Responsible, sustainable travel is built on a fairly simple principle: Try to leave every place you visit a little bit better than it was when you got there. But aside from the old adage, “take only pictures, leave only footprints,” what steps can you take to have a positive impact? Here are a few of my favorite tips:
Pack light. Lightening up your load saves money on baggage fees and increases plane fuel-efficiency. Pack items that can be washed in the sink and that are quick drying so they can be worn multiple times during your trip.
Conserve water. Water shortages are a major problem in many developing countries, but there are simple ways to lower your personal usage. Take shorter showers, turn off the faucet while shaving and brushing your teeth and re-use towels for multiple days, just as you hopefully do at home. And never use the hotel laundry, as they typically wash each guest’s clothes separately, even if there are only a few items.
Conserve energy. When you leave your hotel room, turn off the lights, air conditioner, heat and television. Consider leaving the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door so that the housekeeping staff won’t clean your room, which will save on harsh chemical cleaning supplies and the electricity of vacuuming and washing bed linens.
Reuse, recycle, reduce. When we travel, conservation is often ignored for the sake of convenience, but a few eco-friendly actions can make a big difference. Use just one bar of soap for both the shower and sink, return maps and pamphlets once you’re done with them, take a refillable BPA-free water bottle, and hold on to your cans and plastic bottles until you find a place to recycle it. If there isn’t a recycling program in place at your hotel or restaurant, encourage them to get one started.
Buy local. Take time to seek out local artisans from whom you can buy directly, ask them about their craft and listen to their stories. When I was in the Riviera Maya near Coba, Mexico, I saw tons of assembly line art at various stalls, but wound up buying from a man who taught local children and tourists the ancient craft of Mayan pottery and distributed profits equally among families in his village.
Tread lightly. When hiking, stick to established trails to avoid harming native flora. Whenever my family and I visit the lake, mountains or ocean, we always try to pick up at least one bag full of garbage left over from previous travelers. It’s not only a great way to help preserve our environment and keep the scenery beautiful, but it also protects wildlife who might accidentally consume or get trapped in the trash.
In addition to being a freelance travel writer for nearly twenty years, Bret Love is also the co-founder/Editor In Chief of Green Global Travel, a web-zine devoted to ecotourism, green travel, eco-friendly activities, nature/wildlife conservation and the preservation of indigenous culture. His stunning free wildlife photo calendar is available, for a brief time, at Green Global Travel.
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