Greetings to all travel enthusiasts, industry professionals, and sustainability seekers! As we near Earth Day, I thought it would be a good time to talk about sustainable travel.
Travel, inherently, is a transformative experience. But today, as a professional travel agent with years of experience under my belt, I want to explore another transformative aspect of travel: sustainability. As we journey to beautiful places across the globe, it’s crucial to consider the footprint we’re leaving behind, now more than ever.
Sustainable travel, which is often synonymous with terms such as ‘responsible travel’ or ‘ecotourism,’ is a dynamic concept gaining traction among travelers worldwide. It intertwines the beauty of exploring new cultures, landscapes, and experiences while preserving and respecting these very resources we cherish.
The first step to sustainable travel is understanding its core principles: minimizing environmental impact, preserving cultural heritage, and providing benefits to the local economies. So how can we as travelers, and me as your travel agent, actually apply these principles?
Firstly, consider carbon offsetting. Many airlines now offer passengers the option to offset their flight’s carbon emissions. By investing in environmental projects, we can balance out or “offset” the pollution our travel creates. This is usually very easily done as you purchase your ticket or you can find it anytime on your airlines website.
Next, I urge you to ‘travel light.’ This means minimizing waste and simplifying your luggage. Let’s favor refillable water bottles, reusable shopping bags, and digital instead of printed ticketing. Small decisions can collectively make a considerable impact. Most of us love to go to the beach, but do we really want to go when it looks like this?
On a cultural level, sustainability means respecting the traditions and heritage of the places we visit. We should remind ourselves to tread lightly on sacred sites and be aware of local customs. Supporting local businesses too will help preserve cultural traditions and boost local economies. Try to find souvenirs that are locally made, who wants to get something made in China when you visit Paris?
Accommodation is another crucial aspect of sustainability. Conventional hotels consume extensive resources for a single night’s stay. The alternative? Eco-friendly hotels. They commit to sustainable practices such as waste management, water conservation, and energy efficiency. I can happily curate a list of environmentally friendly accommodations aligning with your travel plans. For example my favorite resort on the Riviera Maya has the EarthCheck certification, uses almost no single use plastics for guests, encourages buying local, and has created the Riviera Maya Forest Nursery, mangrove reforestation and rehab programs and more.
My favorite cruise line is also pioneering technologies that transform het from the ships engines into clean energy and purify waster water on the ship. They use tinted windows and led lights with room sensors, they focus on using recycled materials when possible, promote reef-safe sunscreen and have no single-use plastic use for guests. They also have no buffets to reduce food waste and overall serve smaller portions. Don’t worry though, you will NOT go hungry!
Sustainable travel has shifted from being a niche concept to a necessary norm. For us travel agents, the core philosophy we need to instill in travelers today is that there’s no other option about where we live. We have a whole big beautiful planet to explore but it’s not just about visiting, it’s about preserving.
As we move forward, let us prioritize sustainable choices: take public transport or bike to your next destination; prefer train over planes when feasible; savour local cuisines; participate in local community conservation projects if available; and above all, remember that every little conscious choice that you make can contribute to a larger global impact.
Lastly, no discussion of sustainable travel would be complete without mentioning its educational facet. Through sustainable travel, we learn about diverse cultures, environments, and the delicate balance that sustains them. Learning is the key to understanding, and understanding is the first step toward sustainability.
Travel can be more than a mere holiday. It can be a step toward preserving our planet. Let’s take that step together.
Ride the wave of sustainable travel with open minds and responsible hearts. The world awaits your footsteps, let’s ensure they’re green.
Happy sustainable travels!