As a tour guide, travel planner and traveller myself there’s an elephant in the room! And this is how do we travel sustainably and enhance the local communities I and my friends visit rather than exploit them.
I strongly believe that travel brings different cultures together. This creates tolerance, empathy and understanding which is a great thing.
So how DO I travel ethically, and encourage others to do so?
In over 30 years of travelling I have seen huge changes in the travel industry. In many instances this has brought the new phenomenon and burden of over-tourism to many communities – including my own here in Cornwall.
Those who once used to welcome visitors are now realising that mass market, high volume tourism can damage the very places the tourists have come to enjoy. Today, (April 2024) there are protests in the Canary Islands, Venice, Barcelona and small Caribbean islands dwarfed by city sized cruise ships.
Realistically though, we won’t stop people wanting to travel. And travel can still be a wonderful and valuable thing. However, there are some very basic things that we can do to spread the ‘joy’ and benefits around.
Our Top 10 Ways to Travel Sustainably
1.Visit less well known cities and attractions. For alternatives to popular tourist hot-spots see my list of alternatives to tourism hotspots here.
2. Try to avoid chain hotels and multi-national hotels where possible. Yes, we all sometimes need a familiar brand near to an airport or for a business trip. But where you can, then try to choose smaller local properties. Ideally owner operated. This will boost the local economy and employ and empower local staff and guides.
3. Avoid large invasive all-inclusive hotels and cruise ships. These bring huge footfall and heaps of pollution at very little advantage to local residents, or local economy.
4. Choose areas which are not over-hyped by influencers on You Tube and Tik Tok etc. Choose to be a trail blazer and lone wolf rather than part of the herd. Think how satisfying it will be to say – “I was there before anyone know about it”.
5. Purchase local produce and crafts, ideally in natural materials which will break down and not contribute to plastic pollution.
6. Visit and support local projects which help local people, especially ones which help rural education, women’s education and offer work opportunities to make communities self-sustainable.
7. Travel by Land where possible. Obviously it’s not always possible to avoid a journey by air. But where a journey can be made by land with stops at local communities along the way then try to do so, avoiding short flights unless necessary.
8. Take the train where possible – there are some wonderful and iconic train journeys to be had, and it’s a great way of meeting the locals!
9. Help wildlife and nature by not supporting areas where overtourism in National Parks is harming the natural order – such as unregulated drivers harrassing animals.
10. Travel out of Season and Don’t be a Day Tripper – let’s be realistic, there’s a reason why people want to see Venice, Dubrovnic, Machu Picchu and the Taj Mahal. They are incredible. But you can spread the footfall by travelling out of season, or staying in location.
For example, Venice mid-week during the winter has a fraction of the visitors than during peak summer and holiday seasons. Or else spend the night there so you can wander the streets after they day trippers have left, and give back to the local economy by eating and staying there.
Additional Resources
I highly recommend reading this Observer article which along with the UN World Tourism Organisation reminds us that 80% of travellers visit only 10% of the world’s tourist destinations, and that overtourism is contributing to global emissions.
In Summary
We can all make small changes to the way we travel and engage with the places we visit, which as the sustainable travel movement grows will make more and more of a positive impact. This is the Mandala ethos!
Travel Sustainably – Spread the love!
