What does really Sustainable Tourism mean?
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.
― Marcel Proust
Sustainable tourism is a form of tourism that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. It is also known as ecotourism or 'green' tourism. Sustainable tourism can also be described as tourism that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Sustainable tourism helps combat climate change while ensuring the enjoyment of travelers by not compromising their well-being while traveling. Some examples of sustainable tours are eco-tourism, overland travel, local excursions, or cultural programs.
Tom Holland from The Independent further explains how sustainable tourism is different. He states,
“For that, you need to look beyond the obvious ways to reduce your impact on the environment — for instance, by buying locally, using reusable bags, or leaving less trash outside. Often these tiny measures go unrewarded, but it’s for that reason that we travelers will continue to be vulnerable to the ravages of climate change in the future.”
A detailed guide on how to travel with a sustainable mindset can be seen on an actual sustainable tourism program that has been implemented in South Africa and has been successful. It does not only look at the things you should do but also the things you should not do when it comes to reading reviews of sustainable travel programs.
While going back to our definition of sustainable tourism we see other reasons why travelers choose to choose a sustainable tour operator. One common reason you will hear about people traveling with tour operators who promote sustainable travel is that they tend to provide tours or activities that promote social good and action on climate change.
Tours and activities that promote social good include things like local gastronomy experiences, taking eco-tourism tours, or traveling with an animal experience tour. Activities that promote action on climate change can be activities like solar energy tours, black sand safaris, or even living the eco-tourism lifestyle.
How to travel sustainably?
Traveling sustainably is not only good for the environment, and it’s also good for you.
You’ll see more, be healthier, meet new people, and learn new things. You’ll also be able to save money by staying in hostels and cooking your own food and eating out less. So what’s not to like about this?
One of the first things you should think about when traveling is how long you can sustain yourself. If you want to make a sustainable vacation, then you have to make it fit into your schedule. There are completely different types of sustainable vacations because Overlanding, cruise ships, building your own vacation, don’t have the same impacts as short-term traveling.
Investing in sustainable travel and being flexible with your schedule will allow you to pursue this every day throughout the years. A similar principle applies when buying food. Every time you go out for a bite to eat, you can choose to eat sustainable foods so that it will be cheaper than if you were to buy regular food that comes from the grocery store.
During your vacation, many of the people you meet may influence your decision whether or not a certain place is a safe one to visit. If you learn to say no, then intruders won’t mess with your peace and tranquility. Stay hydrated, keep your skin moisturized, and don’t be afraid to ask natives if they can recommend some good places to visit in their local area.
The difference between sustainable tourism and responsible tourism
Sustainable tourism is more of a focus on the destination, while responsible tourism is more of a focus on the community and the people who live there.
Sustainable tourism is more about protecting the environment and wildlife, while responsible tourism is about protecting the local community and culture, as well as protecting the environment. Many low-income countries around the world can benefit from sustainable tourism.
Another way to define sustainable tourism is responsible tourism. Responsible tourism goes beyond sustainability and is more focused on the social and cultural impact of tourism. According to the World Tourism Organization, responsible tourism is
“Tourism that minimizes negative impacts on local cultures, environments, economies, and communities and maximizes positive impacts.”
This means that every time you go abroad you are caring for the planet and planning sustainable ways to enjoy your time away.
These are good things to focus on if you want to get the most out of your trip. So let us look at some of the main aspects that you need to think about when planning for sustainable tourism:
One of the most important aspects that you need to focus on is sustainability. Sustainable tourism means you want to be able to make a profit from your trips in the long term, another word for sustainability is to “be long-term”. Over the long term, any long-term plan for your business needs to take into account the environment and people with who you may be traveling. By traveling with sustainable tourism you will want to minimize the impacts of your trip on the local cultures.
Some practices that you can use to ensure sustainable tourism are a lot more complex than you think. You have to be conscious of where your money goes while traveling and how sustainable it is afterward.
What can you do to be a more sustainable tourist?
Being a sustainable tourist can be as simple as being aware of your footprint and doing your best to leave as small a footprint as possible. Here are some simple things you can do to be a more sustainable tourist:
Use the metro
Eat local food
Go for a locally guided tour
Shop locally produced things
Compost.
Let’s quickly go through a few examples of how you can be a more sustainable tourist:
Use the metro. You can transport yourself within a 5-minute walk of the center of any city thanks to the metro. The metro is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions per trip than any other mode of transport in the same city. Compare this to planes where emissions are notoriously high, and you can see why this method is not a sustainable option. Using the metro means reducing your carbon footprint in only five minutes of your time. Very easy. Here is a list of the most eco-friendly cities in the world. (+More info)
Eat local food. Eating locally means choosing local, regional, or seasonal produce and products. Locally grown foods are more nutritious, healthier, and tastier than their national counterparts. Choosing to eat local is an important part of a contribution to a destination.
Go for a guided tour. How can a guided tour help tourism to be more sustainable? Let´s take an example of a tour to the countryside exploring traditional food and wine scene. There is a big difference in organizing an activity if you are handling 4 or 8 guests, versus large groups of 50 to 200 people. Places you are going to visit with your guests have to fall within certain parameters. The idea is to experience the area and local lifestyle for what it is or what it used to be. The best result will be achieved if the places visited don’t seem as if they cater to guests at all, but rather keep the form of a traditional countryside winery or cheese making estate or similar. Preserving the heritage and original appearance is not only possible but mandatory (Source: insiderholidays.eu).
Some great tips for sustainable tourism
Sustainable tourism is a great way to travel while simultaneously helping the environment. By traveling in a sustainable way, you’re ensuring you’re not adding to the carbon footprint on the planet, but rather offset the damage you already cause. By using sustainable travel methods, and choosing sustainable travel destinations, you can help avoid extra polluting and enjoy a truly unique experience.
The environmental crisis affects us all; carbon emissions, mining, land use, and water quality. While these may not seem as big of an issue on a personal level, they cause society as a whole to lag behind. In recent years, many people have started to care more about the environment than ever before, and with this, travel has started to follow suit.
A beautiful resort with 40+ eco-tourism facilities can end up contributing millions of tonnes of CO2 to the atmosphere. Supremely beautiful vacations that are full of organic experiences that put the environment in the spotlight are a great way to encourage sustainable tourism.
Sustainable Tourism is a great way to travel while simultaneously helping the environment.
And before you start booking your next holiday, it’s important to consider the type of tourism you want to support. The longer you spend traveling, the more difficult it is to switch to sustainable options. If you want to explore different cultures and enjoy discoveries with friends, staying in a luxurious hotel may not be the best option for you. You may want to stay in a less eco-friendly place, knowing that it was the best vacation for you in the end.
The easiest way to find out what kind of tourism you want is to ask your friends or to Sustainable Travel Advisor. If you think you can only enjoy one type of travel, then it may be worth looking into something else.
