Sustainable travel
As enthusiastic campers and outdoor adventurers, we like to explore and experience nature that amazes us. But of course, that also makes us sensitive to topics like sustainability, conscious travel and protecting our natural world. This month, therefore, the Outchair team has decided to deviate from the usual content and focus on a topic that is important to us: tourism and sustainability.
According to the World Tourism Organization, the definition of sustainable tourism is: "Tourism that takes full account of its present and future economic, social and environmental impacts, taking into account the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities." In layman's terms, then, sustainable tourism consists of minimizing impacts by reducing the environmental footprint of our trip and supporting local economies and cultures.
From the CO2 emissions caused by excessive air travel to the exploitation of natural areas to make way for resorts and hotels, the tourism industry is far from sustainable. By raising our awareness of the impacts of commercial tourism and taking small steps to improve the way we travel, we can do our part to help the industry change. The nature, culture and history of certain places are why we choose to visit them. Why then should we exploit them when we can preserve them and ensure that they are preserved for future generations?
What can we/can you do?
There are three main pillars for sustainable travel. These three categories are used to identify actions that, on the one hand, help reduce our negative travel impacts and, on the other hand, improve aspects of the region we visit or support the regions.
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Environment
This category includes all measures that can minimize the negative impact of our travel on the environment. This includes the means of transportation we choose, the frequency of our flights, and the accommodations we choose. Some examples might be:
- Overnight stay in environmentally friendly accommodation
- Maybe even camping instead of staying in a star hotel
- Use public transport
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Social
This rubric of actions determines our impact on local people and communities. It includes supporting local businesses or companies that are run by or employ local people, as well as non-governmental organizations and social enterprises. Some steps to improve your social footprint include:
- Respect for the culture of local communities
- Avoiding attractions and businesses that exploit local culture
- Seeks authenticity, not simplicity and pretense
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Economic efficiency
These measures are very similar to those in the "Social" category, but have a different impact. They relate to how we use our money to make a positive contribution to the local economy. This means supporting locally run hotels, restaurants, and tour guides, and shopping at local businesses, as well as supporting fewer large, low-wage hotel properties.
4 Sustainable ways to travel
Camping
Camping is clearly a way to travel sustainably. If really just classic camping and not staying in hotels or resorts, no companies are funded that exploit nature and wildlife to clear land for infrastructure or run businesses that destroy local trade.
Motorhome
Similar to classic camping, traveling by motorhome in some countries can be done entirely without facilities designed for this purpose. Even though it is a motorized vehicle, the ratio here is not comparable to large vacation facilities.
Backpacking
This is by far one of the most sustainable ways to travel. Backpackers move around by public transportation, taking as little as they need and usually staying in motels or Airbnb accommodations that are mostly run or owned by locals. This way of traveling allows for connecting with local communities, supporting local culture, and promoting the economy.
Apartments
This type of travel or accommodation has also become increasingly popular. Portals like Airbnb, FeWo or others, offer a large network of apartments and rooms that are rented out by locals. And this worldwide. This is another way to support the local economy, reduce the construction of large resorts and hotels, and most importantly, experience the local culture much better.
What is your favorite type of vacation? Has this article given you something to think about when planning your next trip?