What I Learned About Being a Responsible Tourist

After travelling non-stop for seven years

Sustainable travel is a hot topic now that countries are slowly opening up again, and we are all getting more aware of our environmental footprint. But what exactly is sustainable travel and how can we do it? I have travelled non-stop for the last seven years while visiting over 45 countries, and these are my personal top 10 sustainable travel tips to be a more eco-friendly traveller.

But before we get into how to travel more sustainably, let’s first see what eco-tourism actually is. According to the website of ecotourism.org:

Ecotourism is now defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education.

It’s important to realise that sustainable travel is not just about caring for the environment, but also needs to have a positive influence on the local community and yourself. I personally couldn’t agree more with this, because as a long-term traveller myself I have seen the devastating effects it can have on the local people from up-close. I often felt guilty about being a traveller and flying to a lot of destinations, always ‘being on holiday’ while the local people were working so hard. Luckily being a traveller is not a bad thing and with these sustainable travel tips, it can actually be a good thing that tourism exists.

1. Fly less, but don’t stop going far away.

The tourism industry is responsible for 8% of the carbon emissions world-wide, and this will likely double or triple by 2050. But to completely stop flying is not a solution here. A lot of far-away destinations rely on tourism and can’t be reached by other means of transport for many people. The best thing to do is have longer holidays and take non-stop flights. Choose airlines that offset their carbon footprint or at least give you the option to pay extra for that. Look for the green leaf on Skyscanner to book with greener airlines. Once you reach your destination, don’t fly anymore but travel overland.

2. Choose local, eco-friendly stays

Your accommodation is a big part of your holiday and can also have a very big environmental footprint. Choose stays that are owned by locals and are more eco-friendly. Many big hotels use a lot of electricity, excessive single-use plastics and the money doesn’t end up in the local community.

3. Don’t exploit animals

Seems like an easy one to be a more responsible traveller, but many people still exploit animals on their vacation. Make sure you don’t swim with dolphins, don’t ride elephants, don’t take cute pictures with wild animals in captivity, don’t buy souvenirs made from animals (like shells, dried insects, snakeskin leather etc.), don’t visit shows with animals that are performing tricks and don’t drink civet coffee (coffee made from the beans pooped out by cats). If you really love animals, also don’t eat any meat because many farmed animals experience horrible living conditions, especially in poorer countries.

4. Travel slow and long

It is better to take one long trip than several short holidays. First of all because you will fly less and secondly, because you really get to experience a country and the culture more. Travelling slowly means you will use less transportation between places and don’t contribute to overtourism. The benefit of slow travel is that you have more time to experience destinations that are a bit harder to reach and therefore will most likely attract less tourists than all the popular places. Your hotel also needs less washing of sheets, because you stay longer in one location.

5. Don’t use single-use plastics

Bring your own water bottle to refill instead of buying plastic bottles (choose a stay that has this option!), don’t use the plastic toiletries provided by your hotel and don’t use plastic bags when shopping. You can even take your own reusable plate and cutlery to buy street food, as these places normally use a lot of single-use plastics.

6. Choose eco-friendly activities

Go hiking, book a biking tour, learn about the culture with a local and choose eco-friendly tour operators that support the local community. Don’t choose activities that use a lot of fossil fuels like jetboating, renting a jetski or big jeep tours. And of course don’t spend your money on activities that exploit animals.

7. Eat local and vegetarian

Food is a big part of travelling, it’s mouthwatering to think about all the delicious flavors and spices in foreign countries! Choose restaurants owned by locals and eat preferably vegetarian or even vegan. Don’t stay in hotels with big food buffets as they are prone to food-waste. And don’t go to franchises like Starbucks, Subway and McDonalds etc. Embrace the local food culture and support the locals!

8. Support the locals

I can’t say this enough, but please support the locals as much as you can! Travellers usually make a lot more money than the local community so don’t let it end up in the hands of big foreign corporations. Buy locally crafted souvenirs from stores with local owners and avoid the Chinese mass-produce tourist shops. Stay in locally-owned accommodation, choose local tour guides and eat in local restaurants or buy local produce at markets instead of big supermarkets. Withlocals.com is a great site to book tours with locals in Europe and avoid the crowd.

9. Get off the beaten track

Many places suffer from overtourism: destinations flocked by an overwhelming amount of tourists. This is not only bad for the place itself (think about all the wear and tear on historical buildings), but also for the experience that you are about to have. Who wants to look at a temple covered with people and buzzed by the amounts of drones flying above it? These places often charge high entry fees and are very prone to scams too. It’s more sustainable to go to less-visited places and support the locals there too, and the experience is a lot more rewarding and authentic!

10. Choose sustainable transportation

Avoid flying as much as possible (but as mentioned before, don’t stop going to far-away destinations), and choose sustainable transportation. Take a local bus instead of a taxi, and bike or walk more. Don’t rent a car but try to travel by train. When you do have to fly, choose airlines that are more eco-friendly and offset your carbon footprint.

Be a more eco-friendly traveller

Travelling can have a great positive effect on a country and local economy, but make sure you are a conscious traveller. Ecotourism is about travelling that supports the environment, the local nature and culture, and the prosperity of the local population. Travellers should discover the world as responsibly as possible and leave a small ecological footprint. This means they don’t support the typical mass tourism and all-inclusive holidays in mega resorts.

You as a traveller create employment for locals by supporting small-scale, local organizations, you consider the preservation of and respect for culture, nature and wildlife, and you try to burden the environment as little as possible. Fortunately, sustainable and greener travel is becoming increasingly more popular and I hope these tips help you to be a more eco-friendly traveller!

*This article was originally published on my own website Sustaying.com, a platform that wants to make it easier for travellers to find sustainable stays.