Sustainable Tourism: Tips for Environmentally Conscious Travelers

So many of us love to travel, but unfortunately, travel has a huge impact on the environment, and if we’re not careful, we may be doing a lot of damage to the planet in our quest to see the world. What can you do to enjoy your passion for travel and ensure you’re doing what you can to care for our planet? Here are some things to think about:

Plan your travel with a reputable company

If you want to have a great trip while only doing business with companies that share the same love for sustainability, research the travel agencies you choose before you start planning. Sustainable vacations are possible, but they’re easy to make happen with a company that cares about the same thing as you: a lot of fun but less impact on the planet.

Booking trips with travel companies can make the whole experience much easier. Still, unfortunately, a lot of companies out there don’t care much about the way that travel affects the environment. Look for ones that do.

Consider travel alternatives to flying

If you want to do something to make a difference when choosing sustainable travel, you cannot book flights. Renting an electric car to drive to your destination is a better alternative, with a train ride even better.

However, this may be tricky if you plan on traveling worldwide. While many may think taking a cruise is better, the truth is that it may not be that much better than flying unless you’re traveling on a zero-carbon boat or yacht.

Pack your water bottle and eating utensils

If you want to avoid waste and buy packaged foods while traveling, consider packing your little travel containers and water bottles for nourishment and water. Instead of buying bottled water at airports, refill your Yeti instead. Think about getting a water bottle that can filter water for those countries where purified water isn’t easily obtainable.

Plus, not only will shopping at grocery stores for your food help you do your part when traveling sustainably, but it can also save you a lot of money that could be spent on eating out throughout your trip. While you may want to try some foods in the country that you’re visiting, consider the benefits of buying your food while traveling.

Pack lightly-pack sustainably

Another thing to think about when traveling is what you’ll bring. Think about your vacation clothes and how they’ve been made. Have they been created with sustainability in mind? Fast fashion contributes to large-scale environmental damage, so do your part by packing clothes and belongings designed with sustainability.

Pack light if you want to avoid travel issues with checked luggage, which could also lead to more flights and, thus, a bigger carbon footprint.

Give back

The health of our planet isn’t only about nature but also humanity. If you plan to travel the world and see new places, think about the countries where you could also do good and give back. This may look like volunteering in a place to help build schools for low-income children or getting involved in environmental programs in your destination of choice.

Make sure you do your research to be sure you’re actively participating in something honest and beneficial. If so, know that giving back to humanity is giving back to the world.

In Conclusion

Sustainable travel can help you to enjoy the planet while avoiding issues that cause harm to the world we live in. It takes planning and research to be sure that you’re doing good for the planet while also having a great trip. With preparation, you can surely have a great yet sustainable vacation!