You've Heard the Term "Sustainable Travel" Before, but What is It Exactly?
Tourism can provide an incredible economic boost, sure, but it can also be harmful to the environment and put pressure on local populations. Like anyone, I'm sure you've scrolled through your phone, through the news, and have seen the results of overtourism all over the world. Various locations are suffering from too many tourists at once, resulting in all kinds of negative effects. From litter to off-trail hiking to burdening the locals, sometimes tourism hurts more than it helps.
However, there is a silver lining: sustainable travel! We, as tourists, have the chance to reverse these adverse effects by taking steps to fix that which we've destroyed. Many destinations have taken matters into their own hands by placing rules and regulations in place to help limit their amount of visitors, adding fees to support fixing the environment, or even diverting tourists to other, less populated attractions.
We don't have to leave it up to the destinations to make the right steps. As a visitor, you can take all sorts of precautions to help maintain the beauty and majesty of the places you visit!
Recycling
Traveling abroad can mean a lot of fast, to-go style meals, using plenty of plastic and non-recyclable materials. By bringing your own water bottles or using recyclable and compostable materials (like paper straws), you can drastically lessen the amount of litter you create AND your carbon footprint!
Follow ALL Posted Rules & Regulations
Investigate New Locations and Methods of Transportation
Cars and buses are the easiest way to tour, but the emissions they give off can be harmful to the environment in ways we don't even realize! Try a hiking or biking tour for a new approach to the city, walk through downtown to discover new sights, or even find a lesser populated attraction to visit. You never know what gem you'll find by taking the road less traveled (literally)!