This 22nd of April we are celebrating the 50th year anniversary of International Earth Day. On this occasion, we have decided to share with you our best tips and recommendations on how to travel more responsibly. You will learn step-by-step methods you can get started with right now and become a greater traveller of the world.
If you care for the environment and the local culture like us, you surely want to know how you can become a more responsible traveler.
In a context of global environmental and ethical crisis, every single action is important. The concept of sustainability is constantly evolving. Everyday, we are learning how each individual can positively impact the world. Mainly by reducing our consumptions, but also by reusing and recycling materials such as plastic. These are fundamental steps towards a greater world.
Today, and because sustainability is a subject close to our heart, we wanted to go further. We have researched how to protect our world, by minimizing bad practices and have a positive impact while traveling.
What is responsible travel ?
Traveling more responsibly means being aware of the unfavorable impact of tourism and make the good decisions to travel without harming natural and cultural environment.
It follows the concept of “The Three Pillars of Sustainability”:
Environmental: By conserving the natural environment of the destination you are visiting.
Economic: By supporting local business and contributing to the local economy.
Social: By supporting local cultural project and respecting local people and communities.
Why should you travel more responsibly ?
Mass tourism and international travels are far from being sustainable. They have a considerable impact. Among these, the deterioration of natural environment, the loss of cultural identity and the commercialization of human relationships. These issues can be a source of misunderstanding and conflicts between residents and tourists.
Responsible tourism should minimize the negative impacts of travel and ideally be beneficial for the hosting destination.
During the World Economic Forum, it has been stated that tourism causes up to 5% of greenhouse gas emissions. Far from reaching out the goal of the Paris Agreement for sustainability : which is to reduce the tourism industry’s footprint by 70% by 2050.
However, the emission of CO2 has been considerably increasing each year around the world.
The reason behind it? Insufficient, superficial and unpopular actions.
De facto, as you have probably understood, the way to ecotourism is necessary to preserve the natural environment and culture of the destination you visit. But not only ; by becoming a responsible traveler you will contribute, to the protection of our planet, its different cultures and the well-being of people and the wildlife.
How to travel more sustainably?
Now that you know what a responsible travel is, and why you should improve your travel habits, you must ask yourself how to travel more sustainably ? Here are some sustainable travel tips that will help you become a greater traveler of the world.
Be informed
Prepare your notebook ! Because this first tip is probably the most important pillar of sustainable travel.
If you want to travel more responsibly it’s crucial to learn as much as you can about the country before your visit it for the first time.
Make sure you have a basic understanding of the destination you are planning to visit. Starting with the culture, the customs, the beliefs but also the law in order to ensure a respectful travel. Make the most of your experience, and have a positive impact.
How to be more informed while traveling?
READ
As often as you can, read articles about your destination ; on travel blogs, magazines or books. By doing so, you will start imbuing yourself with its culture, nature and heritages.
All resources are great to get well informed and the magic of internet is your best ally in this process.
There are some few blogs we have discovered and like to read to get more information before traveling to a new destination: One Planet Rating , Green Global Travel, The Invisible Tourist, Green Pearls
WATCH
Make a list of documentaries and films. Watch them together with your travel buddies before you leave. It’s always more fun to share this with somebody, especially around a bowl of popcorn or a cup of iced cream.
There are so many great docuseries and movies out there which can help you to better know the culture and heritage of your destination country.
ENGAGE AND EXCHANGE
Because the travel community is huge, there is no better way to engage with people sharing the same interest in traveling as you. Therefore, get resources from exchanging on previous experiences or individual knowledges. For that, many social platform such as Trover or Withlocals exist and are connecting travel passionate from all over the world.
Additionally, during your research you will learn the Do’s and Don’ts, the history of your destination but also shared cultural values.
Given these points, you already have a good basis where to start and gather the most information you can about your next travel destination.
Plus, being well informed will help you better plan your trip and will ensure you a full and memorable experience !
Our best advise and recommendations on “How to plan your next travel ?” Will be out very soon. So stay tuned !
Contribute to the local economy
While international groups and companies are taking bigger marketshare in the worldwide tourism industry, it has become a duty for responsible travelers to support what we call “the real local economy”.
These big structures are giving great job opportunities to help local communities. However, you could support the growth and sustainability of these region by supporting the economy of local businesses.
With this intention, you could buy your travel souvenirs from a local shop, have lunch in a typical restaurant and refer to local tour operators to plan your memorable experiences. You could also enjoy a hand-crafted shopping at the source. It is even more interesting as you can also learn from the artisanal process.
I am sure your concierge will have the best recommendations for you and will appreciate your interest in helping local communities.
Last but not least, you can stay at locally own hotels. We have taken as commitment, for our next travels, to discover more luxury boutique and lifestyle locally owned hotels. We’ll share our insights and provide you with the top world best sustainable luxury hotels recommendations.
Make environmental friendly choice
When it comes to sustainable and responsible travel, your choices and decisions are impacting the environment. Whether you are looking for an accommodation or choosing a travel agent, you want to make sure you are making the right choices and travel the most responsibly as possible.
Stay at Eco Luxury properties
Luxury travel industry is starting to understand the urge and necessity of implementing sustainable and fair practices.
Discover this small piece of heaven in this article: Eco&Chic hotel, Playa Koralia
Above offering luxury, serenity and a deep connection with the environment, most of these properties are partnering with local farmers to teach client about local flora and natural resources of the destination.
Most of the time, these hotels own their own garden and rely on its own food supply to offer you the most delicious, organic and sustainable fresh meals.
This kind of retreat are the essence of unique healthy experiences, and of course, all of that in the due respect of the environment and local communities.
Choose a responsible travel agency
We don’t usually contact a travel agency to plan our trip. In fact, we would rather prefer proceed to our own researches and bookings.
However, we have to admit that after some few researches about the mode of operation of responsible and sustainable travel agencies, we are ready to go for It and give it a try.
Of course, we will let you as soon as we experienced it!
How to choose a responsible travel agency?
The recent uprising of green travel agencies on internet is now providing you with a larger choice. Among these options, we can recommend you to have a look at platforms like Kynder.com, responsibletravel.com, baobabtravel.com and mores…
Most of these agencies have also implemented responsible programs and tours which will make your travel a useful. Immerse yourself with local communities and learn alongside scientists and naturalists.
First of all, you will need to have a look for certifications about the agency you are about to travel with. This is one of the main important points. You could also, if you want to, take direct contact with the agency. How are they protecting wildlife? How their tours are sustainable ? They are usually very responsive, so engage the contact to gather more information.
In respect for the animal kingdom, we would also advise you to avoid or at least restrict agencies offering local entertaining activities with wild animals.
However, animals in their natural habitat are always a great source of inspiration and knowledge of nature. If you would like to join animal related activities, we would suggest to have a closer look to the impacts and practices of the organization providing this kind of activities.
Nonetheless, keep a respectful distance with wildlife. Feeding animals, can be very tempting. However, it will habituate them to human contact and they will leave slowly their natural habitat.
Last but not least, wildlife products sold as rare items in are to be banned from your shopping list. Also, it is illegal in many countries!
Fortunately, some great organization exist to provide immersion experience in wildlife and still protect or contribute positively to the natural balance.
Slowing down
A key sustainable practice (it may sound really obvious but you would be surprised how many travelers still do this) is not to leave your rubbish behind.
So little reminder, if you are sunbathing on the beach, hiking a mountain or sailing the oceans, just pack your trash away for the moment and dispose of it properly later in a bin, or even better, a recycling bin !
An easy and simple solution for that is to buy less and reuse more!
Have your own reusable bottle always with you instead of constantly buying plastic bottles. Don’t forget to check if the tap-water is safe to drink in the country you are visiting.
Going further, in Philippines, principally in Palawan Islands, you are not even allowed to use plastic bottles on the beach (you won’t find any in the restaurants or shops nearby). Instead, they would serve your drinks in glass bottles or reusable cups with sustainable bamboo straws.
By influencing worldwide travelers to reuse, they are protecting their environment and are impacting positively tourism for better practices.
Another best travel practice, is to discover your surroundings by bike. Although going by bike takes longer, what could be nicer than cycling through a coconut tree forest and enjoy the relaxing beauty of the lush rainforest?
If biking isn’t your thing, you could simply foster public transportation. In many countries now, it is sometimes more convenient to hop and off using public transportation than a taxi or a private car. You will be surprised to discover how well developed they are.
Bonus: there is not better way to get completely immersed in the local life of the destination you visit.
Sustainable tourism is just as much about “slow travel” as it is about cutting emissions to protect the environment.
Participate to positive impact activities
Because sitting around all day sometimes only works for a brief moment, you could join and participate to thrilling activities ! Discover your new environment and its local culture by having a positive impact.
Would you rather participate to sustainable options your hotel offers, join a volunteering program or a local and sustainably oriented tour ? There are so many activities that you can look for to have a positive impact while traveling.
Here is a little selection of activities with a low impact on the environment you could enjoy during your next more sustainable holidays:
Biking the little streets of a city or the little paths of the countryside at the Tree House in Bangkok
Enjoying water activities such as kayaking with The Flow in Canada rafting, windsurfing or just surfing at the Soneva Fushi in the Maldives
Replanting trees to protect natural wildlife with FNPF Kalimantan in Borneo
Meditating in the lush rainforest by the Riviera Mayakoba at Rosewood Mexico or the relaxing dune desert with Wild and Free in Namibia.
Diving and planting coral to protect the coral reef with Amaya Kuda Rah in the Maldives
Hiking the smoothly domed hills or rocky Mountains from the Fairmont Château Lake Louise in Canada
The options are broad to enjoy your travel in a sustainable manner. Let your imagination flow and do not hesitate to ask local people for recommendations ! They will, for sure, appreciate your initiative. Moreover, it’s always good to connect with people of the world!
Keep it up!
Being aware of global issue and taking responsible behaviors is an ongoing process for a greater way of life. Educate your friends and family : being responsible is the best way to all live better together. All at our level, we have the power to change things. Showing the right example is the first step to the beginning of a new era.
There are so many ways we could improve our way of traveling in order to be more sustainable and have a positive impact each single trip. Today, you have learned easy practices to get started right now : travel more responsibly and become a greater traveler of the world.
Traveling more responsibly is preserving the planet, its wild life and its people for future generations.
We hope you enjoyed the read and feel free to let us know your insights in the comment below as well as your best practices to reduce your global impact while traveling. Together we are stronger!
Embrace the future, be grateful of what you have, all your dreams are achievable and this is the right time for you to plan them and reach them responsibly.
Happy Earth Day!
Stay home and stay safe,
Bisous Bisous 
I cannot thank you enough for the article post. Really looking forward to read more. Keep writing. Melesa Francisco Isahella
Hello. This post was extremely motivating, especially since I was searching for thoughts on how I could improve my travel habits last week.
Way cool! I appreciate you writing this write-up and the rest of the site is extremely good. Sustainability should be something everyone should feel concerned about !
Cherished is likely to be what people say about your comments. Gwenny Miner Foah
There is certainly a lot to find out about this topic.
I love all the points you have made.