How can sustainable tourism be achieved

Give, the right way. Say no to plastic. Research your tour operators. Support the real local economy. Share Tweet Email. Read This Next Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London.

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But how can we help make tourism more sustainable? But first of all, what is sustainable tourism? The World Tourism Organization describes sustainable tourism as:.

Making tourism sustainable means increasing the benefits of tourism and reducing its negative impacts. The pandemic stopped tourism in its tracks, but that reset does give us the opportunity to rebuild the travel industry in a more sustainable way.

So if you are looking to travel more sustainably in the future, here are five tips to get your started. When queues of people are waiting to reach the summit of Mount Everest you know things are out of control. But you can lower your impact by visiting at off-peak times and exploring their lesser-known sites as well as the famous ones here are some of my suggestions for alternative things to do in London and Paris.

Look beyond the obvious destinations too — think Albania instead of Greece or the Faroe Islands instead of Iceland. Try smaller cities or rural destinations outside of the major cities. People tend to be pretty lazy and stick to places close to airports and easy to get to, so if you have to add on a ferry trip or train ride chances are the destination will be less touristy. The old advice to spend locally still stands, so as much money as possible goes into the local economy.

In places like the Caribbean , an average only 20 cents of each dollar visitors spend actually stays in the country. Resources are much scarcer in some countries though, especially water, which makes it even more important to minimise usage.

Apparently a guest in a luxury hotel uses litres of water per night versus litres for the average person in the UK. Flights are a major contributor to climate change. Travel by public transport rather than renting a car if possible. World Animal Protection has a list of the ones we should definitely avoid.

Everyone has horror stories of seeing semi-dressed women in Muslim countries or drunken stag dos in Eastern Europe. The local culture is a big part of why people love to travel — try the weird-sounding dish on the menu, learn a few words of the language, eat dinner at the same time as the locals. Being respectful of the culture also mean you get treated with more respect. Dress appropriately, cover up when not on the beach, ask before taking photos and support charities over giving money to beggars.

But take the marketing spin with a pinch of salt and make sure you check out how sustainable tourism businesses really are. Especially for trips like cruises which have a particularly big impact on the places they visit. Ask what their environmental policies are, do they recycle and conserve water, is food and drink locally sourced, how do they treat their staff, do they invest in the local community?

Hopefully one day sustainability will be built into every tourism business, but until then we need to help make it important to them. Read more sustainable tourism posts. A weekend in Cambridge: A hour itinerary. Are there any companies worth mentioning that are doing a great job at the moment to be leaders in this space? Also, is it always better to drive locally near your home in terms of greenhouse gases compared with taking a flight? Is there a metric ex. Driving a car that gets 24 MPG miles is the equivalency to a 1 hour flight?

There are a few recent start ups like Byway which are focusing on flight free travel as well as Responsible Traveller who've got a range of trips. Thank you for writing this Lucy. In recent years, a growing number of consumers, companies, and governments started rejecting single-use plastics. But over the past year, single use plastics made a comeback as the pandemic led to an increased reliance on plastic gloves, takeout containers, packing bubbles, and grocery bags.

As tourism recovers, many hotels and tour operators are reinstituting disposable plastics as an added hygiene precaution. But many countries lack sufficient waste management infrastructure to keep up with the amount of plastic trash that is produced by tourists and locals. As a result, plastics end up in overflowing landfills or dumped in the environment where they can remain for hundreds of years. One of the most common plastic items used by tourists is single-use beverage bottles.

Refillable toiletry bottles are another eco-friendly item to add to your packing list. Another easy way to reduce plastic waste is by changing your eating habits. When going to a restaurant, dine-in rather than getting takeout which typically comes with plastic bags, containers, cups, and utensils. Hit up the local street food scene, but opt for vendors that dish up their goodies in biodegradable alternatives.

Some travelers also choose to bring their own reusable container and utensils. Even something as simple as asking the bartender to skip the straw can help trigger larger operational changes. Many countries rely on tourism fees such as entrance fees, operator permits, or bed levies to preserve these special places and animals. These dollars help fund the conservation activities necessary to protect these areas while also providing income to local communities.

The pandemic essentially cut off this revenue stream, putting many protected areas and endangered species in jeopardy. Over the past year, there have been an alarming number of reports of increased poaching and illegal deforestation around the world. Rising poverty has only compounded the problem as local communities resort to destructive activities for income and sustenance. When visiting any natural area, be sure to minimize your impact by acting in a responsible manner.

Avoid degrading sensitive environments or disturbing wildlife, comply with all visitor guidelines, and follow the Leave No Trace Principles. Along with paying any usage fees, be sure to support local communities by booking local accommodations and service providers.

Our final tip focuses on how you can drive businesses to change their practices and help to mainstream sustainable travel. The best way you can influence the industry is by seeking out businesses that are lessening their environmental impact and contributing to the well-being of local communities. Let them know that sustainability matters to you by putting your money where your mouth is. What energy and water conservation practices do they have in place?

Have they eliminated single-use plastics? How do they promote diversity and inclusion? Do they hire local people for management roles? Do they prioritize local suppliers and producers? Do they promote responsible interactions with wildlife? If you notice other practices that the business could adopt, be sure to share your feedback. You can also write online reviews or share your experience in our Travel Better Facebook Group to help other travelers identify sustainable businesses.

We hope you enjoyed these tips and are feeling inspired for your next trip! Click here to sign our Travel Better Pledge and join the sustainable travel movement.

What is sustainable tourism? Get off the beaten path Prior to the pandemic, many destinations were literally being loved to death as they became victims of their own popularity. Slow down and stay awhile It can be easy to get caught up trying to cram as much as possible into a trip.

Use efficient modes of transportation In addition to traveling slow, there are other ways that you can reduce the carbon emissions produced by your trip. Conserve water and energy Beyond transportation, tourism also relies on energy for heating, lighting, and electricity. Offset your carbon footprint While you should always do what you can to minimize your energy usage, some carbon emissions will remain unavoidable. Keep your dollars local Many communities are hurting from the lack of tourism over the past year.

Respect local communities One of the incredible things about travel is that it offers a glimpse into other traditions, beliefs, and ways of life.