Sustainable tourism is conscientious travel. It means being careful with the environments you explore and respecting the communities you visit. Two overlapping components of sustainable travel are ecotourism and ethical tourism.
The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines ecotourism as responsible travel that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. TIES suggests that ecotourists follow these principles:
- Minimize environmental impact.
- Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect.
- Provide positive experiences for visitors and hosts.
- Provide direct financial benefits for conservation and local people.
- Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climates.
- Support international human rights and labor agreements.
You can find some eco-friendly travel tips and statistics, as well as participating touring companies and associations -- listed by destination under "Travel Choice" -- at the TIES website, www.ecotourism.org.
Also check out Ecotravel.com, which lets you search for sustainable touring companies in several categories (water-based, land-based, spiritually oriented, and so on).
While much of the focus of ecotourism is about reducing impacts on the natural environment, ethical tourism concentrates on ways to preserve and enhance local economies and communities, regardless of location. You can embrace ethical tourism by staying at a locally owned hotel or by shopping at stores that employ local workers and sell locally produced goods.
Responsible Travel (www.responsibletravel.com) is a great source of sustainable travel ideas. Sustainable Travel International (www.sustainabletravelinternational.org) also promotes ethical tourism practices; it also maintains an extensive directory of sustainable properties and tour operators around the world.
It's Easy Being Green
Here are a few simple ways to conserve fuel and energy when you travel:
- Each time you take a flight or drive a car, greenhouse gases release into the atmosphere. You can help neutralize this danger to the planet through "carbon offsetting" -- paying someone to invest your money in programs that reduce your emissions by the same amount you've added. Before buying carbon-offset credits, make sure that you're using a reputable company, one with a proven program that invests in renewable energy, such as Carbonfund (www.carbonfund.org), TerraPass (www.terrapass.org), and Carbon Neutral (www.carbonneutral.org).
- Whenever possible, choose nonstop flights; they generally require less fuel than indirect flights that stop and take off again. Try to fly during the day -- some scientists estimate that nighttime flights are twice as harmful to the environment. And pack light. Each 15 pounds on a 5,000-mile flight adds up to 50 pounds of carbon dioxide emitted.
- Where you stay during your travels can have a major environmental impact. To determine a property's green credentials, ask about trash-disposal and recycling practices, water conservation, and energy use; also question whether sustainable materials were used in constructing the property. The Green Hotels Association's website, www.greenhotels.com, recommends green-rated member hotels around the world that fulfill the company's stringent environmental requirements. Also consult www.environmentallyfriendlyhotels.com for more green accommodation ratings.
- At hotels, request that your sheets and towels not be changed daily. (Many hotels already have programs like this in place.) Turn off the lights and air-conditioner (or heater) when you leave your room.
- Use public transit where possible -- trains, buses, and even taxis are more energy-efficient forms of transport than driving. Even better is to walk or cycle; you'll produce zero emissions and stay fit and healthy.
- If renting a car is necessary, ask for a hybrid or rent the most fuel-efficient car available. You'll use less gas and save money when filling up.
- Eat at locally owned restaurants that use produce grown in the area. This contributes to the local economy and cuts down on emissions by supporting restaurants that don't fly or truck food in from far away. Visit www.eatwellguide.org for tips on eating sustainably in Canada.
