The numbers are in. While the sustainable travel trend is nothing new, it’s edging ever closer to the mainstream. According to recent booking data, travelers have begun thinking seriously about eco-friendliness, with 61 percent saying that the pandemic has made them want to travel more sustainably in the future. Meanwhile, Google reported a 70 percent rise in the number of people searching for sustainable travel options in 2021. Finally, a recent Virtuoso study revealed that younger travelers are becoming more and more aware of their impact on the destinations they visit. All of this adds up to one thing — sustainable travel is here to stay.
As travel opens up this year, how can you be a more responsible and conscientious tourist in 2022 and beyond? We’ve got a few easy sustainable travel tips.
What Is Sustainable Travel?
First, let’s define our terms. Here’s how the World Tourism Organization defines sustainable travel: “Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.” In other words, it’s not just about reducing your carbon footprint — though that is obviously important. Sustainable travel is a wholistic approach to travel, tying together ecological, cultural, and economic concerns.
Tip #1: Get Off The Beaten Path
Overtourism is one of the biggest threats to some of the world’s most beloved destinations. What can you as a traveler do? Simply, seek out the places that are less popular (but often no less wonderful). By doing so, you’ll reduce the burden on communities that are located close to so-called “bucket-list” spots, while spreading tourist dollars to other communities that could use them. A good resource for avoiding crowds is the aptly named website avoid-crowds.com.
Tip #2: Buy Local
Supporting local economies is a vital ingredient in a destination’s ongoing success. By spending your dollars in locally owned restaurants and shops and on locally run tour packages, you’re ensuring that these destinations will continue to thrive. It’s also just a more rewarding way to travel. When you buy local, you’ll be getting an authentic view of a place, discovering what makes it unique, and getting to know its culture. And isn’t that what travel is all about?
Tip #3: Use Efficient Transportation
Air travel isn’t going anywhere, especially if you want to get to such favorite destinations like the Caribbean and Hawaii. But once you’ve made it to your chosen vacation spot, try to use efficient transportation methods: buses, bikes, trains … or your own two feet! Exploring in this fashion isn’t just eco-friendly; it can also expose you to sides of a destination you might never have encountered otherwise. If you do need to rent a car, be sure to inquire about hybrid or electric options, which are becoming more and more common.
Tip #4: Discover The Benefits Of Carbon Offset Programs
If flying is necessary to get to your vacation destination, consider taking advantage of carbon offset programs. These programs give travelers the chance to invest in carbon reduction projects that will neutralize the carbon footprint caused by travel. One of the best carbon offset resources is Atmosfair, a non-profit organization that actively contributes to CO₂ mitigation by promoting, developing and financing renewable energies in over 15 countries worldwide. On the Atmosfair website, you can easily calculate your flight’s emissions and find renewable energy programs to donate to.
Tip #5: Get To Know Sustainability Practices
Hospitality brands are developing new ways to be more eco-friendly — so it’s good to become familiar with what efforts various brands are making. For example, Marriott’s Serve360 is the brand’s commitment to creating positive and sustainable impact in destinations throughout the globe. Notably, Marriott is working to reduce single-use plastics, a program that’s expected to prevent about 500 million bottles annually from going to landfills. Hyatt, meanwhile, is designing and operating more efficient, lower impact hotels, setting ambitious greenhouse gas emissions goals that line up with current climate science. Want to dig deeper? Google has begun offering sustainability information for hotels and resorts, from waste reduction efforts to energy efficiency and water conservation measures.
