Responsible tourism: ways to make a difference while traveling

Reimagining travel to become more sustainable and responsible is hugely important to us at TravelLocal and influences the way we run our business. This Earth Day, we encourage you to champion the opportunity to make a positive impact while indulging in your adventures. By embracing sustainable tourism practices, supporting local communities, and prioritizing environmental conservation, travelers can play a crucial role in preserving the planet’s beauty and biodiversity for generations to come. Together, we can transform our travels into meaningful contributions towards a more sustainable and responsible future. Read below to learn some simple ways to make a difference whilst you’re traveling!

Embrace sustainable transportation

Minimizing your carbon footprint whilst exploring a country is an easy way to contribute to responsible tourism – it also poses an exciting opportunity to enhance your cultural experience with visits to off-the-beaten-path attractions, and exploration of hidden gems that may be missed when using traditional transportation methods.

Opting for public transportation, including buses, trams, trains, or subways, whenever you can, is a great way to cut down on traffic and help the environment. Train travel is our top pick – it uniquely offers an immersive experience of a destination’s geography and character, offering you an entirely new perspective. If you’re looking for some inspiration, explore our slow travel collection page where we’ve rounded up the world’s greatest railway journeys, and other ways you can travel mindfully.

For those who enjoy keeping active when wanting to explore a city’s true depth, why not opt for a bike tour instead of hiring a car? Cycling enables access to narrow streets, hidden alleyways, and local neighborhoods that may be inaccessible to larger vehicles, whilst allowing you to immerse yourself in your surroundings at a slower pace, truly connecting with the local culture, scenery, and people in a more intimate way. Similarly, simply grabbing your comfiest footwear and taking a stroll through the sights and sounds of any destination provides a more intimate exploration. There’s an active vacation for everybody!

Support local communities

By engaging and supporting local communities and businesses, you contribute to the economic prosperity of the destination while fostering meaningful connections with the residents. This kind of community-centered approach is central to making travel more responsible. At TravelLocal, all of our vacations revolve around local people and businesses – as we believe all vacations should.

For you on your vacation, supporting local communities can come in many forms; be it purchasing your souvenirs from local artisans, markets, and independent shops rather than international chains, dining at locally-owned restaurants and eateries that serve traditional cuisine made from locally-sourced ingredients, or participating in cultural activities and tours offered by local guides and organizations. 

Whether it’s exploring the spice trails of Sri Lanka by taking a cooking class with a local chef or stopping at a family-owned restaurant for a traditional dinner on the Dalmatian Coast – these experiences will not only give you a deeper understanding and appreciation of the country’s culture, but let you contribute to the preservation of local traditions, and help to create a more sustainable form of tourism.

Leave no trace

The seven principles of the ‘leave no trace’ philosophy provide guidance for travelers to minimize their environmental impact, ensuring time spent outdoors is enjoyed responsibly. These principles show that you don’t have to move mountains in order to make a positive impact on the environment whilst on vacation. You don’t have to do something huge; even little actions count!

Dispose of waste properly: the waste humans create while enjoying outdoor spaces can have severe impacts if not disposed of properly. Whilst traveling, ensure you dispose of all trash you take with you into the outdoors (and why not collect any you find whilst out in nature?). Going one step further, try to think ahead: bring along reusable gear like water bottles, lunch boxes, straws, and your own shopping bags. Small steps, big difference!

Leave what you find: it can be hard to resist grabbing a little something as a memento from those breathtaking spots we visit, whether it’s a handful of sand or just a cool rock. But those natural treasures? They’ve got their own jobs to do in the ecosystem, and they’re part of what makes a place special. So leaving what we find in place helps preservation! Similarly, with cultural or historic structures and artifacts, by just examining and snapping a picture instead of touching, their preservation can be prolonged so that people can appreciate them for many years to come.

Explore ‘less-visited’ destinations

There are a multitude of advantages for both the traveler and environment when you make the decision to visit lesser-known destinations. Embracing the adventure opens up a world of unique experiences!

If you yearn for tranquility and a break from the crowds, then those destinations that receive fewer crowds create an ideal vacation haven, and just because a location is less frequented doesn’t mean it lacks beauty or charm worthy of being added to your own alternative bucket list. These hidden gems boast peaceful surroundings, pristine landscapes, and an opportunity to reconnect with nature in its purest form. Whether it’s a secluded beach, a rugged mountain range, or serene countryside, you can find solace and rejuvenation away from the hustle and bustle of popular tourist hotspots – the thrill of exploring the unknown only adds to the excitement.

Choosing to venture off the path walked by many also provides the opportunity to spread the benefits of tourism, empowering smaller local communities. It’s a win-win: You create chances for locals to start businesses and find jobs, all while easing the pressure on overcrowded tourist spots. Plus, when you explore offbeat destinations, you tend to mingle more with the locals, getting an authentic feel for the culture and soul of the place, all whilst pumping money into the local economy while you’re at it!

Practice responsible wildlife tourism

The appeal of interacting with wildlife up close is understandably on many travelers’ bucket lists, however, thousands of wild animals are caught up in the dark side of the global tourism industry. This doesn’t mean that we should avoid animal tourism altogether. In fact, tourism can generate extensive funds, making a significant contribution to the conservation and preservation of the incredible animals that live on our planet. As travelers, instead select incomparable experiences of seeing animals in the wild – choosing ethical wildlife experiences that prioritize animal welfare and conservation efforts. With a little education and research, guided by our knowledgeable local experts, you can easily choose options that avoid activities involving captive animals or contribute to habitat destruction, and opt for responsible wildlife sanctuaries or ethical guided tours.

A great example of tourism funding the growth of an endangered species can be found in the Galapagos Islands. Renowned for their unique biodiversity, they have become a prime example of responsible wildlife tourism. Strict regulations are in place to protect the delicate ecosystem and endemic species found on the islands. For a truly authentic encounter, look for the famous Galapagos giant tortoises in their most natural setting at El Chato Ranch. As this reserve is nestled within the confines of the national park, the assistance of a knowledgeable guide is mandatory, ensuring that your exploration is not only enriching but also aligned with responsible travel practices. 

Eco-friendly & sustainable accommodation choices

Accommodations that prioritize sustainability initiatives, such as eco-lodges, green hotels, or resorts with eco-certifications, give travelers the opportunity to reduce their impact on the environment during their travels, whilst also providing a unique experience you can’t find anywhere else. These establishments often utilize renewable energy sources, implement water conservation measures, and support local communities through responsible tourism practices. And the more the demand grows for environmentally-conscious accommodations, the more it influences other properties to shift their practices! Ask our local experts for their recommendations when booking a trip with us.

You can also make a meaningful impact with your own habits, regardless of where you choose to stay. Hotels and resorts are known for their significant water wastage, but you can play a part in reducing this by adopting simple practices. Reusing your towels, minimizing room cleaning frequency, turning off lights when leaving your room, and using heating and air conditioning efficiently, all contribute to conserving resources and promoting sustainable hospitality practices.

Discover our responsible trips

If you’re on the lookout for responsible and inspiring trip ideas, we’ve hand-picked a few of our favorites:

• Hunting for giant tortoises: Galapagos wildlife tour
• Mongolia’s Eagle Festival: a journey into nomadic culture
• Glamping, leopards & birdwatching in India
• Normandy beaches & Loire castles by train
• Athens & the Greek Islands through local eyes

Make it happen

By being more conscious when traveling, we can all do something to reduce our environmental impact. Hopefully, these simple tips on ways to make a difference while travelling have helped you understand how to plan a more meaningful vacation! If you’re looking for your next responsible adventure, get in touch with one of our local experts and explore the world authentically.