With over a billion international tourists a year, the travel industry has a heavy environmental impact. With greenhouse gas emissions linked to transport, excessive water and energy consumption, waste production and degradation of natural ecosystems, the ecological impact of mass tourism is considerable.
Fortunately, awareness is growing, and more and more travelers are aspiring to more environmentally-friendly vacations. This is what sustainable tourism is all about, minimizing negative impacts while maximizing positive spin-offs for the populations and territories visited.
From eco-responsible accommodation to nature activities and eco-friendly transport, here’s an overview of the principles and best practices for greener travel.
Favoring soft transportation
One of the main challenges of sustainable tourism is to reduce the carbon footprint associated with transport. Plane, car, cruise… Traditional means of transport are major emitters of greenhouse gases.
To limit these emissions, the most virtuous solution is to favor soft transport such as rail, cycling or walking whenever possible. In addition to their low environmental impact, these environmentally-friendly modes of transport also allow you to immerse yourself in the areas you visit and enjoy more authentic experiences.
Numerous specialized tour operators now offer train, bike and hiking tours, not only in Europe but also in more distant destinations such as Asia and South America.
When air travel is still unavoidable for long journeys, you can offset your CO2 emissions by financing reforestation or renewable energy projects. An imperfect solution, but one that at least contributes to carbon neutrality.
Choosing eco-responsible accommodation
Another major lever of sustainable tourism is the choice of eco-responsible accommodation, which limits its consumption of energy, water and natural resources while reducing its waste production.
More and more hotels are adopting virtuous practices such as installing solar panels, collecting rainwater, sorting and recycling waste, and using eco-friendly cleaning products. Some even go so far as to offer 100% local and seasonal menus to limit the environmental impact of their catering.
But beyond the big hotels, there are many more modest accommodation solutions that are often better integrated into local communities. Youth hostels, self-catering cottages and bed & breakfasts are just a few of the ways to considerably reduce your environmental footprint.
Discover nature while respecting ecosystems
Among the key activities of sustainable tourism are, of course, those that enable you to discover and appreciate nature, such as trekking, wildlife watching and ecotourism.
But these activities must be carried out with respect for natural ecosystems. So forget 4×4 safaris in nature reserves or hikes off the beaten track. Instead, it’s best to visit on foot or by canoe, accompanied by local guides trained in environmental protection.
Many nature reserves around the world now offer this type of eco-responsible activity, allowing visitors to observe flora and fauna in their natural environment without disturbing them. An often magical and unforgettable experience for visitors, while preserving local biodiversity.
Buying local and supporting the sustainable economy
Another fundamental pillar of sustainable tourism is to support the local economy of the areas we visit, giving priority to products, services and activities offered by local communities.
This means, for example, eating local, seasonal produce, buying traditional handicrafts or booking guides and activity providers from local communities. It’s a way for host communities to benefit directly from the economic spin-offs of tourism.
Numerous initiatives also exist to enable travelers to get involved with local populations, through construction or renovation projects, teaching missions or volunteering on farms or in nature protection centers.
Pioneering sustainable tourism destinations
While sustainable tourism is still in the minority, some destinations are pioneers in this field and can serve as models for others to follow.
Such is the case of Costa Rica, which has made eco-responsible tourism a pillar of its economic development. With over a quarter of its territory classified as protected areas, this small Central American country attracts millions of visitors every year to discover its rich biodiversity through activities such as trekking, birdwatching and visits to nature reserves.
Bhutan is also a benchmark for sustainable tourism, with a proactive policy aimed at preserving its exceptional natural environment. Strict visitor quotas, high taxes, compulsory guides… Although the country remains difficult to access, it guarantees a unique travel experience that respects local ecosystems.
In Europe, islands such as the Balearic Islands and Sardinia are also positioning themselves in the green tourism niche, developing eco-responsible infrastructures and strictly regulating activities to limit their environmental impact.
Raising passenger awareness of environmental issues
But beyond the destinations and offers on offer, the success of sustainable tourism also depends on raising travelers’ awareness of the environmental issues associated with their activities.
This is one of the key roles of tour operators and travel agencies specializing in this niche: to inform and educate their customers on the best practices to adopt, whether in terms of transport, accommodation, activities or behavior on site.
But beyond these professional players, travelers themselves also have a role to play in informing themselves about the impacts of their stays and making informed, responsible choices. Numerous applications and practical guides now exist to help them plan more environmentally-friendly vacations.
Because the success of the transition to truly sustainable tourism on a global scale will depend on the commitment and responsibility of each and every one of us. A major challenge, but a unique opportunity to reinvent an industry that is more respectful of natural ecosystems and local populations.
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