Join the movement: how you can contribute to sustainable travel

To pursue the wonders of travel means making thoughtful choices that protect our planet and everything in it. If you’ve been considering your impact as you explore the world, learning to travel sustainably doesn’t have to be as difficult as you’d think. We can all make small, incremental decisions that build over time, creating global changes both cultural and physical. Here are some steps you can take to contribute to the conservation of our planet and everything in it, whenever you travel…

Avoid overly visited destinations (or travel during off season)

Overtourism is a huge contributor to the erosion of local communities, and it’s only getting worse. In these cases, tourist spots become overloaded with visitors – think the Amalfi Coast in Italy, Machu Picchu in Peru, Barcelona in Spain, and Koh Phi Phi in Thailand – meaning the original locale is often sidelined and disenfranchised, as infrastructure starts to revolve solely around tourist benefit. Environmental degradation is also a common effect of overtourism; with erosion, pollution, and deforestation negatively impacting wildlife and biodiversity.

Of course, everyone wants to see these tourist-heavy hotspots for a reason – they’re usually incredible to witness in person. But we can rebalance the situation by either visiting these places during the off-season, or prioritizing off-the-beaten-track spots when we travel. By pursuing an authentic sense of exploration, rather than following the well-worn tourist track, you can find places in which the locals would benefit from your visit rather than be negatively affected.

This is where chatting to one of our local experts can help, as they can pepper your itinerary with lesser-known gems that they know you’ll love. Not only will you have the luxury of more space and fewer crowds,  local businesses will be grateful for your custom and will probably spend more time getting to know you.

Travel sustainably by offsetting your carbon footprint

We all know that air travel is a huge contributor to carbon emissions, but there are ways to mitigate the impact. Many airlines and travel companies offer carbon offset programs that invest in renewable energy projects, forest conservation and community initiatives. By compensating for the emissions from your flight, this can go some way in helping rebalance the environmental cost of your journey. When you’re deciding who to travel with, look for ways the companies you invest in are offsetting their carbon footprint, and offering easy ways for you to do the same.

Choose your modes of transport carefully

If you’ve got the money, it’s easy to use a private car or fly internally when you travel – and granted these are often the easiest and most direct ways to travel. However, your carbon footprint significantly increases when you travel this way, and by isolating yourself to a car or plane, you are less connected to the local people of a destination. Consider alternative means of transport to take you from place to place – taking the bus, train, tuk-tuks or cycling, or even walking, if you can. Not only are these greener options, you’ll feel more integrated with the community and have more of an understanding of how the locals live.

Prioritize sustainable tour experiences

More often than not, there are unauthorized tour providers and guides everywhere you look when travelling, and it can be near impossible to know which have best practices, let alone run their businesses sustainably. Do some research before opting for tours, if you can – but if you are considering whether to choose a tour company on the road, ask them questions about their goals and credentials. Do they use local staff and pay them fairly? If there are animals involved, how are they cared for or protected? Do funds from the activity go towards conservation? Try to only choose sustainable tour experiences, or use a travel company who also has this ethos.

Travel sustainably by planning fewer and longer trips

If you’re someone who loves to go on vacation, it can be tempting to plan multiple trips a year. The more sustainable option is to travel for a longer time, less often. What’s more, a longer trip lends itself to slow travel, which in our opinion is the best way to get under the skin of a destination. When you have more time, you can choose greener (sometimes slower) transport options, chat more to locals – therefore improving the tourist-local relationship, and take your time choosing authentic, locally-owned places to stay and to eat. Longer, slower trips are a great option if you’re looking for ways to travel sustainably.

Pack smart and be mindful of single-use plastics

Making greener choices begins before you’ve even left your house, when you’re packing your suitcase. Take reusable items with you, such as water bottles, shopping bags and eating utensils, so that you don’t have to rely on any single-use plastics you might be given on the road. Additionally, try to avoid products containing harmful microplastics, which are often found in exfoliating scrubs and toothpaste. These tiny plastic beads don’t break down and can end up in oceans, rivers, and lakes, harming marine life – so check the labels before you go.

Many countries have limited recycling infrastructure, making it difficult to manage plastic waste. By taking sustainable items with you, you can at least do your bit to reduce waste that would otherwise pollute ecosystems or harm wildlife in the place you’re visiting.

Play your part in preserving local wildlife and heritage

Your visit to a destination can play an integral role in wildlife conservation and protecting local heritage – just make your voice known with your preferences for sustainability. Seek eco-minded nature tours, visits to legitimate animal rescue centers, and safari expeditions led by conservation experts, making sure they prioritize animal welfare and environmental protection. Don’t accept less than this.

You can support traditional heritage by interacting with local artisans and market sellers, and buying authentic handmade goods rather than plastic souvenirs that may have been brought in from overseas. Participate in eco-tourism projects, visit heritage sites responsibly, and volunteer with local organizations. All of these things can have a huge impact.

In the end, travelling should be a mutually beneficial endeavor, and it’s vital to sensitively experience the places we are lucky enough to have access to. There’s power in making moves to honor and protect the cultural heritage of the places we visit. Before you go, take the time to learn about the local customs, traditions and history of where you’re visiting. This deepens your understanding and appreciation of the local community, and ensures tourism can continue to be beneficial for their culture in years to come.

Make it happen

We believe in making strides to travel sustainably, for a better world. Read more about how we’re reimagining travel, including how we’re supporting our Fund For Good partners with their sustainable initiatives, so that your trip can benefit the local communities in the destination you visit.