities and individual shops or volunteer your time to show appreciation for the white, sandy beaches and natural wildlife mere footsteps away.
However, tourists should be diligent in evading voluntourism schemes that prey on ignorant, inexperienced travelers for profit, ultimately doing more harm than good. Get to know locals and build connections to gain a firm grasp on native needs.
Final thoughts
Learning how to travel ethically may seem like a lot of effort. However, small changes to your travel philosophy can significantly benefit you and the people you come in contact with as you investigate diverse cultures.
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This content is brought to you by Jana Gray.
Photo: Shutterstock
