Put simply, sustainable tourism is when travellers take trips that actively do more good than they have a negative impact, says sustainability editor, Juliet Kinsman. So what does good look like? And how do we measure the good that we are doing when it comes to social and environmental impact?
26 January 2022
Weighing up the trade-offs of our travels and balancing what’s life-enriching or eco-enhancing for people and the planet – and what’s not great about what’s left in our wake – is the cornerstone of sustainable tourism. Staying in an off-grid, solar-powered bamboo shack where no concrete was used in construction, where they only employ locals and operations work entirely in harmony with nature? Fantastic! Getting to that far-flung destination via a fossil-fuel guzzling plane? Not so fabulous. But it’s about the bigger picture. Many climate activists will say that for anyone who cares about the environment to even contemplate flying is preposterous. However, there are many reasons why the future for all will be brighter if more of us engage with different geographies and other humans with contrasting outlooks.
Sustainable tourism can vary greatly in how it looks and there’s more to it than meets the eye. It’s at its most compelling when it actively supports the protection of wildlife or reforestation, has a light touch on natural resources and fossil fuels and leaves money in the pockets of local communities. That’s ecotourism at its very best.
4 Ways to Travel More Sustainably
1. Commit to Nature-Positive Tourism
Actively supporting conservation and boosting biodiversity by staying in lodges or on reserves where your tourism spend pays to protect wildlife is the poster for positive-impact travel. This is especially crucial in destinations that have been starved of funding, particularly due to the pandemic curtailing critical charity-supporting escapades from Africa to the Amazon.
2. Take Community-Enriching Adventures
Travellers should opt for hotels and guesthouses owned and run by locals who act as custodians of Indigenous culture. Community-based tourism can be life-changing. Moreover, choosing independently-owned hotels that consider all stakeholders in every business decision is not only sustainable but ethically responsible.
3. Minimise Time in the Sky
Planning itineraries that involve minimal time on planes is a hallmark of eco-tourism. If air travel is necessary to get you from A to B, then it’s essential to make those contrails count. Consider investing in offsetting to help capture carbon elsewhere.
4. Hold Businesses Accountable
If the labels ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘sustainability’ were only granted permission for use when attached to actions actively doing more good than bad, many would spend a lot of time on the bench. In the absence of a universally mandated definition, it is important to engage in conversations that hold businesses accountable. Some hotels offer behind-the-scenes eco-tours to demonstrate how they’re becoming greener. Seeing incredible initiatives up close can enhance one’s appreciation for the potential of hospitality to positively impact the environment.
