Sustainable Travel Made Easy: 8 Simple Tips for Eco-Conscious Tourists

Travelling can be a thrilling adventure, but it also has an impact on the environment. Sustainable travel aims to minimise this impact while ensuring that local communities benefit from tourism. Let’s dive into why the travel industry can be so damaging and how you can make your journeys more eco-friendly.

Green Travel Guide: Embrace Sustainable Tourism and Save the Planet

Key issues with the travel industry

The travel industry has a lot to answer for when it comes to putting a strain on the planet and its resources. Here are some of the main issues:

• Carbon emissions from air travel: According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the aviation industry accounts for approximately 2-3% of global carbon dioxide emissions.

• Plastic pollution: The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) estimates that the travel industry generates around 8% of global plastic pollution. This includes single-use plastics used in hotels, airlines, and other tourism-related activities.

• Water usage: The hospitality sector, which includes hotels and resorts, is a significant consumer of water. A study by Cornell University found that the average hotel guest consumes about 100 gallons (approx. 378 litres) of water per day.

• Habitat destruction: Popular tourist destinations often face habitat destruction and biodiversity loss due to infrastructure development, deforestation, and overuse of natural resources. For example, coral reefs suffer damage from activities like snorkelling and diving. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), approximately 27% of the world's coral reefs have been lost due to human activities.

• Waste generation: The travel industry generates a significant amount of waste, including food waste, packaging, and disposable items. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that the tourism sector produces about 5 million tons of waste annually.

 

8 Tips for sustainable travel

Tourism can strain natural resources, contribute to pollution, and disrupt local ecosystems and communities. By traveling sustainably, you help preserve these environments and cultures. Sustainable travel also supports local economies and promotes cultural exchange, making your travel experience more enriching and meaningful. Here are some ways you can become a more sustainable traveller:

• Choose eco-friendly transportation: Public transport, such as buses, trains, and trams are more environmentally friendly than cars and planes. Air travel in particular has a significant carbon footprint. If you must fly, choose direct flights to reduce emissions. When in your travel location, look at options such as biking, walking, or using electric scooters to explore rather than using transport associated with carbon emissions.

• Opt for a greener stay: Look for hotels or accommodation with green certifications, such as LEED or Green Key. These establishments follow sustainable practices like energy conservation and waste reduction. 

• Reduce your waste: Avoid single-use plastics by using a refillable water bottle and packing you own food for days out. Bring reusable bags, utensils, and containers to avoid using disposable plastic items.

• Pack light: Bringing fewer items reduces the weight of your luggage, which can decrease the carbon footprint of your transportation.

• Support local businesses: Eat at local restaurants, buy souvenirs from local artisans, and use local guides. This helps the local economy and ensures that your money benefits the community.

• Save water and energy: Take shorter showers, reuse towels, and turn off lights and air conditioning when not in use. If available, choose accommodations and transport options that use renewable energy.

• Offset your carbon footprint: Use carbon calculators to determine your trip’s carbon footprint and invest in offset projects like reforestation or renewable energy initiatives. You can find out more about carbon offsetting by visiting sustainabletravel.org which calculates the cost to offset your journey and reinvests the money into its Climate Impact Portfolio.

• Engage in sustainable activities: Join tours that prioritise environmental education and conservation. Choose responsible wildlife tours that respect animal habitats and follow ethical guidelines and participate in cultural activities that are respectful and beneficial to local communities.

 

We recommend you to take a look at these links:

https://sustainabletravel.org/our-work/carbon-offsets/calculate-footprint/

https://sustainabletravel.org/our-work/carbon-offsets/projects/

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this month’s blog post. Would you be willing to offset your carbon emissions by paying a little extra when you travel? You can get in touch with us any time on social media or by email.

 

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